Carnivores Flashcards
What are the characteristics of the order Carnivora?
- Canine teeth always large and present
- Pre-molars and molars may be lost or reduced
- 3 incisors on both sides of the jaw
- Both radius and ulna are distinct (united in ungulates)
- Both milk teeth and permanent teeth are rooted
- 4th upper premolar and 1st lower molar are carnassial teeth
- Jaw movement is restricted to vertically
- Well developed zygomatic arches for attachment of powerful jaw muscles
- Other adaptive features (teeth, feet etc)
What teeth, specifically, are carnassial teeth?
What are they adapted for?
- 4th upper premolar and 1st lower molar
* Adapted for shearing of flesh (carnassial shear)
What is the zygomatic arch?
• Jawbone that allows for connection of powerful muscles for the jaw
What are the key distinguishing characteristics of family Canidae?
o Very well-developed carnassial teeth
o Nearly complete complement of teeth (have everything)
o Molars behind carnassial teeth with crushing surfaces
o Feet are digitigrade (walk on digits)
o Claws are non-retractile
How do you distinguish between a coyote and wolf in the field?
o Wolves carry their tail straight and the tail is long and bushy, coyote tail carried down
o Wolves have a broad snout, coyotes have a narrow snout and large ears
o Coat of wolves can vary in colour, coyote coat usually light/sandy
o Wolves are large, coyotes are small
What are the key distinguishing characteristics of the Family Ursidae?
o Lack pronounced carnassial tear (loss of carnassial shear) o More omnivorous than other carnivores o Large non-retractile claws o Diurnal or solitary o Plantigrade and ambulatory o Thick coat, small ears
What is delayed implantation?
o Embryo develops into a little ball of cells and becomes dormant until about December
o Embryo then implants in the uterus
Do bears hibernate?
o Not the classic state of hibernation we think of
o Metabolism drops 50-60%
o Heart rate can drop to 5-6 bpm
o Body temperature only drops by a few degrees
o In classic hibernation, body temperature drops to just below zero
o Bears can wake up immediately
How do you distinguish between grizzly bears and black bears?
Grizzlies: o Dish-shaped face o Short rounded ears o Shoulder hump o Long light claws
Black Bear o Straight face profile o Taller ears o No shoulder hump o Short dark claws
What are the key distinguishing characteristics of the Family Procyonidae (racoons)?
o No pronounced carnassial pair o Only 2 lower molars present o Each foot has five toes and are plantigrade o Black mask, ringed tail o Semi-arboreal
Do raccoons hibernate?
o Enter torpor, similar to bears
o Reduce activity and den together
What are the key distinguishing characteristics of the Family Mustelidae?
o Long, slender bodies, short legs o Strong sexual dimorphism o Specialized teeth o May have anal scent glands used for defense and identification o Only 1 upper molar
Which mustelids are red-listed?
o Wolverine
o Ermine
o Long-tailed weasel
o Badger
Which mustelids turn white in winter?
Weasels and ermines - not mink
Distinguishing features of Mephitidae (skunks)
- Black and white coloration (warning)
- Anal glands
- Delayed implantation
