The name comes from Dutch for "earth pig". Aardvarks are native to Africa.
Several species have been named. Among them is the typical form, O. capensis, or Cape ant-bear from South Africa, and the northern aardvark (O. aethiopicus) of northeastern Africa, extending into Egypt.
In form these animals are somewhat pig-like; the body is stout, with arched back; the limbs are short and stout, armed with strong, blunt claws; the ears disproportionately long; and the tail very thick at the base and tapering gradually. The greatly elongated head is set on a short thick neck, and at the extremity of the snout is a disk in which the nostrils open. The mouth is small and tubular, furnished with a long extensile tongue. The measurements of a female taken in the flesh, were head and body 4 feet, tail 17 1/2 inches; but a large individual measured 6 feet 8 inches over all. In colour the Cape aardvark is pale sandy or yellow, the hair being scanty and allowing the skin to show; the northern aardvark has a still thinner coat, and is further distinguished by the shorter tail and longer head and ears.
Aardvarks are nocturnal animals. Although named for eating ants, they actually eat termites. They burrow into termite mounds using their strong claws, and the insects are collected on their long tongue.
The aardvark should not be confused with the anteater.
The text here has been updated by Wikipedians, perhaps significantly.
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