aardwolf
1
9.9
An African mammal active at night that looks like a small hyena and eats mainly termites
- noun
- /ˈɑrdˌwʊlf/
- South African
:
aardwolf
- Apart from the aardwolf, which is a highly specialized termite-eater, there are only three living species of hyenas, all large carnivores.
Examples
-
At night, the aardwolf hunts for insects under the cover of darkness.
-
Now the aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) is not built to bite.
Fiction book (1994) -
The aardwolf points its parched muzzle to the sky.
Fiction book (1994) -
The aardwolf is alone.
Fiction book (1994) -
The aardwolf is known for its unique diet, primarily feeding on termites.
-
With its distinctive black stripes, the aardwolf is easily recognizable in the wild.
Synonyms
9.9
A small African animal like a hyena with stripes that eats mostly termites
is the common English name used for the same species
Surface Forms
aardwolf singular
aardwolves plural
Etymology
Aardwolf comes from Afrikaans/Dutch parts aard meaning 'earth' and wolf meaning 'wolf', so it literally means 'earth-wolf'. This helps you remember the animal: it stays on the ground and hunts at night for termites, and it is more like a small hyena than a true wolf.