Micro-computed tomography indicates Eurotamandua, putative anteater from the Eocene of Messel, Germany, is related to pangolins, not xenarthrans

A re-evaluation of Eurotamandua joresi, a 47-million-year-old fossil from the Messel Pit in Germany, reveals it is not an ancient anteater but instead closely related to pangolins and their extinct relatives. Using micro-computed tomography (μCT) on the original skeleton—previously obscured by matrix compression and fiberglass resin—the study identified unique anatomical features, particularly in the forelimb, that indicate Eurotamandua was a specialized digger. Phylogenetic analysis confirms its affiliation with Holarctic palaeanodonts (Pholidotamorpha), not Xenarthra, challenging long-held assumptions about Old World xenarthrans. This finding resolves decades of debate and provides new insights into the evolutionary history of mammals during the Eocene.

Rose, K. D., Rabenstein, R., Habersetzer, J., & Gaudin, T. J. (2026). Micro-computed tomography indicates Eurotamandua, putative anteater from the Eocene of Messel, Germany, is related to pangolins, not xenarthrans. Scientific Reports, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-51713-6