Eomanis

Taxobox
name = "Eomanis"
fossil_range = Early Eocene


image_caption = "Eomanis waldi"
image_width = 250px
status = Fossil
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Pholidota
familia = Manidae
genus = †"Eomanis"
genus_authority = Storch, 1978

"Eomanis" is the earliest known true (and scaled) pangolin from the Middle Eocene Europe. Fossils collected from the Messel Pit, Germany, indicate that this 50 cm long animal was rather similar to the extant pangolins. However, unlike modern pangolins, its tail and legs did not bear scales. According to the stomach contents of the excellently preserved Messel specimens, "Eomanis’" diet consisted of both insects and plants. Its contemporary was the related, albeit scale-less, anteater-like "Eurotamandua".

References

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