Pholidotamorpha (meaning "pangolin-like forms") is a clade of placental mammals within the mirorder Ferae. It encompasses the order Pholidota (which includes all extant pangolins and their extinct relatives) and the extinct order Palaeanodonta (stem-pangolins), along with certain other extinct taxa such as Eurotamandua and Euromanis.
Classification and Taxonomy
The clade Pholidotamorpha was named by Gaudin et al. in 2009. It is defined as a node-based clade: "the least inclusive clade including the common ancestor of Metacheiromys dasypus and Manis pentadactyla and its descendants."
Subgroups
- Order Pholidota (Weber, 1904) — pangolins (extant and extinct)
- Order †Palaeanodonta (Matthew, 1918) — stem-pangolins (extinct)
- Order †Afredentata (Szalay & Schrenk, 1994) — including the family †Eurotamanduidae
- Incertae sedis: †Arcticanodon, †Melaniella
Evolutionary History
Historically, pangolins (Pholidota) and palaeanodonts were grouped with other ant-eating mammals such as xenarthrans (anteaters, sloths, and armadillos), which they superficially resemble. Some paleontologists placed them within the order Cimolesta. However, newer genetic evidence indicates that the closest living relatives of Pholidota are members of the order Carnivora, together forming the mirorder Ferae.
The fossil record of Pholidotamorpha extends from the Paleocene to the present day. Members of the extinct order Pantolesta are also recognized as close relatives of Pholidotamorpha, based on dental and postcranial similarities and semi-fossorial adaptations.
Characteristics
Pholidotamorphs are placental mammals that are primarily myrmecophagous (ant- and termite-eating). They are characterized by adaptations for feeding on social insects, including elongated snouts, long tongues, and robust claws for breaking into insect nests. Extant pangolins are further distinguished by their covering of overlapping keratinous scales.
