. An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct. Mammals. 54° CARNIVORA. Flo. 244. -Skull and Dentition of the Aard-Wolf (Proteles cristatus). ^ natural size. 4 3 or 4 32. C7, S 2, fore the Aard-Wolf or Earth-Wolf of the Dutch colonists of the Cape, an animal nearly allied to the Hysenas, but remarkably modified in its dentition, the molar teeth being very small, placed far apart, and almost • rudi- mentary in char- acter (Fig. 244). The canines are long and rather slender. The dental formula is c \, p and m ; total 30 or Vertebrae : D 15, L 5, 0 24. The feet with five toes ; the
. An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct. Mammals. 54° CARNIVORA. Flo. 244. -Skull and Dentition of the Aard-Wolf (Proteles cristatus). ^ natural size. 4 3 or 4 32. C7, S 2, fore the Aard-Wolf or Earth-Wolf of the Dutch colonists of the Cape, an animal nearly allied to the Hysenas, but remarkably modified in its dentition, the molar teeth being very small, placed far apart, and almost • rudi- mentary in char- acter (Fig. 244). The canines are long and rather slender. The dental formula is c \, p and m ; total 30 or Vertebrae : D 15, L 5, 0 24. The feet with five toes ; the pollex though short, with a distinct claw'. The hind feet with four subequal toes. Claws all strong, blunt, sub- compressed, and non-retractile. The general external appearance is very like that of a small Striped Hysena, but the muzzle is more pointed and the ears larger. It has a copious mane of long hair, capable of being erected when the animal is excited, along the middle line of the neck and back. It is a native of South Africa, and is a burrowing nocturnal aninial, feeding on decomposing animal substances, larvae, and termites. Observations upon speci- mens in captivity indicate that it has neither inclination nor power to attack or feed upon living vertebrated animals. Some writers regard Proteles as representing a subfamily of the Hycenidce?- Family ' Skull with no alisphenoid canal; and the auditory bulla not divided by a septum into two chambers. Dorsal vertebrae 15. Molars usually \, but in some fossil forms ^, or f, the second lower molar being very small; upper carnassial with three distinct lobes; lower carnassial with a large blade and small talon. No entepicondylar foramen to the This family is confined to the Old World, where it is now represented by a single genus, which, although evidently nearly related to the Viverridce, is sufficiently distinct to be regarded as not referable to that family. The extinct Iditherium, however, as alread
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