'proteles' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'prōtelēs,' where 'prō-' meant 'before' and 'telēs' meant 'complete.'

'prōtelēs' transformed into the scientific Latin term 'proteles,' used to classify the aardwolf.

Initially, it meant 'before complete,' referring to the aardwolf's unique evolutionary traits, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.