Module 10: Species Identification-Mammals Flashcards
Taxonomy
Science of ordering and naming
Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, spcies
Increasingly more distinct
Chordata
Several classes, but focus is on these 5:
Mammalia-live young and suckle
Aves-birds
Reptilian
Amphibia-air and water dwelling
Pisces-fish
Same species-same key features
Species determination
Difficult based on bones alone-some elements diagnostic, some not
Try to family level, but sometimes order or class must suffice
General classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata (vertebrates-spinal cord)
Class Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia, Pisces
Order Monotremata (egg-laying mammals)
Tachyglossidae (echidnas, also called spiny anteaters) and Ornithorhynchidae (platypuses)
Order Marsupialia (pouched animals)
Caenolestidae (rat opossums), Diddeelphidae (true opossums), Dasyuridae
(native cats, native mice), Notoryctidae (marsupial moles), Myrmecobiidae (numbats), Peramelidae (bandicoots), Phalangeridae (koalas), Vombatidae (wombats), and Macropodidae (kangaroos and wallabies)
Order Artiodactyla (even-toed hoofed animals)
• Ruminates: Girrafidae (giraffes), Cervidae (deer, moose, reindeer, elk), Antilocapridae (pronghorn antelope), and Bovidae (cattle, bison, yaks, waterbucks, wildebeest, gazelles, springboks, sheep, musk oxen, goats).
• Non-ruminate: Suidae (pigs), Tayassuidae (peccaries), Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses), and Camelidae (camels, llamas).
Order Perissodactyla (odd-toed hoofed animals)
• Suborder Hippomorpha (one-toe per foot): Equidae (horses, donkeys, zebras).
• Suborder Ceratomorpha (several functional toes per foot): Tapiridae (tapirs) and Rhinocerotidae (rhinoceroses).
Order Carnivora (meat-eaters; toe-footed)
• Superfamily Canoidea (dog-like with long snouts and non-retractable claws):
Canidae (wolves, dogs, jackals, foxes), Ursidae (bears, giant pandas), Procyonidae (coatis, raccoons, lesser pandas), and Mustelidae (martens, weasels, skunks, otters).
• Superfamily Feloidea (cat-like with retractable claws): Felidae (cats, lions, cheetahs, leopards) Hyaenidae (hyenas), and Viverridae (mongooses, civets).
Order Edentata (toothless mammals)
• Dasypodidae (armadillos), Bradypodidae (sloths), and Myrmecophagidae (hairy
anteaters).
Order Insectivora (insect-eaters)
• Talpidae (moles), Soricidae (shrews), and Erinaceidae (hedgehogs).
Order Lagomorpha (pikas, hares, and rabbits)
• Ochotonidae (pikas) and Leporidae (hares and rabbits of all sorts).
Order Rodentia (gnawing mammals)
• Aplodontidae (mountain beavers), Sciuridae (chipmunks, squirrels, marmots),
Cricetidae (field mice, lemmings, muskrats, hamsters, gerbils), Muridae (Old World mice, rats), Heteromyidae (New World mice), Geomyidae (gophers), and Dipodidae (jerboas).
Order Primates (primates)
• Suborder Strepsirrhini (wet-nosed): Tupalidae (tree shrew), Lemuridae (lemurs),
Daubentonlidae (aye-ayes), Lorisidae (lorises, pottos).
• Suborder Haplorhini (dry-nosed) Tarsiidae (tarsiers), Callitrichidae (marmosets), Cebidae
(New World monkeys), Cercopithecidae (baboons, Old World monkeys), Hylobatidae (gibbons), Pongidae (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans), and Hominidae (human beings).
Order Chiroptera (bats)
• Suborder Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old Worm fruit bats).
• Suborder Microchiroptera: Rhinopomatidae (mouse-tailed bats), Emballonuridae (sheath
tailed bats), Craseonycteridae (hog-nosed or butterfly bats), Noctilionidae (bulldog or fisherman bats), Nycteridae (slit-faced bats), Megadermatidae (false vampire bats), and Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats).
OrderHyracoidae(hyraxes,dassies)
• Procaviidae
Order Dermoptera (colugos or flying lemurs)
Order Pholidata
• Manidae (pangolins)
Order Proboscidea (elephants)
• Elephantidae
Order Tubulidentata (aardvarks)
• Orycteropodidae