The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 1 of 5] : $b Fossil mammaliaOwen, Richard
Science
The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 1 of 5] : $b Fossil mammalia
Owen, Richard
Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Mammals, Fossil; Paleontology -- South America; Zoology
imagination may readily conceive it to be the centre of a rosette,
around which the smaller ones arrange themselves, but there is no
regular system of rosettes, as in the portions of the dermal armour of
the Glyptodon figured by Weiss, and those brought to England by Sir
Woodbine Parish, in which the central piece is double the size of the
marginal ones.
The portions of the tesselated bony dermal covering of a Dasypodoid
quadruped, figured in Pl. XXXII. figs. 5 and 4, of the natural size,
were discovered folded round the middle and ungueal phalanges, figs. 2
and 3, at Punta Alta, in Bahia Blanca, in an earthy bed interstratified
with the conglomerate containing the remains of the fossil Edentals.
In one of these fragments, measuring six inches long by five broad, the
tesseræ are arranged in rosettes, and so closely correspond in size and
pattern with the bony armour described by M. Lund, as characterizing his
species, _Hoplophorus euphractus_, that I feel no hesitation in
referring them to that animal. One of the pattern rosettes is figured at
fig. 4, together with the thickness of the armour at this part, and the
coarse tubulo-cellular structure of the bone. Another portion of dermal
armour from the same locality, gives the pattern shown in fig. 5, formed
by square or pentagonal tesseræ, arranged in transverse rows; it is
certain that this portion of armour belonged to the same animal as the
preceding piece; and probably that it constituted part of the transverse
dorsal bands of the _Hoplophorus_.
The middle and ungueal phalanx, as well as the portions of armour, are
given of the natural size, in Pl. XXXII. The upper and outer surface of
the phalanx, is shown in fig. 2. It is smooth and flat; joins the inner
surface by a sharp edge, which runs along the upper and inner side of
the bone; and passes by a gradual convexity to the under surface; the
ridge corresponding with the base of the claw, is feebly developed at
the under and lateral parts of the base of the claw. Below the double
trochlear joint for the middle phalanx, there are two articular surfaces
for two large sesamoid bones.
The middle phalanx corresponds in its small antero-posterior diameter
and wedge-shape, with that of the great Glyptodon: but the terminal
phalanx is longer and deeper, in proportion to its breadth.
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