THE GREAT ANT-EATER {Myrmccopltai;a jubata) 



The southern land-masses constitute the last refuge of a number 

 of archaic groups, among which are the Mammals poor in Teeth 

 {Edentata)^ that are most abundantly represented in South America. 

 The plate represents the Great Ant-eater {Myrniecophaga jiiba/n), 

 one of the most remarkable Edentates native to that continent. 

 If the long tail is included, its total length may be over 7 feet. 

 The digits of the inwardly turned fore-feet are armed with long 

 sharp claws, well adapted for tearing open ant-hills, and also 

 serving as formidable defensive weapons. The small mouth is 

 placed at the end of a long narrow snout, and the jaws are tooth- 

 less. Ants are secured by means of the long protrusible tongue, 

 which is made sticky by the abundant secretion of enormous 

 salivary glands. The Great Ant-eater is a ground-animal, but 

 some of its immediate relatives are small arboreal creatures. 



