134 TROPICAL SAVANAS 



Among the various mole-like forms of Africa mention 

 may be made of the little sand-rats (Heterocephalus) 

 of the sandy deserts of Somahland. These little animals 

 — which are no bigger than a mouse — are nearly naked, 

 perhaps as an adaptation to Mfe in sandy soil. They 

 resemble moles in having no external ears, and in their 

 almost functionless eyes. 



, Of the rodents of South America the majority have a 

 wide distribution, ranging from the true savanas south- 

 ward to the pampas of the Argentine and the plains of 

 Patagonia. The viscacha {Lagostomus trichodctctylus), 

 according to Mr. W. H. Hudson the most typical 

 inhabitant of the pampas, extends beyond their limits, 

 though scarcely into the savanas proper. On the 

 other hand the mole-Hke tucotucos (Ctenomys) are 

 burrowing animals, which occupy sandy regions from 

 Brazil and Bolivia to the extreme south. The coypu 

 (Myopotamus), an aquatic form haunting the banks of 

 rivers and lakes, has an even wider distribution. Many 

 species of cavy also occur, some being partial to moist 

 situations, while others dwell in rocky regions. The 

 largest living rodent, the capivara or capybara {Hydro- 

 choerus capivara) has a very wide distribution, and is 

 aquatic in its habits, frequenting the margins of lakes 

 and rivers, but also feeding on the open plains. 



Of the South American Edentates most of the arma- 

 dillos inhabit open country within the tropics, though 

 some extend into extra-tropical regions. Most prefer 

 arid regions, and feed on insects and carrion, together 

 with some vegetable matter. The tiny pichiciago or 

 fairy armadillo (Chlamydophorus)' is found in sandy 

 regions in the western part of the Argentine where the 

 vegetation consists of cactuses and thorny brushwood. 

 It burrows with great rapidity, and is very sensitive 



