Ok, since it IS the name of our site, we feel it’s important to set the record straight. An aardvark is a completely different animal than an anteater! These often confused creatures are actually totally different species. Kudos to you if you knew it already!
Is that going to change your world? Probably not, unless you run into one somewhere along the way. Or your 5-year-old starts to read and catches you in the mistake!
The name “aardvark” is from the Dutch for “earth pig.” It’a nocturnal animal that lives in a burrow. And to make things confuse, guess what its diet is – yes, ants and termintes. So it eats ants but it’s not an anteater. Are you keeping up? Yeah, that’s a tough one.
The aardvark lives in sub-Saharan African and as far south as South Africa. It can lives in the woods, in grasslands or the savanna. So it’s really versatile!
These aren’t pretty animals in a traditional sense; they’re not cute and cuddly. But perhaps that’s what attracts us to them!
Here’s some great stuffed toys of the aardvark – our favorite animal and hopeful yours. And a great way to remember the world’s greatest website! (Well, ok, maybe not. But we’re working on it!)
Webkinz Aardvark
This cute little thing is one of our favorites, for sure. Webkinz integrates your toy with an online world where you can “formally” adopt and name it. There’s online games included that you access with the included activation code. It’s a great way to integrate a “real life” toy with the virtual world! It’s even got online “happy”, “healthy” and “hungry” meters which can help teach a youngster some responsibility before they get a real pet.
This aardvark measures 14.5 x 5.2 x 6 inches and is amazingly cute!
Just a note of caution before introducing your child to the online world: like most similar games or activities, it’s loaded with “microtransactions.” There are items you can add to your aardvark world for free, but often the “best” have to be paid for with real-world money.
Jellycat Aardvark
Jellycat offers this great product for the young child. It’s soft and cuddly and measures 12″ tall.
This toy is made of polyester. The eyes are plastic and sewn on. Reports are that they’re well-attached, but of course it’s always something to be mindful of with younger children. The manufacturer does say it’s suitable for newborns and up.
It might not quite look like an aardvark with its big floppy ears and short snout. But for a young child, it’s at least a close approximation.
Wild Republic Cuddlekins 12″ Aardvark Plush
This is one of the most realistic-looking stuffed aardvarks we’ve found (as far as stuffed animal can look realistic). With its proportions almost perfect and its color not bad either, this give an idea of what a real aardvark looks like.
At about 12″, this is great for a young child or the young at heart. It’s made of quality materials and well-sewn. This will definitely be loved by whoever receives it!
Wrapping It Up
No, our namesake isn’t the most popular animal. But it’s amazingly cute in its own way! Give your child or special someone a unique gift that they can enjoy for years – a great aardvark plushie!
