The Hamlyn Children's Animal World Encyclopedia in colour [antikvár]

AARDVARKS (Orycteropus), also called African Antbears, are mammals found only in the grass regions of Africa. Their name means "earth pig" in Dutch. About the size of large pigs (up to six feet long including tail, and 140 pounds in weight), they live in large burrows. They have long siiouts, tiny heads, and long, slender ears. Their bodies are thinly covered with bristly, yellowish brown hairs. Aardvarks use the powerful claws on their front feet for digging into termite or ant hills. As the Aardvark digs — which it does with great speed — it folds its ears against its body to protect them from the flying dirt. As soon as the nest is torn apart, the Aardvark uses its tongue, which is up to eighteen inches long and is covered with a sticky saliva, to pick up termites. The Aardvark is able to close its nostrils to keep out the insects. They aré nocturnal animals and are not often seen. Natives dig Aardvarks from their burrows and eat them. AARDWOLVES (Proteles cristala) look like hyenas and are closely related to them; they are not wolves. Their weak teeth and jaws are not suited for crushing bones or tearing flesh, and they feed almost entirely on insects. Aardwolves live in the dry areas of eastern and southern Africa. They are active at night and sleep by day, mostly in holes dug by the Aardvark, and they may also feed on the termites left by the Aardvark. Aardwolves are usually found separately, but sometimes in pairs and rarely in packs. They can emit an unpleasant scent as a defence against an enemy. ABALONES (Haliotis spp.J are sea snails with flattened, open, oval shells, usually with a series of four to eight holes along the upper edge through which water passes for breathing. They are greatly prized for their shells, which are made into jewellery and table ornaments, and also for their large muscular foot which is a delicacy. Abalones are most common along the Pacific coasts of North America, Japan and Asia. Some of the species caught commercially are protected by law. Largest is the valuable Red Abalone (10 to 12 in.). Smallest of American abalones and one of the only two Atlantic species is Pourtales' Abalone (J- to 1 in.), which lives in deep