FAM. 3. DASYPODIDAE.--The family Dasypodidae or Armadillos contains a considerable number of genera. _Tatusia_, _Tolypeutes_, _Dasypus_, _Xenurus_, _Priodon_,[109] and _Chlamydophorus_. They have all a more or less rigid covering of bony plates imbedded in the skin, which are not in the least comparable with the scales of the Manis. Save the Whales, in one or two genera of which traces of a dermal armature exist, the Armadillos are unique among existing mammals in this particular. The term "Edentate" is especially inapplicable to the Armadillos; the genus _Priodon_ may have more than forty teeth in each jaw; a total of ninety was found in one specimen examined by Professor Kuekenthal. In the tendency of the teeth to multiply, we have another example of a state of affairs which characterises so many Whales. Generally, however, seven to nine is the number of teeth in each {174} half jaw, of which one is often implanted in the premaxilla. The Armadillos show their alliance with the other American Edentates in the points enumerated above. Their teeth specially ally them to the Sloths, while the salivary and digestive organs generally are on the Anteater plan, but present a less extreme development. There are, however, caeca, paired as in birds, in the genera _Dasypus_ and _Chlamydophorus_. The others have none. But there is a dilatation at the commencement of the large intestine, which is not very different from the slightly-developed caeca of _Dasypus_. There are certain peculiarities in the skeleton, which distinguish this family. [Illustration] FIG. 99.--Skull of Armadillo. _Dasypus sexcinctus._ x 2/3. _ex.oc_, Exoccipital; _fr_, frontal; _max_, maxilla; _nas_, nasal; _par_, parietal; _peri_, periotic; _p.max_, premaxilla; _s.oc_, supraoccipital; _sq_, squamosal; _ty_, tympanic. (From Parker and Haswell's _Zoology_.) {175} [Illustration] [Illustration] FIG. 100.--Bones of the right manus of the Hairy Armadillo. _Dasypus villosus._ x 2/3. _c_, Cuneiform; _l_, lunar; _m_, magnum; _p_, pisiform; _R_, radius; _s_, scaphoid; _td_, trapezoid; _tm_, trapezium; _u_, unciform; _U_, ulna; _I-V_, digits. (From Flower's _Osteology_.) FIG. 101.--Bones of the manus of the Great Armadillo. _Priodon giganteus._ x 1/3. _a_, An accessory carpal ossicle in front of the pisiform, which is not seen in the figure. Other letters as in Fig. 100. (From Flower's _Osteology_.)