PWS 447 Lecture Orders & Families

Megachiroptera

Big bats (186 spec.)

- Do NOT use echolocation

- Cannot fly in complete darkness

Microchiroptera

Small bats (945 spec)

- Echolocation

- Can fly in complete darkness

Phyllostomidae

Leaf-nosed bats

- Wide range of food habits

- some echolocation

Mormoopidae

Leaf-chinned bat (1 spec)

- Insectivorous

- Echolocate

- Colonial

Desmodontidae

Vampire vat (1 spec)

- Sanguinvorous (blood eating)

- Exhibit reciprocity

- Able to walk

Vespertilionidae

Common/evening bats (10 genus/30 spec in NA)

- WORLDWIDE

Molossidae

Free-tailed bats (2 gen/6 spec)

- No/reduced uropatagium

- LARGE colonies

Primates

Lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans (519 spec.)

- WORLDWIDE

- One fam in America (Hominidae - humans: endemic to world)

Monotremata

Echidnas and duck-billed platypus (5 spec.)

- AUSTRALIAN: endemic

- Oviparous

- NO teeth as adults

Didelphimorphia

Opossums (127 spec.)

- Marsupium present to absent

- opposable and clawless hallux

- Tail often long and prehensile

- 1 fam in NA (Didelphidae): NOT endemic

Didelphidae

Family

Opossums 

Paucituberculata

Shrew/rat opossums (7 spec.)

- NO marsupium

Microbiotheria

Order w/monito del monte (3 spec.)

- Tail accumulates fat for hibernation

- Marsupium

- NEOTROPICAL: endemic

Dasyuromorphia

Marsupial mice and cats, Tasmanian wolf/devil, and numbat (88 spec.)

- AUSTRALIAN: endemic

- plantigrade in most (digitigrade when cursorial)

- Long/furred tail

Peramelemorphia

Bandicoots and bilbies (30 spec.)

- AUSTRALIAN: endemic

- hindlimbs longer than forelimbs

- Marsupium (opens rearward)

Notoryctemorphia

Marsupial mole (2 spec.)

- AUSTRALIAN: endemic

- Eyes covered by skin and non-functional

- Marsupium divided into left and right

Diprotodontia

Kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, koala, and other (158 spec.)

- AUSTRALIAN: endemic

Afrosoricida

Tenrecs and golden moles (55 spec.)

- ETHIOPIAN: endemic

- No auditory bullae

- testes always abdominal

- Echolocation in some spec.

Eulipotyphla

Moles, shrews, and solenodons (557 spec.)

- No auditory bullae

- 2 Genera are venomous

- Echolocation present in some

- WORLDWIDE (except Aust.)

Talpidae

Moles

- Ears usually lack external pinnae

Soricidae

Shrews

- One genus/3 spec. is venomous (Blarina - Short-tailed shrew)

- Prob use echolocation

Macroscelidea

Elephant shrews (20 spec.)

- ETHIOPIAN: endemic

Scandentia

Tree shrews (23 spec.)

- ORIENTAL: endemic

- Look like small, long-nosed squirrels

Dermoptera

Flying lemurs or colugos (2 spec.)

- “Skin wing”

- Glissant

- ORIENTAL: endemic

- frst 2 incisors widened and pectinate (comb-like)

- Furred patagium

Chiroptera

Bats

- “hand wing”

- ONLY volant mammal

- WORLDWIDE dist.

Hyracoidea

hyraxes or dassies (6 species)

2 long, continuously growing upper incisors only order, for scraping

4 chisel-like lower incisors

4 digits on forelimbs (1 nonfunctional), 3 digits on hindlimbs

Hooves (kinda) with soft elastic pads on each functional digit

Ethiopian region - endemic

Proboscidea

elephants

Comprised of 3 species

largest terrestrial mammals

pillar like limbs (graviportal)

upper incisors are ever-growing tusks

no canines or lower incisors

air cells in skull to reduce weight and for muscle attachment

Oriental and Ethiopian regions

Sirenia

dugong, manatees, sea cow

comprised of 5 species

aquatic from coastal marine to riverine

only aquatic mammalian herbivore

external nares (nostrils) high on skull

forelimbs paddlelike, hindlimbs vestigial* in muscle

Still have nails on their forelimbs

tail is an externally flattened fluke

tropical coastal regions

Trichechidae

Manatees

Only completely aquatic forms that are herbivorous

Live in coastal waters; Florida - endemic

Endangered in NA

Perissodactyla

horses, asses, zebras, tapirs, and rhinos (8 species)

terrestrial, adapted to unguligrade cursorial locomotion (run on their hooves)

odd-toed ungulates

weight is borne on middle digit which is the largest

cannot bend hindlimbs enough to get up hindfeet first while laying on ground (front first)

skull elongate

premolars and molars similar in size and shape

diastema between front and cheek teeth

no horn or antlers except rhino horn, which isn’t actually a horn, made of all keratin, no bony core

simple stomach

Ethiopian, Oriental, Palearctic, Nearactic, and Neotropical regions

Equidae

(2 introduced species)

