Extinct genus of pangolins
Eurotamandua ("european "Tamandua"") is an extinct genus of mammal from extinct family Eurotamanduidae that lived during the middle Eocene.
A single fossil is known, coming from the Messel Pit in southwestern Germany. "Eurotamandua" was about long. Most palaeontologists now classify "Eurotamandua" as a pangolin. When its fossils were first discovered, "Eurotamandua" was originally thought to be an anteater, as it lacked the characteristic fused-hair scales of other pangolins. "Eurotamandua"'s placement within the pangolins was made primarily because of a lack of the characteristic "xenarthran" joints found in all xenarthrans, including tamanduas.
There is still much ambiguity in the taxonomy of all mammals prior to the Eocene, so there is the possibility that "Eurotamandua" was a primitive xenarthran. However, this is highly unlikely because all known fossil evidence indicates that xenarthrans existed exclusively in South America from the beginning of the Cenozoic era until the formation of the Panama land bridge 3 million years ago, after which they spread to North America (but never to Eurasia or Africa). Another possibility is that "Eurotamandua" belongs to another group of mammals which appeared around its time, the Afredentata (probably part of Afrotheria). "Eurotamandua" is currently thought to be a stem-pangolin, closer to crown pangolins than Palaeanodonta and "Euromanis" but more basal than "Eomanis" and "Necromanis".
Paleobiology.
"Eurotamandua" bears characteristics found in almost all ant-eating mammals: long claws, an elongated snout, and most likely the same long, sticky tongue. These features led "Eurotamandua" to be initially misclassified as a xenarthran anteater, which was common for many ant-eating mammals prior to the 20th century. Presumably it also fed on ants and termites. The generic name comments on the strong, albeit possibly superficial resemblance to modern arboreal anteaters of the genus "Tamandua", especially with its long, prehensile tail.
Phylogeny.
Phylogenetic position of genus "Eurotamandua" within order Pholidota.
References.
 ;templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" / ;