THE ANTBEAR 



Orycteropus sethiopicus, Sund. 



Somali name, Kharendi 



Description. — The skin of the antbear is moderately well 

 covered with hair, but, owing to its constant habit of burrowing, 

 save on the backs of the hands and feet it is worn down to mere 

 bristles. In point of fact, wherever there is a part exposed to 

 friction there the hair is short and bristly. The tongue from root 

 to tip is about 12 in. in length. The bristles on the hands and 

 feet are coarse and usually black in colour. 



Measurements in the flesh of male and female specimens : 



Head and body 

 Tail 



Hindfoot 

 Ear (anterior) 

 „ (posterior) 

 Length of foreclaws 

 Girth of root o^ tail 

 Weight 



Distribution. — Throughout the Somali country except in the 

 coast districts — most plentiful in the Haud. 



Habits. — The antbear is purely nocturnal in its habits, usually 

 emerging from its burrow a little before sundown. The rapidity 

 at which it digs is truly wonderful. On reaching a likely spot 

 it presses its flat snout on the earth and smells around. It then 

 starts digging and proceeds with great rapidity. Its forefeet, armed 

 with formidable claws, scrape back the soil under its body while it 



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