CHAP. XV1I."| 



MAMMALIA. 



247 



Family 75.— MYRMECOPHAGID^. (3 Genera, 5 Species.) 



General Distribution. 



The true ant-eaters are strictly confined to the wooded portions 

 of the Neotropical region, ranging from Honduras to Paraguay on 

 the East side of the Andes. The three genera now generally 

 admitted are : Myrmecophaga (1 sp.), the great ant-eater, 

 Northern Brazil to Paraguay; Tamandua (2 sp.), 4-toed ant- 

 eaters, Guatemala, Ecuador to Paraguay (Plate XIV. vol. ii. p. 

 24) ; Cydothnrus (2 sp.), 2-toed ant-eaters, Honduras and Costa 

 Rica to Brazil. 



Extinct Ant-eaters. — The only extinct form of this family 

 seems to be the Glossotherium, found in the caves of Brazil, and 

 the Tertiary deposits of Uruguay. It is said to be allied to 

 Myrmecophaga and Manis. 



General Remarks on the Distribution of the Edentata. 



These singular animals are almost confined to South America, 

 where they constitute an important part of the fauna. In 

 Africa, two family types are scantily represented, and one of 

 these extends over all the Oriental region. In Pliocene and Post- 

 Pliocene times the Edentata were wonderfully developed in South 

 America, many of them being huge animals, rivalling in bulk, 

 the rhinoceros and hippopotamus. As none of these forms 

 resemble those of Africa, while the only European fossil Edentata 

 are of African type, it seems probable that South Africa, like 

 South America, was a centre of development for this group of 

 mammalia ; and it is in the highest degree probable that, should 

 extensive fluviatile deposits of Pliocene or Miocene age be dis- 

 covered in the former country, an extinct fauna, not less strange 

 and grotesque than that of South America, will be brought to 



Vol. 11—17 



