0
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is indigenous to the African continent. If the question is how non-Africans named it "aardvark" instead of how it was referred by African tribes, it may be because early Dutch settlers in South Africa(1650's-1800's) thought the animal resembled a domesticated pig with a snout that dug into the ground. In Dutch the word for ground is "aarde," and pig is "varken." Later, when the British began to colonize Africa (1870's), the translation into English dropped the "e" and "en" from the spelling.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Which animal's name comes first in the dictionary?
aardvark
What is the first animal listed in the Oxford English Dictionary?
That would be "Aardvark", funnily enough, the animal was left out of Dr Johnson's dictionary.
What is the Animal's that is first in the dictonary?
Aardvark
Which word has three vowels- aardvark or anteater?
aardvark
What is the population of a aardvark?
An aardvark is one aardvark. The word population is superfluous .
What living creature is first in dictionary and encyclopedia?
the first living creature in the dictionary is an aardvark
When did Arthur the aardvark become a cartoon?
It was 1996 when the first episode aired.
What English word is a a first two letters must be the same?
aardvark
What can you notice about the spelling of the words llama and aardvark?
The first letters are doubled
Is the aardvark a marsupial monotreme or placental?
The aardvark is a placental mammal.
What is the first animals listed in dictionary?
The first animal listed in the dictionary is the aardvark, followed by the aardwolf.
What is Arthur the Aardvark good at?
being a aardvark
