The aardvark(Orycteropus afer)is a medium-sized,burrowing,nocturnal mammal native to Africa.It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata,although other prehistoric species and genera of Tubulidentata are known.
Most of the family's diversity had become extinct by the end of the Pliocene.
The ordinal name Tubulidentata is derived from tiny dentinal tubules found in the chewing surfaces of its teeth.