Eomanis
| Eomanis Temporal range: Early Eocene | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Eomanis waldi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Pholidota |
| Family: | Manidae |
| Genus: | †Eomanis Storch, 1978 |
| Species | |
| |
Fossil
Eomanis ("dawn pangolin") is the earliest known true (and scaled) pangolin from the Middle Eocene of Europe. Fossils collected from the Messel Pit, Germany, indicate that this 50 cm long animal was rather similar to living 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 similar, albeit scale-less, anteater-like Eurotamandua.[1]
References
- Cox, Barry; Savage, R.J.G.; Gardiner, Brian; Dixon, Dougal (1988). "Insectivores and creodonts". Macmillan Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. Macmillan London Limited. p. 213. ISBN 0-333-48699-4.
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