376 BASTPODID^. 



The differences in the form of the bones of the feet are described 

 and figured in Cuvier's ' Oss. Foss. ; ' but he does not appear to have 

 been aware of the differences in the habit and mode of walking. 



Dr. Burmeister, in ' System. Uebers. der Thiere Brasiliens,' p. 276, 

 1854, divides the genus Dasypus of Linn^ into two subgenera — 

 Dasyptis and Praopus — the latter for D. 9-cmcttis of Linnaeus, and 

 synonymous with the genus Dasypus as restricted by Wagler. 



Fam. 3. DASYPODID^. 



The dorsal disk closely attached to the back of the animal, divided 

 in the middle by free rings into scapular and pelvic shields ; pelvic 

 shield free from the pelvis. Scapular and pelvic shields moderate ; 

 central rings several. Feet strong ; hind toes free ; claws large. 

 SkuU smooth above, and separate from the frontal shield. Tail 

 elongate. Pdtochlamydes. — Oray, P. Z.S. 1865, p. 371. 

 Dasypodina, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 371. 



See development of teeth, Flower, P. Z. S. 1868, p. 378, and Ger- 

 vais. Hist. Mam. ii. p. 252, fig. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



A. Digitigrade. Backs of feet round, covered unth plates; toes of the front 



and hind feet separate ; claws conical. Head elongate ; ears close to- 

 gether. Choerochlainydea. 



1. Tatttsia. ToeS'57\i> Tail with rings of plates. 



B. Plantigrade. Stiles of feetjlat, callous, with a prominent heel; toes of 



fore feet united to the claws, compressed ; claws compressed, sharp-Sdged 

 helov). Toes of hind feet separate ; claws elongate. Sead broad ; ears 

 far apart. Platychlamydes. 



* Head conical. Teeth many, small. , 



2. Pbionodos. Toes 5.5; middle front very large ; outer front 



toes very small. Intermaxillary toothless. Four front bands 

 of tesserae of the scapular shield partially free. 



■** Head flat, conical. Teeth few, nine or ten, large; intermaxillary with 

 one tooth on each side. 



3. Dasxttis. TaU round at the base, tesserae convex. Marginal 



plates of the dorsal disk small ; 'nuchal band linear, broad to 

 the end ; first band of plates of the scapular shield fixed like 

 the rest. 



*** Head broad, conical. Teeth few, nine or ten, large ; intermaxillary 



toothless. 



4. Ettpheacitis. Tail ringed at the base ; tesserae convex. Mar- 



ginal plates of the dorsal disk falcate ; nuchal band narrow at 

 the sides ; first band of the scapular disk more or less free. 



5. Xbnubtts. Tail rather naked, with sunken shields. 



