Skip to main content
Journal cover image

The anatomy and function of the feeding apparatus in two armadillos (Dasypoda): anatomy is not destiny

Publication ,  Journal Article
Smith, KK; Redford, KH
Published in: Journal of Zoology
January 1, 1990

The morphology and function of the masticatory apparatus in two armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus and Euphractus sexcinctus are compared. Euphractus sexcinctus, a species restricted to South America, is omnivorous, eating a wide range of foods, including significant amounts of plant material and carrion. Dasypus novemcinctus is geographically the most widespread of all armadillos, ranging from northern Argentina into the United States. It is insectivorous‐omnivorous, apparently consuming whatever it encounters in the leaf litter. In South and Central America, this leads to a diet with a large proportion of ants and termites; in North America, the diet is considerably broadened. The teeth, jaws and jaw musculature of E. sexcinctus are large and the configuration of the jaws maximizes force production. Dasypus novemcinctus possesses derived morphology relative to the primitive condition in armadillos and exhibits many characteristics of ant and termite‐eating mammals, including reduced jaw muscles, teeth and facial bones. The apparent morphological specializations for myrmecophagy in D. novemcinctus do not, however, constrain its diet to ants and termites. It is broadly omnivorous, especially in North America. Our data highlight the difficulties in predicting diet from morphological analysis and raise questions concerning the behavioural limits imposed by morphological specialization. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Zoology

DOI

EISSN

1469-7998

ISSN

0952-8369

Publication Date

January 1, 1990

Volume

222

Issue

1

Start / End Page

27 / 47

Related Subject Headings

  • Zoology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Smith, K. K., & Redford, K. H. (1990). The anatomy and function of the feeding apparatus in two armadillos (Dasypoda): anatomy is not destiny. Journal of Zoology, 222(1), 27–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1990.tb04027.x
Smith, K. K., and K. H. Redford. “The anatomy and function of the feeding apparatus in two armadillos (Dasypoda): anatomy is not destiny.” Journal of Zoology 222, no. 1 (January 1, 1990): 27–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1990.tb04027.x.
Smith KK, Redford KH. The anatomy and function of the feeding apparatus in two armadillos (Dasypoda): anatomy is not destiny. Journal of Zoology. 1990 Jan 1;222(1):27–47.
Smith, K. K., and K. H. Redford. “The anatomy and function of the feeding apparatus in two armadillos (Dasypoda): anatomy is not destiny.” Journal of Zoology, vol. 222, no. 1, Jan. 1990, pp. 27–47. Scopus, doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1990.tb04027.x.
Smith KK, Redford KH. The anatomy and function of the feeding apparatus in two armadillos (Dasypoda): anatomy is not destiny. Journal of Zoology. 1990 Jan 1;222(1):27–47.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Zoology

DOI

EISSN

1469-7998

ISSN

0952-8369

Publication Date

January 1, 1990

Volume

222

Issue

1

Start / End Page

27 / 47

Related Subject Headings

  • Zoology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences