orycteropus

[Gr. orykter (gen it. oryk tēros )=a pickax, and pous =a foot.] Zool .: The single genus of the family Orycteropodide. Body scantily covered with stiff hairs; no pollex to fore-feet, hind feet with five sub-equal toes; mouth_elongated and tubular, tongue sub vermiform. Habits terrestrial and fo orial, feeding on animal substances, preferably ants. Orycteropus capensis, from South Africa, is the Aard-Vark of the Dutch colonists, sometimes called the Cape Anteater. O. œthiopicus , from Northeastern Africa, is a second species, or well-marked variety; O. senega lens is is doubtful