An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct / by William Henry Flower and Richard Lydekker.

Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct / by William Henry Flower and Richard Lydekker. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    HAPALID^ of the Oriental region; but, as already mentioned, outlying species extend into various parts of the Paltearctic region. Macacus has indeed a very wide distribution, extending from Gibraltar and North Africa to Japan. The allied Cynopitliecus, rejaresented only by C. niger of Celebes, approximates to the Baboons ; while the one species of Nasalis is peculiar to Borneo. Eemains of Semnopithecus and Macacus occur in the Tertiaries of India and Europe, which also yield allied extinct types noticed in the sequel. In America, north of Panama, the genera known to be repre- sented are Chrysothrix, Nydipithecus, Cebus, A teles, Mycetes and Hapale in Veragua; Nyctipithecus, Cebus, Ateles, and Mijcetes in Costa Eica and Nicaragua; Ateles and Mycetes in Guatemala ; and Ateles in Southern Mexico. Brazil is the headquarters of the American Apes; but different portions of that vast region have a somewhat distinct Ape fauna. Thus the genus Eriodes appears in South-Eastern Brazil to represent the species of Ateles inhabiting the more northern and western parts of the empire. Southwards, the genera Cehus, Mycetes, Chrysothrix, and Callithrix extend farthest; but they do not probably all extend to the farthest limit yet known, namely 30° S. The species found farthest south are Mycetes caraya, Cehus fatuellus, and Callithrix personatus. Family Hapalid^e. Dentition : * f, c i, f, m f ] total 32. No bony external auditory meatus, a broad internarial septum, and no cheek-pouches. Tail non-prehensile ; no ischiatic callosities. PoUex not opposable ; a long, curved, and pointed claw to all the digits except the hallux. This family, which includes the smallest representatives of the suborder, commonly known as Marmosets, is confined to the New World. In addition to the diagnostic characters given above, it may be mentioned that the poUex is elongated and the hallux very small, while the pectoral limbs are not longer than the pelvic pair; and the tail is long and more or less thickly covered with elongated hairs. The dentition of the Marmosets suflBciently distinguishes them from all other members of the suborder, although they are evidently nearly allied to the Cebidce. The small size of the hallux, and the total incapacity of the poUex to oppose itself in the least degree to the other digits, as well as the presence of claws on all the digits of the manus, are, however, equally characteristic features. These animals (Fig. 337) are not larger than Squirrels, and are of active arboreal habits, living in small companies, and adding insects to the ordinary fruit diet. Frequently, as in the figured species, the head IS furnished on either side with a long tuft of hair projecting out- wards and backwards. They give birth to as many as three yoimo-