Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) French: Oryctérope du Cap The
Aardvark is a medium-sized mammal native to Africa. The name
comes from the Afrikaans/Dutch for "earth pig" (aarde earth,
varken pig), because early settlers from Europe thought it
resembled a pig. However, the Aardvark is not closely related to
pigs. The aardvark has a short neck connected to a massive, dull
brownish-gray, almost hairless body that has a strongly arched
back. Its colour is usually similar to the the soil in the area
in which it lives. it has stout legs, the hind legs longer than
the front ones. The head is elongated and ends in a long, narrow
snout, with nostrils that can be closed. The long, tubular ears
are normally held upright but can be folded and closed. The
kangaroo-like tail is short but muscular . The thick claws on
the forefeet are used as digging tools. Aardvarks are nocturnal,
usually waiting until dark before they emerge from their
burrows, although after a cold night, they may occasionally sun
themselves. As it is noctur