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''Orycteropus'' is a genus of mammals in the family
Orycteropodidae Orycteropodidae is a family of afrotherian mammals. Although there are many fossil species, the only species surviving today is the aardvark, ''Orycteropus afer''. Orycteropodidae is recognized as the only family within the order Tubulidentata ...
within
Tubulidentata Orycteropodidae is a family of afrotherian mammals. Although there are many fossil species, the only species surviving today is the aardvark, ''Orycteropus afer''. Orycteropodidae is recognized as the only family within the order Tubulidentata ...
. The genus is known from
Late Miocene The Late Miocene (also known as Upper Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch, which lasted from 11.63 Ma (million years ago) to 5.333 Ma. The ...
to
recent The Holocene ( ) is the current geological epoch. It began approximately 11,650 cal years Before Present (), after the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene togethe ...
of
Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
. The only living species within Tubulidentata is the
aardvark 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. Unlik ...
(''Orycteropus afer'').


Species

Three species are recognized: * '' Orycteropus afer'' – aardvark – Palaeolithic to Recent of Africa * † ''
Orycteropus abundulafus ''Orycteropus abundulafus'' is an extinct species of aardvark 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 p ...
'' * † ''
Orycteropus crassidens ''Orycteropus'' is a genus of mammals in the family Orycteropodidae within Tubulidentata. The genus is known from Late Miocene to recent of Africa. The only living species within Tubulidentata is the aardvark (''Orycteropus afer''). Species ...
'' – Pleistocene of Kenya * † ''
Orycteropus djourabensis ''Orycteropus'' is a genus of mammals in the family Orycteropodidae within Tubulidentata. The genus is known from Late Miocene to recent of Africa. The only living species within Tubulidentata is the aardvark (''Orycteropus afer''). Species ...
'' – Early Pliocene to Early Pleistocene of Chad and Kenya Other species previously assigned to ''Orycteropus'' are now classified in the genus '' Amphiorycteropus''.


References


Further reading

* Orycteropodidae Mammal genera Mammal genera with one living species Taxa named by Georges Cuvier {{afrotheria-stub