CHAPTER X
Homalodontotheria

The forms making up the Homalodontotheria are characterized by a dentition which is clearly a derivative of that of Toxodontia, but is distinguished by the teeth being brachydont, by the canines being the teeth which tend to become tush-like, though not advancing to a marked degree. But the distinctive feature of the suborder is found in the feet, which are clawed, the ungual phalanges being deeply cleft; and further, the animals seem to have walked on the sides of the foot, suggesting the Ancylopoda; but there does not seem to have been a phylogeretic relationship, rather it is a case of parallel development. Most of the forms found are of considerable size, and they are relatively scarce in all the formations.

The representatives of the group in the Deseado all belong to the genus Asmodeus, which seems to be directly ancestral to the Santa Cruz genus Homalodontotherium, which seems to be the last representative of the series, no specimens, referable to the suborder having been found in later beds.

Asmodeus Ameghino

Asmodeus Amegh., 1895, Bol. Inst. Geog. Argen., t. 15, p. 643.
Asmodeus Amegh., 1897, Bol. Inst. Geog. Argen., t. 18, p. 476.

The formula is

the upper incisors have pits in the crowns; the canines are moderately enlarged; the upper premolars and molars consist of an external wall, with an anterior and posterior lobe, the lower premolars and molars are typically like those of toxodonts. Two species have been distinguished, a larger, A. osborni, and a smaller, A. scotti. Our collection contains seven specimens, all of which should apparently be assigned to A. osborni.

Asmodeus osborni Ameghino