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. 





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Fig. 321. — TatU armadillo (Dasypits 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 (Mam's) (Fig. 322) the head is 

 produced into a short pointed muzzle. The limbs are short 



