Eurotamandua

Eurotamandua is an extinct animal that is known for being one of the earliest and most primitive members of the order Pholidota, which includes the living pangolins.
Eurotamandua lived in the middle Eocene, about 47 million years ago, and its fossils have been found in Germany, in the Messel Pit and the Geiseltal.
Eurotamandua had a tubular and toothless snout, a long and prehensile tail, and long claws on its front limbs, which are adaptations for feeding on ants and termites.
Eurotamandua was originally thought to be related to the anteaters, which are members of the order Xenarthra, but later studies have shown that it lacks the distinctive xenarthran joints and that it has more similarities with the pangolins.
However, Eurotamandua did not have the characteristic scales of the pangolins, and its exact phylogenetic position within the Pholidota is still uncertain.
Some researchers have suggested that Eurotamandua may belong to another group of mammals, the Afredentata, which are part of the Afrotheria.
Eurotamandua was about 90 cm long and had a robust and muscular body.
It was probably a terrestrial animal, but it may have also been able to climb trees.
Eurotamandua is an interesting example of convergent evolution, as it shows how different groups of mammals evolved similar features to exploit the same ecological niche.

Eurotamandua is an extinct genus of mammal that lived during the middle Eocene, about 49 million years ago.

It is known from a single fossil specimen found in the Messel Pit in southwestern Germany.

Eurotamandua was about 90 cm (35 in) long and had a long, prehensile tail.

It probably fed on ants and termites, as it had long claws and an elongated snout.

The exact classification of Eurotamandua is uncertain.

It was initially thought to be an anteater, because it lacked the scales that are characteristic of pangolins.

However, later studies suggested that it was a primitive pangolin, based on the structure of its joints.

Another possibility is that Eurotamandua belonged to a group of mammals called Afredentata, which are related to elephants and hyraxes.

The Eurotamandua was an ancient mammal
That lived in the Eocene era
It had a long snout and a prehensile tail
And fed on ants and termites with its tongue

It was not a true anteater, but a pangolin
Or maybe a relative of the afrotheres
Its fossils were found in the Messel Pit
In Germany, where it once roamed the earth

Eurotamandua, you are a mystery
A puzzle of evolution and history
You look like a tamandua, but you are not
You have no scales, but you are hot

You lived in a time when the world was young
When mammals were diverse and life was fun
You ate your insects with a sticky lick
And used your tail to hang from a stick

You are a wonder of nature, Eurotamandua
A marvel of adaptation and survival
You are gone now, but you left a trace
In the fossil record, you have a place