Feral horses and burros in SW US

Cursorial

Herbivore (grass)

Teeth adapted to wear from grass as a food—high*

silica content*

Horses evolved in NA then went extinct

Teeth are adapted - hypsodont dentition = high crowned, for wear and tear, very long teeth, bc low quality diet

Silica - structure of plants, same as glass and sand paper

Typically die when teeth wear out

Deer have smaller teeth, brachydont, are browsers

Artiodactyla

pigs, hippos, camels, deer, giraffe, cattle, bison, pronghorn, dolphins, and whales (362 species)

terrestrial; adapted to unguligrade cursorial locomotion

even-toed ungulates

weight is borne on the third and fourth digits

can stand hindfeet first when laying on ground

molars and premolars not as massive as in PERISSODACTYLA

simple to complex stomach (pigs are simple, cows, etc are complex)

Ethiopian, Oriental, Palearctic, Neararctic, and Neotropical

Suidae

(1 introduced species)

Feral hogs or wild boar

Omnivores

No horns or antlers

Tusks from upper canines

Snout evergrowing

Furred

Warthogs

Tayassuidae

(1 species)

Javelinas or peccaries

Smaller than suids

Omnivores but more herbivorous than suids

No horns or antlers

Tusks from canines

Cervidae

(4 genera, 8 species, 3 are introduced)

Wapati/elk, deer, moose, caribou

Antlers that shed annually*

Herbivores, browsers more than grazers*

May form large migratory herds during certain times of year

Economically important

Bovidae

(5 genera, 6 species, 1 introduced)

Bison, mountain goat, muskox, mountain sheep*

Permanent horns*

Herbivorous, mostly grazers

Cursorial in part due to their evolution in grasslands

Teeth adapted to grazing habits

All goats, all african antelope, all sheep

Antilocapridae

(1 species)

Evolved in and endemic to North America

Pronghorn

Horns branch and keratin sheath is shed annually

The fastest of the cursorial mammals in North America, run as fast as cheetah

SUBORDER WHIPPIMORPHA

hippos, whales, dolphins, porpoises, and narwal

Was Cetaecea

aquatic with fusiform bodies

hindlimbs absent, but vestigial pelvic girdle present

forelimbs paddle-shaped but limb elements not externally visible•worldwide marine, some species riverin

PARVORDER MYSTICETI

(baleen whales)

2 external narial openings on top of head (blowholes)

baleen (cornified epethelium) in place of teeth

planktivorous (do not echolocate)

PARVORDER ODONTOCETI

(toothed whales)

All dolphins, killer whales are dolphins

single narial opening on top of head

teeth present, echolocate

Balaenopteridae

Blue whale, humpback whale, minke whale

The largest whales* (up to 140,000 kg and 27 m)

Baleen*

Blue whale can eat 3,600 kg/8,000 lb of krill per day

Delphinidae

Dolphins and orca

teeth

generally larger than porpoises

usually have elongate rostrum or beak

wave-shaped dorsal fin*

Carnivorous

Phocoenidae

Porpoises

smaller than dolphins (usually < 2m)

lack rostrum or beak

triangular-shaped dorsal fin*

Carnivorous

Cingulata

Armadillos (22 species)

no incisors or canines

cheek teeth rudimentary or absent in adults

no enamel on teeth, wear out quickly

extra articulation on lumbar vertebrae to strengthen lumbar region

Neotropical and Nearctic regions

Dasypodidae

(1 species)

Armadillos

Few to many teeth

Homodont

Horny epidermis over bony plates

Identical quadruplets

Pilosa

Sloths and American anteaters (16 species)

no incisors or canines

cheek teeth rudimentary or absent

no enamel on teeth

extra articulation on lumbar vertebrae to strengthen lumbar region

Neotropical region

Walk on the side of their paws bc their claws are so long

Sitting = defensive posture

Pholidota

pangolins or scaly anteaters (8 species)

terrestrial and fossorial**

horny scales on neck, back, and tail (rolls into a “ball” for defense)

strong limbs and large claws

long, thin snout with protractile tongue

no teeth in adults

muscular stomach, swallows pebbles to grind food

Oriental and Ethiopian regions

Primary threat is poaching

Tubulidentata

aardvark (1 species)

terrestrial and fossorial

strong limbs and large claws (digs into ant and termite mounds)

long, thin snout with protractile tongue

no incisors or canines

20 cheek teeth but all remain in gums

teeth columnar with dentine surrounding pulp

large burrow systems

only eutherian order with a single species

Ethiopian region

Rodentia

rats, mice, squirrels, beaver, porcupine, and others

most common order of mammals – 31 Families

terrestrial, amphibious, fossorial, arboreal, saltatorial, gliding

skull shaped for gnawing

complex skull musculature for gnawing

2 upper and 2 lower chisel-like incisors (grow continuously)***

enamel only on front of incisors

long diastema between incisors and cheek teeth (no canines)***

limb structure and tail length highly variable

Worldwide

Aplodontidae

(1 species)*

Mountain beaver

Most primitive living rodent*

Forest of pacific northwest

Lives by streams

Size of a small rabbit

Terrestrial colonies in moist stream edges

Herbivorous, hay piles

Erethizontidae

(1 species)

