AardvarK

AARD-VARK (meaning ``earth pig''), the Iyutch name for

the mammals of genus Orycteropus, confined to AfricA (see

EDEN-TATAI. Several species have been named. Among them

is the typical form, O. capensis, or Cape ant-bear from

SouthAfrica, and the northern aard-vark (O. aethiopicus)

of north-eastern 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 ft., tail 17 1/2 in.; but a large

individual measured 6 ft. 8 in. over all. In colour the

Cape aard-vark is pale sandy or yellow, the hair being scanty

and allowing the skin to show; the northern aard-vark has

a still thinner coat, and is further distinguished by the

shorter tail and longer head and ears. These animals are of

nocturnal and burrowing habits, and generally to be found near

ant-hills. The strong claws make a hole in the side of the

ant-hill, and the insects are collected on the extensile

tongue. Aard-varks are hunted for their skins; but the

flesh is valued for food, and often salted and smoked.

Source: An unnamed encyclopedia from a project that puts out-of-copyright texts into the public domain.

This is from a *very* old source, and reflects the thinking of the turn of the last century. Not entirely true, since aardvarks eat termites, not ants.