The family Orycteropodidae, in the order Tubulidentata, is represented solely by the aardvark (Orycteropus afer). Aardvarks are nocturnal, burrowing mammals native to sub-Saharan Africa, easily recognized by their pig-like snout, long ears, and powerful digging limbs. They are specialized insectivores, feeding primarily on ants and termites, which they extract using their elongated, sticky tongue. Their teeth are unique among mammals, composed of many thin, tube-like structures that continuously grow throughout life. Aardvarks play an important ecological role by controlling insect populations and creating burrows that provide shelter for other species.