CLASS MAMMALIA 



66l 



Fig. 525. — The great anteater, Myrme- 

 cophaga jubata. (From Flower and Lydek- 

 ker, after Sclater.) 



United States. They have been grouped into three families: 

 the American ant-eaters (Myrme cophagid^e), the sloths (Bra- 

 dypodid^e), and the arma- 

 dillos (Dasypodixle). 



The great ant-eater, Myr- 

 mecophaga jubata (Fig. 525), 

 measures about seven feet in 

 length, possesses a long, nar- 

 row snout, and is provided 

 with long claws on the fore 

 feet which are used to tear 

 open ant-hills. Its tongue is 

 long and slender and serves 

 to capture the ants upon 

 which the animal feeds. 



The sloths inhabit the tropical forests of Central and South 

 America. They live in the tree-tops, and hang to the underside 

 of the branches by means of two or three long, curved claws. 

 Their food consists of leaves and buds. 



The armadillos are curious mammals with an armor of bony 

 scutes. When disturbed, they roll up into a ball, in which con- 

 dition they are not easily 

 injured. The nine-banded 

 armadillo, Tatusia novcm- 

 ciiic'.a (Fig. 526), ranges 

 from southern Texas to 

 Paraguay. It is about 

 two feet long, and lives 

 on the open plains, feeding 

 chiefly upon worms and 

 insects. 



Order Phclidota. — Scaly 

 Ant-eaters. — This order 

 contains a single genus (Manis) and seven species of peculiar 

 mammals, called pangolins (Fig. 527), inhabiting Africa and 



Fig. 526. — The nine-banded armadillo, 

 Tatusia novemcincta. (From Flower and 

 Lydekker.) 



