Aardvarks can reach 5 feet long and weigh up to 180 pounds (females are smaller). They have long, sharp, concave claws and stout, muscular bodies making them powerful diggers. They have a very long snout with a wide tip for enhancing their excellent sense of smell. They also have very long ears – not unlike those of a jackrabbit – and a long, thick tail that comes to a point at the end (tapers). They are covered in long dark hair everywhere except on the head, ears, and tail, where the hair is lighter in color, short, and sparse. As they age, they lose their long body hair.
