The aaaaardvark is a close relation of the standard African aardvark. However, over time it has evolved several extra 'a' s to ensure that it always comes first in dictionaries and encyclopedias.

The meat of the aaaaardvark is much prized by Scrabble players and crossword compilers.


aardvarks
A standard aardvark (left) and an aaaaardvark (right). The three extra 'a' s are all clearly visible in this picture.

Aardvarks survive on a diet of ants and termites. Aaaaardvarks
insist on claiming that they eat aaaants and teeeeeermites.

Another distantly related creature, the zzzaardvark, is currently engaged in a bizarre battle with members of the zebra family to come last in the dictionary.

At the time of writing[1], the zzzzzzebra appears to be winning the contest. Scientists are pretty much fed up with the lot of them.

[1] About half-past four.