Orycteropodidae is a family of mammals. Although there are many fossil species, the only species surviving today is the aardvark ( Orycteropus afer). Orycteropodidae is recognized as the only family within the order Tubulidentata, from the Latin words tubulis (tubule) and dentis (tooth), referring to the tubule-style teeth, so the two are Monotypic taxon.
Evolution
The first aardvark fossil discovered was originally named
Orycteropus gaudryi (now
Amphiorycteropus) and was found in
Turolian deposits on the island of
Samos.
Since then, representatives of the order Tubulidentata have been located from the
Oligocene in what is now Europe, and it is believed that the order probably originated around 65–70 million years ago or in the
Paleocene.
They are thought to be closely related to
Ptolemaiida, an extinct lineage of carnivorous afrotheres.
The family arose in Africa in the Early
Miocene epoch, and spread to Eurasia later in the Miocene. Most of the family's diversity had become extinct by the end of the
Pliocene.
Characteristics
Aardvarks were originally categorized as relatives of
Anteater in the order Edentata. However, their unique teeth structure and other morphological characteristics made it clear that aardvarks are not closely related to any other living mammals. Since the end of the 19th century, the aardvark has been placed in a separate order, Tubulidentata. Both the fossil record and genetic studies have corroborated that separate status. All similarities to American anteaters have evolved independently as adaptations to eating ants and termites.
One of the most distinctive features of the animals is that their teeth have a "tubulidentate" microstructure, lacking enamel, and are rounded structures of dentine. They lack incisors and canines, and have 20–22 teeth, which are unrooted, diphyodont, and continuously grow. Another unique trait is that their small milk teeth are lost before the animal is born.
A few anatomical characters unite the Orycteropodidae and Tubulidentata. The occiput region of the skull has extensive mastoid exposure, the femur has a pectineal tubercle, and the diaphysis of the tibia is curved mediolaterally.
Modern aardvarks are polygynous, the females providing care for the young. They are territorial, and only cross paths to breed. The males' genitals create a musk while females create this musk from glands in their elbows, this scent helps mating occur. The gestation period lasts about seven months, and they are dependent upon the mother until they are six months of age, becoming sexually mature at two years of age. Breeding occurs once a year, they produce one offspring, and will have maybe one to two more in their lifetime. Aardvarks are Myrmecophagy, feeding almost exclusively on termites and ants. They rely on their sense of smell to find most of their food and hunt at night.
Classification
This classification follows Lehmann 2009.
[Mikko's Phylogeny Archive [1] ]
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Genus † Scotaeops Ameghino 1887 Scoteops
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† S. simplex Ameghino 1887
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Genus † Archaeorycteropus Ameghino 1905
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Genus † Palaeorycteropus Filhol 1893 Palaeoryctoropus
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Genus † Myorycteropus MacInnes, 1956
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† M. africanus MacInnes, 1956 ''Orycteropus type species
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† aff. M. chemeldoi (Pickford, 1975) ''Orycteropus
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† aff. M. minutus (Pickford, 1975) ''Orycteropus
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Genus † Leptorycteropus Patterson, 1975
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† L. guilielmi Patterson, 1975
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Genus † Amphiorycteropus Lehmann 2009
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† A. gaudryi (Major, 1888) ''Orycteropus type species
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† A. abundulafus (Lehmann et al., 2005) ''Orycteropus
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† A. browni (Colbert, 1933) ''Orycteropus
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† A. depereti (Helbing, 1933) ''Orycteropus
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† A. mauritanicus (Arambourg, 1959) ''Orycteropus
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† aff. A. pottieri (Ozansoy, 1965) ''Orycteropus
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† aff. A. seni (Tekkaya, 1993) ''Orycteropus
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Genus Orycteropus Geoffroy St. Hilaire 1796 Oryctopus
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† O. crassidens MacInnes, 1956
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† O. djourabensis Lehmann et al. 2004
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Orycteropus afer (Pallas 1776) Aardvark (type species)
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O. a. capensis (Gmelin 1788) ''Myrmecophaga (Cape Aardvark)
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O. a. senegalensis Lesson 1840 ''Orycteropus (Western/Senegambian Aardvark)
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O. a. haussanus Matschie 1900 ''Orycteropus (Hausa Aardvark)
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O. a. adametzi Grote 1921 ''Orycteropus
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O. a. leptodon Hirst 1906 ''Orycteropus (Cameroon Aardvark)
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O. a. erikssoni Lönnberg 1906 ''Orycteropus (Eriksson's/North Congo Aardvark)
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O. a. albicaudus Rothschild 1907 (South-western/Damara Aardvark)
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O. a. angolensis Zukowsky & Haltenorth 1957 ''Orycteropus (Angolan Aardvark)
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O. a. afer (Pallas 1776) ''Orycteropus (Southern Aardvark)
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O. a. wardi Lydekker 1908 ''Orycteropus (Congo/Ward's Aardvark)
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O. a. observandus Grote 1921 ''Orycteropus
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O. a. matschiei Grote 1921 ''Orycteropus
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O. a. lademanni Grote 1911 ''Orycteropus
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O. a. ruvanensis Grote 1921 ''Orycteropus (Ruwana Aardvark)
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O. a. faradjius Hatt 1932 ''Orycteropus (Faradje Aardvark)
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O. a. kordofanicus Rothschild 1927 ''Orycteropus (Kordofan Aardvark)
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O. a. aethiopicus Sundevall 1843 ''Orycteropus (Northeastern/Abyssinian Aardvark)
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O. a. somalicus Lydekker 1908 ''Orycteropus (Somalia Aardvark)
Footnotes
Further reading
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"A sub-complete fossil aardvark (Mammalia, Tubulidentata) from the Upper Miocene of Chad".
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MacInnes D. G. (1956). Fossil Tubulidentata from East Africa. British Museum (Natural History), London. Fossil mammals of Africa series; no. 10. 46 pp.
