Together with the armadillos, which are in the order Cingulata, pilosans are part of the larger superorder Xenarthra, a defining characteristic of which is the presence of xenarthrals (extra formations between lumbar vertebrae). In the past, Pilosa was regarded as a suborder of the order Xenarthra, while some more recent classifications regard Pilosa as an order within the superorder Xenarthra.
Pilosans, in conjunction with armadillos in the Cingulata order, are part of the larger grouping Xenarthra, marked by the presence of xenarthrals. In the past, Pilosa was regarded as a subgroup within Xenarthra, whereas more recent classifications now place it as an independent order under the superorder.