[4] Eomanis fossils found in the Messel Pit in Germany are very similar in size and anatomy to living pangolins of the genus Manis, indicating that pangolins have remained largely unchanged in morphology and behavior for 50 million years.

[citation needed] According to the stomach contents of the excellently preserved Messel specimens, Eomanis’ diet consisted of both insects and plants.

Another early mammal discovered in the Messel Pit that was similar in anatomy and likely also had an insectivorous diet was Eurotamandua.

In addition, xenarthrans existed exclusively in South America for almost the entire Cenozoic era.

They spread to North America after the Panama land bridge formed 3 million years ago, but never reached Eurasia or Africa.