# aardwolf

/ˈɑːdwʊlf/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aardwolf
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

a small, shy animal from Africa that looks like a striped hyena but eats insects. It uses its long, sticky tongue to catch thousands of termites every night.

For teachers: a nocturnal, insectivorous mammal of southern and eastern Africa, resembling a small hyena with a mane and vertical stripes. It belongs to the hyena family but possesses weak jaws and specialized teeth for a diet consisting almost exclusively of termites.

## Examples

- The aardwolf hunts for termites at night.
- While on safari, the guide spotted an aardwolf emerging from its burrow to begin its nightly forage.
- Unlike its larger carnivorous relatives, the aardwolf has evolved to occupy a specialized niche, consuming up to 300,000 termites in a single evening without damaging the mounds.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.