History of taxonomy Both the Pholidota and Palaeanodonta orders were formerly placed with other orders of ant-eating mammals, most notably
Xenarthra (
armadillos,
sloths,
anteaters, which they superficially resemble); some
palaeontologists, throughout the history of
zoology, have placed pangolins and palaeanodonts as a suborder, Pholidota, in the greater order
Cimolesta, alongside the extinct family
Ernanodontidae (as a separate suborder Ernanodonta) near it. However, this idea fell out of favor when it was determined that cimolestids were not truly placental mammals. Newer genetic evidence indicates instead that the closest living relatives to Pholidota are the members of order
Carnivora, together forming the mirorder
Ferae. In 2009, pangolins and palaeanodonts were together placed within the clade Pholidotamorpha. A 2026 study of
Eurotamandua remains, found that this extinct genus alongside extinct genis
Euromanis are not members of order Pholidota and are more closely related to order Palaeanodonta. Members of extinct order
Pantolesta are also recognised to be close relative of clade Pholidotamorpha, based on their dental and postcranial similarities, and
semi-fossorial adaptations.
Classification Phylogeny ==See also==