The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 10 (of 10)Beddard, Frank E. (Frank Evers)
Science
The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 10 (of 10)
Beddard, Frank E. (Frank Evers)
Animals; Mammals
The earliest type of the Ganodonta is the genus _Hemiganus_, with but one
species, _H. otariidens_. This animal lived during the deposition of the
lowest Eocene strata, the Puerco beds of North America. It was about as big
as a fair-sized Dog, and had powerful jaws. There were at least two pairs
of incisors in the upper jaw, together with powerful canines and the full
premolar and molar formula. In the lower jaw the canines were also strong,
but the incisors are not certainly known to be more than two pairs. The
enamel upon the posterior surface of the canine is thin, and in the case of
the incisors the enamel seems to be limited to the anterior face. The lower
molars are quadritubercular. It is believed from the presence of a suture
on the upper surface of the premaxillary that the snout of the creature was
tubular. The cervical vertebrae, only known by their centra, are like those
of the Armadillos (and for the matter of that of the Whales) in the great
transverse as opposed to the antero-posterior diameter. The feet are
especially compared with those of the Ground Sloths. The single ungual
phalanx is marked by a large subungual process, which is pierced by a
considerable foramen. The tibia again is to be compared with that of the
Armadillos.
In the Upper Puerco (Torrejon) beds the remains of _Psittacotherium_ are
found. This genus, when first discovered, was referred to the Tillodontia
by some and to the Ungulates, the latter being a refuge for indeterminate
Eocene mammals, just as the "Multituberculata" is for similarly-placed
Secondary mammals. It is now known to be clearly a member of the order
Ganodonta. Wortman thinks that there is but one species, _P. multifragum_.
It seems to have had a general aspect much like that of _Hemiganus_--that
is judging from the skull--and was not very greatly different in size. The
facial portion of the skull is short, and the zygoma is deep. The
infra-orbital canal is double, a feature which crops up in the Sloth, and
has been mentioned in the later form of Ground Sloth, _Megalonyx_ (but it
must be remembered that the same characteristic is not unknown in Rodents).
The dentition is reduced as compared with that of _Hemiganus_, that is to
say, as far as concerns the molars and the incisors. There is but a single
pair of incisors in each jaw; the canines are strong; the premolar and
molar series seem to have been complete in the lower jaw, {192} but reduced
by one premolar at least in the upper jaw. It is very important to notice
that the incisors have enamel only on their anterior faces, and that the
same is the case with the canines, the slender layer present behind the
tooth in _Hemiganus_ having vanished in this later form. The tooth pattern
of the molars is like that of _Hemiganus_. The fore-limb is decidedly
Edentate-like; but it is the foot which presents the strongest likenesses
to that order. "If an anatomist," remarks Dr. Wortman, "had no other part
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