Mammalogy Carnivores

Carnivore characteristics

• often have sagittal crest and large temporal fossa

• large auditory bullae

• forward facing orbits

• well developed canines

• large braincase

• large coronoid process of mandible

Carnassial

last upper premolar and first lower molar

Hypercarnivore

• consumes >70% meat

• felines

Mesocarnivore

• cosumes 50-70% meat

• canines

Hypocarnivore

• consumes less than 30% meat

• bears

Felidae

• incisors: 3/3

• secodont

• medium skull

• large carnassial pair

• last upper molar long, thin, oval

• last molar smaller than carnassial pair

• hypercarnivores

canidae

• elongated rostrum

• incisors: 3/3

• secodont

• small-medium skull

• oval last upper molar

• large carnassial pair

• last molar smaller than carnassial pair

• mesocarnivores

Ursidae

• incisors: 3/3

• bunodont

• large skull

• square last upper molar

• last molar slightly smaller than carnassial pair

• hypocarnivore

Mephitidae

• skunks

• elongated rostrum

• incisors: 3/3

• secodont

• small skull

• dumbell last upper molar

• flat broad body

• flat auditory bullae

• last molar smaller than carnassial pair

• hypocarnivore

Mustelidae

• otters, fishers, martens, weasels, minks

• incisors: 3/3

• secodont

• small-medium skull

• square last upper molar

• large carnassial pair

• flat skulls

• last molar smaller than carnassial pair

• hypercarnivores

Procyonidae

• raccoons

• elongated rostrum

• incisors: 3/3

• secodont

• medium skull

• round last upper molar

• last molar similar size to carnassial pair

• hypocarnivores

Phocidae

• seals

• incisors: 3/3

• secodont

• medium-large skull

• round last upper molar

Cervidae

• deers

• elongated rostrum

• bunodont to selenodont

• large skull

• large, wide last upper molar

• large diastema

Certartiodactyla characteristics

• upper incisors and canines lost

• cheek teeth range from bunodont to selenodont

• many have horns or antlers

Lynx canadensis

• Canada lynx

• large

• big feet

• black tipped ears

• all black tail tip

lynx rufus

• bobcat

• smaller

• tan

• white under black tail tip

canis latrans

• coyote

• large

• tan

urocyon cinereoargenteus

• gray fox

• grey with some red

• skull has a shorter rostrum

• 2 ridges on skull meet at back in U shape

• skull has more space between canines and premolars

vulpes vulpes

• red fox

• small

• redish orange fur

• bigger teeth than gray fox

• 2 ridges on skull meet at back in V shape

Ursus americanus

• american black bear

• large

• black coat

• large skull

mephitis mephitis

• striped skunk

• black coat with white stripe

lontra canadensis

• north american river otter

• dense, brown coat

• aquatic

• webbed toes

martes pennanti

• fisher

• back of skull is more trapezoidal

• more pronounced sagittal crest

• brown coat

martes americana

• american marten

• top ridges of skull meet at back

• back of skull is rounder

• brown coat

• lighter face

• yellow throat patch

mustela frenata

• long tailed weasel

• turn white in winter

• brown with light underside

mustela erminea

• short tailed weasel

• brown with white underside

• white in winter

neovison vison

• american mink

• aquatic

• top ridges of skull meet at front

• dark brown coat

procyon lotor

• north american raccoon

• grey

• black mask

• rings on tails

phoca vitulina

• harbor seal

• large skull

• big auditory bullae

• pinniped

odocoileus virginianus

• white tailed deer

• brown with white underside

• males have antlers

alces alces

• moose

• dark brown coat

• males have broad antlers

• large

Cetacea

whales, dolphins, porpoises

Eubalaena glacialis

• north atlantic right whale

• family: Balaenidae