The Aard-Wolf 599 



THE AARD-WOLF 



Family Proteleim. Genus Proteles 



The single representative of this genus (P. cristatus) may be compared 

 to a small and rather thin striped hyaena, with proportionately longer ears, 

 a more pointed muzzle, and remarkably weak teeth. It has also five, 

 instead of four, front toes ; and it is chiefly owing to this feature and the 

 peculiar characters of the teeth that the animal is assigned to a family 

 apart from the hyaenas. 



The Aard-Wolf {Proteles cristatus') 



Aard-Wolf (Earth Wolf), sometimes Maanhaar Jackal 

 (Maned Jackal) of the Boers 



The aard-wolf stands from 1 8 to 20 inches in height and in general out- 

 ward appearance is not unlike an under-sized striped hyaena. It has been 

 compared to a leggy, high-shouldered fox, but its decisive slope from the 

 withers to the quarters is characteristically hyaena-like. The coat is very 

 handsome, and, as the animal lacks the extreme offensiveness of smell of the 

 true hyaenas, its skin is more sought after by some of the native tribes — 

 notably the Bechuanas, who hunt and trap it systematically as they do the 

 jackals, cats, leopards, and other fur-bearing animals. The general colour 

 is yellowish-brown, striped with dark transverse bands running down the 

 sides of the animal. The legs are slightly barred with the same dark 

 markings. The coat is long and thick, and a mane of somewhat 

 upstanding hair runs down the spine. The snout is sharp and somewhat 

 fox-like, and the ears are long and pointed. The legs and feet are dark 

 brown in front, grayish behind. The tail is thick and bushy. The 

 animal lives much underground in burrows — several individuals occupying 



