ORDER OF TOOTHLESS ANIMALS 



{Edentata) 



HE name Edentata, meaning toothless, is not very appropriate for this large 

 and widely differing order, since many members possess teeth. The name 

 however, is correct to the extent that many of the teeth usually found in 

 other mammals are missing in Edentates. The order is quite well-distributed 

 throughout the world but has probably most representatives today in South 

 America. Only one species of this order, the Annadillo, reaches the United 

 States. The many strange types included in the order often have but few 

 characters that serve to make them related. The best resemblances are 

 seen in the teeth which are always either absent or very poorly developed, 

 generally all of one type, never rooted, but with persistent pulps and usually 

 deficient in enamel. Other families include the Sloths and Ant-eaters. 

 The Armadillo family comprises small to medium-sized Edentates having the greater 

 part of the skin so strongly ossified as to resemble plates of armor, whence the name. 

 Members of this family have teeth numerous, simple, and of persistent growth; skull with 

 zygomatic arches complete; forefeet adapted for digging and scratching, with strongly 

 developed curved claws, three to five in number; and hind feet plantigrade, with five toes 

 all provided with nails. 



TEXAS NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO 

 Dasypus novemcinctus texanus {Bailey) 



General Description. — .\ peculiar-looking mammal 

 with bony slicll somewhat like a turtle. Head triaiiRular 

 in shape and covered with bony plates from between 

 the cars almost to end of snout ; ears large, naked ; 

 tail inclosed in twelve rings; covering of underparts 

 not strongly ossified; limbs short; claws long; fore 

 feet with four visible toes ; hind feet with five toes. A 

 burrowing mammal. 



Dental Formula. — 



molars, — ; Molars, ; 

 o — o ' i 



ncisors, 

 %r 



Pre- 



O — r^ ■ O — O 



^^; Canmes. o.To; 



_8 - —^ =32 <>r 28. 



Pelage. — .Adults ; Sexes identical, no seasonal vari- 

 ation. -Mmost hairless, a few scattered hairs to be 

 found on head and under parts ; shield on head pale 

 brown ; carapace or bony shield black with scutes on 

 sides yellowish-white: tail brownish-black with anterior 

 half of scutes yellowish-white; ears brown; toes yel- 

 lowish; claws white; skin of head flesh color with a 

 few yellowish hairs. 



Measurements. — Total length. 32 inches; tail ver- 

 tebrae, 14.8 inches; hind foot, 4 inches; carapace, 13 

 inches by 16 inches. 



Range. — Te.xas south into Mexico. 



Food. — Insects ; mainly ants. 



Remarks. — This Armadillo is not known to range 

 farther north than southern Texas. To the southward, 

 however, its range extends throughout South .\merica. 

 There is little likelihood of this animal with its peculiar 



bony carapace becoming confused with any other mam- 

 mal. Only the one species comes under our consid- 

 eration. 



Photograph by Dr. R. W. Shufiidt 



■• PREPAREDNESS " 



Nine-banded Armadillo rolhng itself up into a ball, for pro- 

 tection 



298] 



