Consider the following statements regarding the Aardvark:1. It is a no...
A recent study from Oregon State University found that a warming climate is negatively impacting the chances of long-term survival of aardvarks in sub-Saharan Africa.
- It gets its name from a South African word meaning “earth pig.”
- Appearance: They look like a pig, especially with its body and snout.
- They actually share common ancestors with elephants and golden moles.
- They are nocturnal mammals, most active at night and tend to live alone. During the day, they sleep curled up in a ball in their burrows.
- This species has been assessed as having the highest score for evolutionary distinctiveness,
- This is because it does not have many close relatives and has been evolving independently for millions of years.
- The Aardvark is the sole surviving species of its order, Tubulidentata, and its closest relatives have been extinct since the Pleistocene era (2 million years ago).
- Diet: The aardvark’s diet consists almost entirely of ants and termites.
- Habitat: Aardvarks are found over much of the southern two-thirds of Africa and their habitat is savannah and semiarid areas.
- Ecosystem Roles: Aardvarks are important in their ecosystem because the holes they dig are used by a variety of other animals for shelter.
- Conservation Status
- IUCN :Least Concern
- The recent study concluded that the genetic structure of aardvarks is strongly shaped by climate, with arid areas limiting gene flow and reflected apparent isolation by adaptation associated with temperature.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
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Consider the following statements regarding the Aardvark:1. It is a no...
Explanation:
1. Aardvark:
The first statement is correct. Aardvarks are nocturnal mammals that primarily feed on ants and termites. They have a unique appearance with a long snout, which is why they are sometimes also called "antbear." Aardvarks are not closely related to elephants; instead, they belong to the order Tubulidentata, which is a separate lineage of mammals.
2. Habitat:
The second statement is incorrect. Aardvarks are mainly found in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and bushlands. They prefer areas with sandy or clay soils that are suitable for digging their burrows. The Arabian Peninsula does not have the appropriate habitat for aardvarks.
Therefore, the correct answer is option A) 1 only, as only the first statement about aardvarks being nocturnal mammals is accurate.