The animal that takes its name from the Afrikaans for 'earth pig' is the aardvark. The aardvark is a large, burrowing mammal native to Africa. It has a long snout, powerful claws, and a thick, leathery hide. It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on ants and termites. Its name is derived from the Afrikaans phrase "aarde vark", which literally translates to "earth pig".