Although the aardvark is somewhat pig-like in its appearance, including its round body, arched back, and snout, the two aren't closely related. In fact, the aardvark is the only living member of the order Tubulidentata, and it can be found throughout the African continent. History: Based on fossil evidence, it's been concluded that early relatives of the aardvark first appeared in Africa around the end of the Paleocene epoch, which was roughly 55 million years ago. Despite their high population numbers, there's a notable lack of information about the evolutionary path of the aardvark. Interestingly enough, their closest living relatives are elephant shrews and golden moles. Scientific Name: Orycteropus afer Characteristics: Hand painted and artfully crafted, this Aardvark toy is exceptional as a piece of decor, toy for play, or even to tie together a nature diorama. Size: At 5 inches long and 2.25 inches tall.