edentate

mammal order

Also known as: Edentata

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June 25, 2026

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The term "edentate" refers to mammals that have few or no teeth. This group includes sloths, armadillos, and New World anteaters. Historically, the order Edentata also encompassed pangolins and aardvarks. The word "edentate" itself derives from Latin roots meaning "missing tooth". In modern classification, the term "edentate" is often used interchangeably with "xenarthran," which includes the orders Cingulata (armadillos) and Pilosa (anteaters and sloths).123

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avoidance behaviour
Protection reflexes, armour, and spines
South American toothless animals (edentates) such as anteaters are probably survivors of a comparable early development in mammals. The armour of armadillos and the presence of bony plates in the skin of the extinct sloths suggest that the whole group may derive from an armoured ancestor. The appearance of…
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South American toothless animals (edentates) such as anteaters are probably survivors of a comparable early development in mammals. The armour of armadillos and the presence of bony plates in the skin of the extinct sloths suggest that the whole group may derive from an armoured ancestor. The appearance of…
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pangolin
Natural history
Pangolins differ from edentates, however, in many fundamental anatomic characteristics. The earliest fossil Pholidota date from the middle of the Eocene Epoch (56 million to 33.9 million years ago) in Germany.
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Pangolins differ from edentates, however, in many fundamental anatomic characteristics. The earliest fossil Pholidota date from the middle of the Eocene Epoch (56 million to 33.9 million years ago) in Germany.
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mammal
Classification
Xenarthra (edentates, or xenarthrans) 31 species in 2 orders. Order Cingulata (armadillos) 20 species in 1 family. Order Pilosa (anteaters and sloths) 10 species in 4 families.
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Xenarthra (edentates, or xenarthrans) 31 species in 2 orders. Order Cingulata (armadillos) 20 species in 1 family. Order Pilosa (anteaters and sloths) 10 species in 4 families.
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