. Elementary text-book of zoology. Zoology. EDENTATA. 305 II.— PLACENTALIA. I. — Adecicluata. Order 3. — EDENTATA* (BRUTA). iritli uic(nii[>l<'1 di ,,1/iiun, I'mndhj trillt numerous grinder* roafx, <m<l xr/-<//c/, /',/</ or curve / claws an the extremities. This group which includes but few genera is characterised by the relatively low grade of development of all the systems of organs and especially by the incomplete dentition, teeth being in exceptional cases altogether wanting. Except in the case of a single Dasypod the incisors are always absent (lig. Sii). When canine tee
. Elementary text-book of zoology. Zoology. EDENTATA. 305 II.— PLACENTALIA. I. — Adecicluata. Order 3. — EDENTATA* (BRUTA). iritli uic(nii[>l<'1 di ,,1/iiun, I'mndhj trillt numerous grinder* roafx, <m<l xr/-<//c/, /',/</ or curve / claws an the extremities. This group which includes but few genera is characterised by the relatively low grade of development of all the systems of organs and especially by the incomplete dentition, teeth being in exceptional cases altogether wanting. Except in the case of a single Dasypod the incisors are always absent (lig. Sii). When canine teeth are present they are small, blunt, and conical. The grinders als > are weak and of simple structure, being without roots and enamel. Many (Vermilinguia and Da-sypoda) arc insectivorous, others ]>'/<f) phytophagous. They are all sluggish, .stupid animals, with small brain without convolutions ; they climb or dig holes, and at the present time only inhabit the southern zones. Except the African Orycteropus and the genus , which lives in Africa and Asia, they are all confined to South America ^IG- ^8- — Skull of. Fam. Vermilinguia (Ant-caters). With very elongated, pointed snout, narrow mouth, from which the thin, vermiform tongue can be protruded to a great distance. The jaw-; are weak. Teeth are altogether absent, except in On/ctr- rnjins, which possesses numerous grinders formed of longitudinal hollow fibres and scarcely of the hardness of bone. The legs are short, strong, and adapted fur digging ; they are used for scraping up the nests of Ants and Termites. They extend their long viscous tongue into the ant-heaps thus broken into : the insects bite firmly hold of it, and by the rapid retraction of the tongue become the prey of the Ant-eater. MijTineoopliarja jnlmtu L. ; M. tctnulni^i/ln (tamandna Desm.). dtilm-ft/lti South America. Mania. Pangolin ; M. in/ic- rura Erxl., West coast of Africa: M. In-iu-ln/iint Erxl. and juntnica bot
Size: 1863px × 1341px
Photo credit: © Paul Fearn / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
