Name:
Eurotamandua ("European tamandua," a modern genus of anteater); pronounced YOUR-oh-TAM-an-DO-ah
Habitat:
Woodlands of western Europe
Historical Epoch:
Middle Eocene (50-40 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 3 feet long and 25 pounds
Diet:
Ants
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Large size; powerful front limbs; long, tube-like snout
About Eurotamandua:
In an odd reversal of the usual pattern with megafauna mammals, Eurotamandua wasn't significantly bigger than modern anteaters; in fact, this three-foot-long creature was considerably smaller than the modern Giant Anteater, which can attain lengths of over six feet. However, there's no mistaking Eurotamandua's diet, which can be inferred from its long, tubular snout, powerful, clawed front limbs (which were used for digging up anthills), and muscular, gripping tail (which held it in place as it settled in for a nice, long meal). What's less clear is whether Eurotamandua was a true anteater, or a prehistoric mammal more closely related to modern pangolins; paleontologists are still debating the issue.
