xenarthrans

Question 1

xenarthrans

Answer 1

Pilosa and Cingulata; simple or no dentition, modified limbs for digging or climbing, increased rigidity of axial skeleton on the lumbar spine, found primarily in the neotropics

Question 2

covered in a carapace with a dermal bone plate covered in epidermal scales attached to the axial skeleton, sparse hair, reduced homodont peg teeth, mostly terrestrial or fossorial, specialized limbs for digging, insectivores, roll up when threatened, earliest fossils from paleocene

Answer 2

order Cingulata
Family Dasypodidae
armadillos

Question 3

move upside down under branches, long limbed with longer forelimbs, syndactyl, cervical vertebrae variable in number,, high neck mobility, lack incisors and canines, cylindrical rootless homodont teeth, rudimentary tail, long coarse hair, very low metabolic rate with poor temperature regulation, 3 claws

Answer 3

order Pilosa
family bradypodidae
3 toed sloths

Question 4

move upside down under branches, long limbed with longer forelimbs, syndactyl, cervical vertebrae variable in number,, high neck mobility, lack incisors and canines, cylindrical rootless homodont teeth, rudimentary tail, long coarse hair, very low metabolic rate with poor temperature regulation, 2 claws

Answer 4

order Pilosa
family megalonychidae
2 toed sloths

Question 5

long tubular rostrum with a small mouth, long sticky tongue and no teeth, insectivores, crush insects with a thickened stomach, large front legs for breaking open insect mounds

Answer 5

order Pilosa
family myrmecophagidae
giant anteaters

Question 6

distantly related to the xenarthrans but highly convergent, live in tropical Africa and Southeast Asia, covered in keratinous scales, conical skull with no teeth, long vermiform tongue, roll up for defense, prehensile tail, long curved claws on manus and pes

Answer 6

order Pholidota
family manidae
scaly anteaters and pangolins