Guinea-Bissau became a Portuguese colony in the 15th century known as Portuguese Guinea and then as the Overseas Province of Guinea. Gaining independence in 1974, the new country’s official title added the name of its largest city as a means of distinguishing itself from the other entities known as “Guinea.”
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Oryteropus afer - The aardvark is the only living member of the Orycteropodidae family. Its name is derived from the Afrikaans “erdvark;” a translation of “earth pig.” The long snout resembles the muzzle of a pig and can sniff out hidden food, primarily ants and termites. The powerful claws are ideal for digging burrows used as shelters and to secure the young. The aardvark is not related to pigs nor the anteater. Its closest living relative is the elephant shrew. The range for the aardvark covers the entire sub-Saharan region of Africa.
