EDENTATES

(order Edentata), an order of primitive Eutherian mammals found in America, Asia, and Africa. Their name, signifying ‘toothle animals,’ is misleading; for while functional teeth are absent in some, in others a series of simi teeth, lacking enamel, develops. In all forms, however, front or incisor teeth are absent, in most there are no functional milk teeth, and anteaters have no teeth at all. The feet are furnished with long, strong, nonretractile, and curved claws, adapted for climbing or burrowing, but causing the animals to walk with awkward gait. They are vegetarian, or in the majority of cases insectivorous. Fo il forms have been found in Upper Cretacious formations in S. America. The order Edentata falls into two distinct sub-orders, with few structural features to connect them. The New World forms are grouped in sub-order I., Xenarthra, the members of which have acce ory articulations on the lumbar and posterior dorsal vertebrae. They include the sloths (Bradymals which move back downwards amongst the branches in S. and Central Amer. forests, clinging always with their curved claws. They are shy, nocturnal, dull creatures, and live on leaves, young shoots of trees, and fruits. ANTEATERS (Myrmecophagidae) are confined to Central and S. America, but ArmMaADILLos (Dasypod i dae) range northwards to Texas. Remains of many extinct forms have been found in the Tertiary formations of America: the gigantic ground the elephant in bulk of body, and somewhat resembling sloths and ant-eaters; the scarcely le large Mylodon, with dermal bony plates; the herbivorous by prehistoric Patagonians; and the armadillo-like Glyptodon and its relatives, with body protected by a coat of bony plates. The Old World Edentates form suborder Ii, Nomarthra or Effodientia, without acce ory articulating proce es on the lumbar and dorsal vertebrae; only two distinct families—pangolins (Manidae), found in Africa, India, and S. E. Asia, burrowing creatures with strong, horny scales, which completely shield them when they roll into a ball, | no teeth, but a long protrusible tongue for catching termites on which they mainly feed; aard-varks (Orycteropodidae), which are confined to Africa.