3b0 BASYPODIlJ.i:. 



A. Head ovate ; forehead convex ; teeth mimerous, small ; intermaxillaries 

 toothless. The first three or four rings of tesseree of the scapular rings 

 partially free. Tail not ringed. The soles of the hind feet with tesseree 

 on the sides and behind. 



2. PRIONODOS. 



The three or four front rings of the scapular shield deeply divided, 

 free when young ; central rings numerous. Tail not ringed, with 

 the tesseree placed alternately. Plantigrade ; soles of the feet parti- 

 ally covei'ed mth tesseree. Toes 5.5; two inner front toes small ; 

 outer very small, rudimentary ; third and fourth large ; the third 

 very large, with a very large claw. Skull broad ; nose broad. Teeth 

 1^ . -2^, small ; intermaxillary toothless. 



Osteology. — See Turner, P. Z. S. 1851, p. 215 ; Cuv. Oss. Foss. v. 

 t. 11. f. 1,'3; Eapp, Edent. t. 11. 



Prionodontep, F. Cuv. ; Less. Mam. p. 309 ; Turner, P. Z. S. 1851. 

 Priodonta, Grag, Cat. Manim. B. M. 

 Dasypus (Priodontes), Rapp, Edent. p. 10. 

 Cheloniscus, IVagler ; Krauss. 

 Prionodos, Gray, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 374. 



The skeleton is figured by Eapp, Edent. t. 4 6. f. 1. The two 

 inner toes of the fore feet elongate, slender, with small claws ; the 

 three others short ; the third very stout, with a very large claw ; 

 the fourth similar, but smaller ; the fifth or outer very small and 

 short. The pelvis very broad behind ; the second cervical vertebra 

 elongate, with a very high superior central crest, and very rudi- 

 mentary lateral processes. 



Prionodon gigas. (Tatou.) B.M. 



Dasypus gigas, Cuv. Oss. Foss. v. p. 128, t. 11. f. 1, 5 ; Pr. Max. Beitr. 



\\. p. 516 ; Burm. Brasil. p. 277. 

 Dasypus giganteiis, Desm. Mamni. p. 368. 

 Priodonta gigas, Gi-ay, Cat. Mamm. B.M. p. 120 ; Ou-en, Odont. t. 85. 



f. 1 ; Gerrard, Cat. Bones B. M. p. 287. 

 Priodontes gigas, Turner, I. c. ; Gervais, Fxped. de F. L. de Castelnau, 



3Iatmn. t. 18 ; jR<yjp, Edent. t. 4 & (skeleton). 

 Prionodos gigas, Gj-ay, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 374. 

 Priodontes giganteus, Less. Maniin. p. 309. 



Cheloniscus gigas, Wagler ; Kratiss, Arch. f. Natnrg. 1862, p. 19. 

 Kabalassou, Bitffon, H. N. x. t. 41. 

 El Maximo, Azara. 



Hah. Paraguay (^r«r«); Surinam (Zrawss) ; Brazil (called " Tatu 

 canastra"). 



B. Head fiat, conical. Teeth few, nine or ten, large; intermaxillary hone 

 with a tooth on each side behind. Tail shielded. 



3. DASYPUS. 



Head broad, covered with large plates ; a series of small shields 

 under the eyes ; frontal plate large, broad. Central rings six or eight. 



