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 Dasypodide, is 
by no means without interest. 
THE ARMADILLOS 
Family Dasypodide 
Nine-banded Armadillo 
Tatu novemcinctum Linnzeus 
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 
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