order Carnivora Flashcards
Carnivora has an expanded
braincase
Carnivora: loss
of 3rd molar
Carnivora all
teeth are rooted
Carnasials
shearing P4/m1
foot posture of Carnivora
digitigrade or plantigrade
Order Carnivora divided into
Feliformia and Caniformia
What 6 families make up Feliformia?
- Nandiniidae
- Felidae
- Viverridae
- Hyaenidae
- Herpestidae
- Eupleridae
The Family Nandiniidae is known as
African palm civet and is from Sub-Saharan Africa
The Family Felidae is known as
Cats and are worldwide except Antarctica, Australia, Madagascar
The Family Felidae the claws
are recurved and retractile (except in cheetah); have spots or striped pelage
The Family Felidae have Excellent senses
of smell, sight, and hearing
The Family Felidae is nocturnal
Tapetum lucidum present in eye
The Family Felidae is solitary
Lions are social—live in large prides
The family Viverridae is known as
civets and genets and is from the Old World and S. temperate regions
The family Viverridae have a well developed
perineal scent glands; and has long and bushy tail
The family Herpestidae is known as
mongooses and is from the Old World
The family Herpestidae have well developed
anal scent glands
The family Herpestidae engage in
highly structured social behavior
The family Eupleridae is known as
Malagasy civets and mongooses; and are nocturnal and terrestrial
Largest Cryptoprocta ferox (of the family) is agile
Eupleridae
climber with retractile claws
and Feeds on small lemurs
The rare Malagasy falanouc Eupleres goudotii (of the family)
Eupleridae
Has reduced dentition
and Feeds on small invertebrates
The family Hyaenidae is known as
hyenas and aardwolf; and is from Africa, Turkey, ME, India
The family Hyaenidae have blunt
non-retractile claws and feet with 4 toes
The family Hyaenidae are both
scavengers and predators
The family Hyaenidae are highly and mostly
social
nocturnal
What 9 families make up Caniformia?
- Family Canidae
- Family Ursidae
- Family Odobenidae
- Family Otariidae
- Family Phocidae
- Family Ailuridae
- Family Mephitidae
- Family Procyonidae
- Family Mustelidae
The family Canidae is known as
dogs (wolves,foxes) is nearly worldwide distribution
The family Canidae has a large
nasal chamber that allows for excellent sense of smell
The family Canidae has blunt
non-retractile claws
The family Canidae molars
retain crushing surfaces: allows for a more flexible diet
The family Ursidae is known as
black bear and is from NA, Eurasia, SA, Africa
The family Ursidae claws
non retractile
The family Ursidae N species
hibernate: heart rate & metabolism slows; arouse easily; live off accumulated fat reserves
Family Ursidae omnivorous but
– Polar bear diet restricted to seals
– Giant panda diet mostly bamboo
What makes up Pinnipedia?
– Family Odobenidae
– Family Otariidae
– Family Phocidae
Pinnipedia probably evolved from a bear-like ancestor
in late Oligocene or early Miocene in the northern hemisphere; and adapted to marine lifestyle
Pinnipedia body
insulated with blubber
Pinnipedia external
genitalia and mammary nipples withdrawn beneath body surface
Pinnipedia only
distal limbs protrude from body and manus and pes fully webbed
Pinnipedia Diving and swimming ability highly advanced
allows for:
– High blood volume
– Reinforced bronchial tubes
– Can slow metabolism and direct blood to brain, heart
The Family Odobenidae is known as
walrus and is from the Coastal arctic waters of Atlantic and Pacific
The Family Odobenidae both sexes
have tusk-like upper canines
– Tusks lack enamel
The Family Odobenidae feeds on
mollusks on sea floor; and is • Gregarious and polygynous
The Family Otariidae is known as
eared seals and sea lions and is from Coastal Pacific, South Atlantic, Indian Ocean,
and southern Australia and New Zealand
The Family Otariidae can move better
on land than phocid seals
The Family Otariidae have nails
on three middle digits
The Family Otariidae are gregarious
and highly vocal on land
The Family Otariidae have seasonal
breeding rookeries
The Family Phocidae is known as
seals and is from Coastlines above 30º N and below 50º S
latitude and Caspian Sea and Lake Baikal
The Family Phocidae is More highly specialized for aquatic life
– No external ear
– Hind flippers useless on land
– Foreflippers short
The Family Phocidae is monogamous
polygynous and gregarious
– Elephant seals have a dominance hierarchy
The Family Phocidae feed on
fish, cephalopods, and mollusks
Musteloidea consist of
- Family Ailuridae
- Family Mephitidae
- Family Procyonidae
- Family Mustelidae
The Family Ailuridae
is known as
red panda and is from Myanmar and China
The Family Ailuridae eat
bamboo leaves, berries, flowers and other plant
material
The Family Ailuridae mostly
solitary
The Family Mephitidae is known as
skunks and is from W. Hemisphere
stink badgers - Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia
The Family Mephitidae Aposematic
colors in most
– Spots or stripes
The Family Mephitidae anal
glands spray noxious odor
The Family Mephitidae are nocturnal
solitary, omnivorous
The Family Procyonidae is known as
raccoons and is from New World
The Family Procyonidae have plantigrade
feet, non-retractile or semiretractile
claws
• Dexterous forefeet in some species
The Family Mustelidae is known as
weasels and badgers and is from Nearly cosmopolitan—except Madagascar, Australia,
oceanic islands
The Family Mustelidae have well developed
Anal scent glands
The Family Mustelidae are Aggressive hunters
Otters are semiaquatic or almost completely
aquatic
The Family Mustelidae have Induced ovulation common
– Typically requires prolonged copulation
The Family Mustelidae have Delayed implantation of embryo common
– May be delayed up to 10 months (badgers)
– Implantation of the blastocyst takes place in
response to environmental cues
