The former name of an order that included the Xenarthra (sloths, anteaters, armadillos), Pholidota (pangolins), and Tubulidentata (aardvarks). The order was so named because of the apparent lack of some or all teeth, although most of these species are not toothless but have at least vestigial teeth. It was subsequently realized that Edentata was polyphyletic—that it contained unrelated families and was thus invalid. It is now thought that any similarities between these groups is the result of similar adaptations to a common way of life and are not indicative of actual relationships. Thus, pangolins and aardvarks are now placed in separate orders, and the order Xenarthra was established to group the remaining families (which are all related). The term edentate is now used only as a term of convenience when referring to these unusual mammals; it has no taxonomic validity.