Order Pholidota (Noun)
Meaning
Pangolins; in some former classifications included in the order Edentata.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, belong to the unique order Pholidota.
- The order Pholidota is a group of mammals comprising one family, Manidae, which includes eight species of pangolins.
- The name Pholidota comes from the Greek word "pholidotos", meaning "clad in scales", which refers to the distinctive armor of pangolins.
- In some former classifications, pangolins were included in the order Edentata, but they are now recognized as a distinct group within the order Pholidota.
- The order Pholidota is thought to have diverged from other mammals over 80 million years ago, and its members have since evolved unique characteristics.