The word “aardvark” refers to a nocturnal mammal native to Africa, known scientifically as *Orycteropus afer*. It is characterized by its long ears, pig-like snout, and a body covered in coarse, grayish-brown fur. Aardvarks primarily feed on ants and termites, using their long tongue to extract them from their nests. The name “aardvark” comes from the Afrikaans and Dutch words meaning “earth pig.”