Porcupine

Quills

Herbivore, apical meristem and cambium layer of

conifers but do graze other plants

Double trunked conifers

Piloerection

Cricetidae

Mice, rats, voles, lemmings, muskrats, wood rats

Mouse-like forms with long tail and generalized limbs

Teeth fit food habits

Exhibit herbivory, granivory, insectivory

Terrestrial, amphibious, scansorial, arboreal, fossorial

Population cycles of 3-4 years in lemmings and northern voles

Fast reproduction

Density cycles

Myocastoridae

(1 introduced species)

Nutria

Amphibious form introduced into the southeast area of the US

Herbivorous on terrestrial vegetation

Pest

Crop, irrigation, and waterfowl habitat damage**

Resembles a beaver in habits but smaller with long, round tail

Geomyidae

Pocket gophers

External, fur-lined cheek pouches

Fossorial with incisors that extend forward and lips

that close behind teeth

Powerful claws and strong forelimbs

Herbivorous above and below ground

Heteromyidae

Kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, and pocket mice

Adapted to arid and semi-arid habitats, mostly SW USSome can survive without water

Flexible to diet change to meet needs

The bigger the auditory bullae, the lower the frequency

Biggest predator is owls, are silent to us, not to kangaroo rats

Granivorous

Bipedal to quadrapedal

Bipedal forms are saltatorial (some ricochetal) with large hind feet and long tail

External, fur-lined cheek pouches

Riqishuttle saltitoral locomotion

Dark & pale K mice stores fat in their tail

Dipodidae

Jumping mice

Coniferous to deciduous forests, wet meadows

Very long tail and long feet

Herbivorous, granivorous, and insectivorous

Sciuridae

Chipmunks, marmots, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, tree squirrels, flying squirrels

Generalized body with long tail in most, but short in some fossorial types

Diverse locomotion

Diurnal

Some forms hibernate

Gliding in Glaucomys

Castoridae

(1 species)

Beaver, largest North American rodent

Amphibious

Herbivore

Specializations for gnawing and carrying branches under water

Broad, flat tails

Incisors cont grow

Lagomorpha

pikas, rabbits, and hares (108 species)

terrestrial with cursorial or saltitorial (jumping) mode of locomotion•skull resembles that of rodents

4 upper and 2 lower incisors

second upper incisor on each side is peglike and directly behind first incisor

incisors grow continuously

long diastema between incisors and cheek teeth (no canines)

hindlimbs longer than forelimbs

tibia and fibula (lower hindlimb) fused for strength***

very short tail

worldwide except islands and Australian region

Ochotonidae

(1 genus, 2 species)

Pikas

Tallus slopes in mountains of North America

Short, rounded ears and no tail, small relative to

Leporidae

Build hay piles for winter

Leporidae

(3 genera, ~17 species; 1 genus and 2 species introduced)

Hares and rabbits

Cursorial

Hindlimbs longer than forelimbs, relatively long ears

Herbivorous

Carnivora

dogs, bears, pandas, raccoons, weasels, mongooses, hyenas, cats, seals, sea lions, and walrus (309 species)**

4 - 5 digits

terrestrial, arboreal, amphibious, and aquatic

wide variety of forms

teeth heterodont or homodont

Carnassial pair = paired upper and lower teeth modified to pass by each other in a shearing manner

baculum present = penile bone

worldwide distribution

Felidae

(2 genera, 7 species)

Cats

Rostrum shortened

Claws retractile*

Carnassials well-developed**

Whatever available, ambush predators

Canidae

Wolves, dogs, foxes, jackals

Long rostrum with large nasal chamber

Well-developed sense of smell

Claws are not retractile

Most cursorial of the carnivores

Primarily carnivorous, but opportunist which leads to omnivorous diet

Ursidae

Bears

Carnassial pair is less-developed

Plantigrade and ambulatory rather than cursorial

Primarily carnivorous, but omnivorous

winter inactivity, but not true hibernation

Procyonidae

Raccoon, ringtail, coati

Much more of an omnivore than a carnivore

Shearing of carnassial pair almost lost

Much greater climbing ability that other families in Carnivora

Long tail for balance

Mustelidae

Marten, ermine, fisher, weasel, mink, wolverine, badgers, otters

Usually small and short-legged

mostly carnivorous

Carnassials well-developed, except in otters

Anal scent glands well-developed

Terrestrial to nearly aquatic

Mephitidae

skunks

Usually small and short-legged

mostly omnivorous

Carnassials well-developed

Anal scent glands well-developed

Terrestrial

Otariidae

Eared seals and sea lions

• Small external ear

• Better adapted for land than other pinnipeds, hind flippers can be brought under body and used for terrestrial locomotion

Phocidae

Earless seals

No external ear

Hind flippers useless on land

Odobenidae

Walrus

Large tusks (from canines) useful in gathering mollusks from sea floor