EDENTATES OR TOOTHLESS ANIMALS 



(Edentata) 



The edentates stand at the bottom of the series of the non- 

 marsupial mammals. In distribution they are almost entirely re- 

 stricted to South America, the best-known members of the group 

 being the ant-eaters, sloths and armadillos. Of these only the 

 ant-eaters are strictly "edentate" or without teeth; so the name 

 is somewhat misleading, although none of them have any front 

 teeth (incisors) and such teeth as they do possess are often rudi- 

 mentary and decidedly primitive in character. 



In former ages we had in North America gigantic beasts of 

 this order, as is shown by the fossil remains of the megalonyx 

 and mylodon, huge sloth-like animals, which existed along with 

 the mastodon and sabre-toothed tigers and doubtless served as 

 the chief source of food supply for the latter. 



When we think of these former giants it is disappointing to 

 find that our only representative of the edentates within the 

 limits of the United States to-day is a single species of arma- 

 dillo which crosses the Mexican boundary into the state of Texas. 



This curious beast, representing the family Dasypodidce, is 

 by no means without interest. 



THE ARMADILLOS 



Family Dasypodidce 



Nine-banded Armadillo 



Tatu novemcinctum Linnaeus 

 Also known as Peba Armadillo, Mulita. 



Length. 30 inches. 



Description. Body covered by a bony shell, consisting of two 

 larger portions connected in the middle by eight bony rings 



