Order Pilosa

The order Pilosa includes anteaters, tamanduas, and sloths that are characterized by an extra zygapophysis in the posterior part of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae; teeth absent; body not covered with horny scutes; pterygoids meeting at the midline, palate extending posteriorly to the auditory bullae. Distribution restricted to the American continent. Only two families with one species each occur in North America: Cyclopedidae and Myrmecophagidae. The order Pilosa was previously included within the order Edentata (Simpson 1945) or the order Xenarthra (Wilson and Reeder 1993).