XII 



PHYLUM CHORDATA 



533 



claws. The tail is always very long, and is sometimes pre- 

 hensile. The body is covered with long hair. 



In the armadillos {Dasypodida} (Fig. 321) the head is 

 comparatively short, broad, and depressed. The number of 

 complete digits of the fore-foot varies from three to five ; 

 these are provided with powerful claws, so as to form a very 

 efficient burrowing organ. The hind-foot always has five 

 digits with smaller claws. The tail is usually well developed. 



FIG. 321. Tatu armadillo (Dasypus sexcinctus). (After Vogt and Specht.) 



The most striking external feature of the armadillos is the 

 presence of an armour of bony dermal plates. This usually 

 consists of a scapular shield of closely united plates covering 

 the anterior part of the body, followed by a series of trans- 

 verse bands separated from one another by hairy skin, and a 

 posterior pelvic shield. The tail is also usually enclosed in 

 rings of bony plates, and a number protect the upper surface 

 of the head. Dasypus occurs in southwestern Texas. 



In the scaly ant-eaters (Manis} (Fig. 322) the head is 

 produced into a short pointed muzzle. The limbs are short 



