Order XENARTHRA. American Edentates 



Mammals of primitive type; teeth absent to numerous; 

 teeth when present exhibit imperfections such as deficiency of 

 enamel and lack of roots, and are not differentiated. 



Family Dasypodidae. Armadillos 



Small to medium-sized mammals having the greater part of 

 the skin ossified; teeth numerous, unrooted, simple, and 

 usually undifferentiated; forefeet with strong, curved claws 

 for digging; hind feet plantigrade; zygomatic arch complete. 



Subfamily Dasypodinse 



Genus Dasypus 



Dentition: Incisors, 2; Canines, J]; Premolars and Molars, | or 

 I = 32 or 28. 



Armadillo. — ^Dasypus novemcinctus texanus 



(Bailey) Plate II. 



Names. — Texas Nine-banded Armadillo; Texas Armadillo. 



General Description. — A peculiar, shell-covered mammal 

 about the size of a small House-cat but heavier. Body 

 completely enclosed, with exception of underparts and limited 

 areas about legs, neck, and base of tail, in a dense, hard 

 "shell" which is an ossified dermal growth built up of small 

 plates. Head small and narrow, with one large, immovable 

 shield; ears large, naked; entire forepart of body enclosed 

 in a solid shield; nine movable, transverse bands across 

 middle of back and down sides ; rump and hind parts enclosed 

 in solid shield; tail long, tapering, completely enclosed, 

 above and below by overlapping rings; hair practically absent 

 on upperparts, sparsely scattered on underparts. Legs short ; 

 four claws visible on forefeet, well developed, two middle 

 claws excessively developed for digging; five well-developed 

 claws on hind feet. 



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