Stewart Hoffman, age 10, of Gadsden, Ala., for his question:

WHERE DOES THE AARDVARK LIVE?

Aardvark is the common name for a burrowing, ant eating mammal that is found throughout much of Africa, from the southern part of Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope. It is a nocturnal animal that lives in tunnels and feeds entirely on ants and termites.

Aardvark is an African word meaning "earth pig."

The aardvark can grow to be six feet long, including a fleshy, tapering tail which it uses to throw earth backward when it burrows. It has an arched back, a tubular snout and large, upright ears. The aardvark uses its specialized, chisel shaped claws to break open the hard clay of termite nests. Then it uses its sticky tongue to capture the insects in the nest.

Unlike the animals known as anteaters, which are toothless, the aardvark has 20 cylindrical, rootless teeth that grow continually throughout its lifetime.

The female aardvark gives birth to a single offspring, which digs its own burrow at the age of six months.

Although timid, the aardvark will fight when it cannot flee or burrow to safety. Lying on its back, it defends itself with its powerful claws.