Aardvark

From Fresh Dictionary

Image:Wikipedia-logo-en.png

Wikipedia has an article on:

Aardvark

50px|none|Wikisource

Wikisource, as part of the 1911 Encyclopedia Wikiproject, has original text related to this article:

Aard-vark

1 English
2 Afrikaans
- 2.1 Noun
- 2.2 Usage notes

[edit]

English

Image:Erdferkel-drawing.jpg

Aardvark

[edit]

Etymology

Afrikaans, from aarde, earth, and vark, pig; hence "earth-pig". Early European colonists in South Africa noticed that the animal was similar to a pig, while "aarde" hints at the animal's habit of burrowing. The word was loaned from Afrikaans in the late 18th century.

[edit]

Pronunciation

(RP) IPA: /ÉËdvÉËk/

[edit]

Noun

aardvark (plural: aardvarks; spelling variant: aard-vark, plural: aard-varks)

(zoology) A mammal, Orycteropus afer, of the order Tubulidentata, somewhat resembling a pig, common in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa. It burrows in the ground, and feeds mostly on termites, which it catches with its long, slimy tongue.

[edit]

Synonyms

African anteater (scientific), earth pig (common name), ant bear or ant-bear (alternative common name; also used for the giant anteater), anteater (a more general common name for different species including the aardvark)

[edit]