Mammalogy Families

Didelphidae

-first forefoot digit's opposable
-1 member in N.A.
-long, naked, scaly, prehensile tail

Trichechidae

-only completely aquatic forms that are herbivorous
-live in coastal waters; Florida
-Worn molars replaced from rear of jaw

Dasypodidae

-homodont
-horny epidermis over bony plates
-dasypus novemcinctus only member of cingulata in N.A.

Ochotonidae

-montane meadows and talus slope habitat
-calls and songs used to maintain social organization
-make hay piles for use in winter

Leporidae

-large ears and short tails
-fused limb bones for strength
-fenestrated skull

Soricadae

-snout long and thin
-ears have small external pinnae
-very small eyes

Talpidae

-front feet broadened for digging
-head and forelimbs modified for burrowing
-fur is thick, soft and velvety

Molossidae

-largest colonies
-aerial insectivores
-found in most of S N.A.

Equidae

-cursorial
-herbivore
-teeth adapted to wear from grass

Muridae

-house mice and norway rats

Zapodidae

-ricochetal locomotion
-in N.A. small long tailed mice

Echimyidae

-spiny rats
-nutria or coypus
-native to S.A.

sciuridae

-fossorial, arboreal, glissant
-many hibernate
-squirrels

heteromyidae

-infraorbital foramen pierces rostrum
-fur line cheek pouches
-nocturnal
-many granivores

geomyidae

-fossorial
-keeled sternum for muscle attachment
-lips can be closed behind incisors to keep dirt out

Erethizontidae

-feeds on cambium
-2nd largest rodent in N.A.
-spines with barbed tips

Cricetidae

-second largest family behind muridae
-new world
-diverse array of habitats and locomotor adaptations

Castoridae

-2nd largest rodent-largest in N.A.
-Large spatulate tail for swimming
-nictating membrane and nostrils and ears that close when underwater

Aplodontidae

-largely fossorial, stocky, no external tail
-practices coprophagy
-kidneys can't produce concentrated urine

Suidae

-snout used for rooting for food
-no horns or antlers
-tusks from upper canines

Tayassuidae

-smaller than pigs
-resemble pigs
tusk-like upper canines

Cervidae

-antlers shed annually
-no upper incisors
-browsers more than grazers

Bovidae

-permanent horns
-four- chambered ruminant stomachs
-largest family of artiodactyls

Antilocapridae

-horns branch and keratin sheath
-fast land mammal in n.w.
-Pronghorn

Phocidae

-underfur absent
-hind flippers useless on land
-no external ear

Otariidae

-small external ear
-abundant underfur
-adapted for land

Odobenidae

-circumpolar distribution
-upper canines large, ever growing tusks
-tusks useful in gathering mollusks

Ursidae

-nonretractile claws
-plantigrade and ambulatory rather than cursorial
-winter lethargy, only polar bear is strictly carnivorous

Procyonidae

-semi retractile claws
-long tail for balance
-poorly developed carnassials

Mephitidae

-anal scent glands spray
-black/white aposematic coloration
-rabies

Mustelidae

-most diverse group of carnivores
-usually small and short legged
-carnassials well developed

Felidae

-rostrum shortened
-claws retract
-large canines, carnassials well developed

Canidae

-long rostrum
-claws not retractile
-most cursorial

Vespertililionidae

-echolocate
-insectivorous
-worldwide

Phyllostomatidae

-N.W. only
-nose leaf present in most genera
-great feeding diversity

Mormoopidae

-N.W. only
-all aerial insectivores
-long narrow wings for rapid flight