carnivores

Alisphenoid bone

Skull bone forming part of the braincase and supporting the alisphenoid canal.

Alisphenoid canal

Passageway in the alisphenoid bone carrying nerves and blood vessels.

Ectotympanic

Bone forming most of the auditory bulla in many mammals. in the front

Endotympanic

Bone contributing to the auditory bulla in some carnivores. in the back

Mastoid process

Bony projection behind the ear that anchors neck muscles.

Postglenoid process

Bony ridge behind the mandibular fossa that prevents jaw dislocation.

Habitat: Carnivora - Canidae - dogs, foxes, wolves

forests

Diet: Carnivora - Canidae - dogs, foxes, wolves

carnivores

Activity Pattern: Carnivora - Canidae - dogs, foxes, wolves

nocturnal or diurnal

Lifestyle: Carnivora - Canidae - dogs, foxes, wolves

terrestrial

Behavior: Carnivora - Canidae - dogs, foxes, wolves

monogamous pairs, or live in packs of 30+

Range: Carnivora - Canidae - dogs, foxes, wolves

worldwide except antarctica

Skull Characteristics: Carnivora - Canidae - dogs, foxes, wolves

long narrow rostrum; large alisphenoid canal, well developed sagittal crest, large bullae

Habitat: Carnivora - Ursidae - bears

forests

Diet: Carnivora - Ursidae - bears

omnivores

Activity Pattern: Carnivora - Ursidae - bears

nocturnal

Lifestyle: Carnivora - Ursidae - bears

terrestrial

Behavior: Carnivora - Ursidae - bears

solitary

Range: Carnivora - Ursidae - bears

worldwide escept AUS+ANTA

Skull Characteristics: Carnivora - Ursidae - bears

bunodont molars; huge skull with strong sagittal crest, bullae small, carnassials crush

Habitat: Carnivora - Procyonidae - raccoons & allies

forests

Diet: Carnivora - Procyonidae - raccoons & allies

omnivores

Activity Pattern: Carnivora - Procyonidae - raccoons & allies

nocturnal

Lifestyle: Carnivora - Procyonidae - raccoons & allies

terrestrial

Behavior: Carnivora - Procyonidae - raccoons & allies

solitary to gregarious

Range: Carnivora - Procyonidae - raccoons & allies

S Canada to N Argentina

Skull Characteristics: Carnivora - Procyonidae - raccoons & allies

short rostrum; no alisphenoid canal, bundodont CT

Habitat: Carnivora - Ailuridae - red pandas

forests

Diet: Carnivora - Ailuridae - red pandas

bamboo

Activity Pattern: Carnivora - Ailuridae - red pandas

varies through year, mainly nocturnal/twilight

Lifestyle: Carnivora - Ailuridae - red pandas

arboreal

Behavior: Carnivora - Ailuridae - red pandas

solitary

Range: Carnivora - Ailuridae - red pandas

himalayas

Skull Characteristics: Carnivora - Ailuridae - red pandas

short face; robust funky molars

Habitat: Carnivora - Mustelidae - weasels, badgers, otters

forests

Diet: Carnivora - Mustelidae - weasels, badgers, otters

carnivores

Activity Pattern: Carnivora - Mustelidae - weasels, badgers, otters

nocturnal or diurnal

Lifestyle: Carnivora - Mustelidae - weasels, badgers, otters

amphibious

Behavior: Carnivora - Mustelidae - weasels, badgers, otters

solitary

Range: Carnivora - Mustelidae - weasels, badgers, otters

worldwide except AUS+ANTA

Skull Characteristics: Carnivora - Mustelidae - weasels, badgers, otters

long rounded braincase; no alisphenoid canal, short rostrum, last molar often constricted

Habitat: Carnivora - Mephitidae - skunks

forests

Diet: Carnivora - Mephitidae - skunks

omnivores

Activity Pattern: Carnivora - Mephitidae - skunks

nocturnal

Lifestyle: Carnivora - Mephitidae - skunks

terrestrial

Behavior: Carnivora - Mephitidae - skunks

solitary

Range: Carnivora - Mephitidae - skunks

N,C,SA + Asia

Skull Characteristics: Carnivora - Mephitidae - skunks

very elongated skull; no alisphenoid canal, funky CT, black and white coloring

Habitat: Carnivora - Felidae - cats

forests

Diet: Carnivora - Felidae - cats

carnivores

Activity Pattern: Carnivora - Felidae - cats

nocturnal

Lifestyle: Carnivora - Felidae - cats

terrestrial

Behavior: Carnivora - Felidae - cats

solitary

Range: Carnivora - Felidae - cats

worldwide except AUS+ANTA

Skull Characteristics: Carnivora - Felidae - cats

very short rostrum; large orbits; divided auditory bulla, no alisphenoid canal, well developed carnassials

Habitat: Carnivora - Viverridae - civets & genets

forests

Diet: Carnivora - Viverridae - civets & genets

carnivores

Activity Pattern: Carnivora - Viverridae - civets & genets

nocturnal

Lifestyle: Carnivora - Viverridae - civets & genets

terrestrial

Behavior: Carnivora - Viverridae - civets & genets

solitary

Range: Carnivora - Viverridae - civets & genets

AF, ASIA

Skull Characteristics: Carnivora - Viverridae - civets & genets

elongate skull; partially divided bulla, zalambdodont like molars, small ectotympanic, diagonal AB

Habitat: Carnivora - Herpestidae - mongooses & meerkats

forests

Diet: Carnivora - Herpestidae - mongooses & meerkats

omnivores

Activity Pattern: Carnivora - Herpestidae - mongooses & meerkats

nocturnal to diurnal

Lifestyle: Carnivora - Herpestidae - mongooses & meerkats

terrestrial

Behavior: Carnivora - Herpestidae - mongooses & meerkats

solitary to gregarious

Range: Carnivora - Herpestidae - mongooses & meerkats

AF+ASIA

Skull Characteristics: Carnivora - Herpestidae - mongooses & meerkats

narrow rostrum; strong sagittal crest, large carnassials, first lower I out of line, flat line in AB

Habitat: Carnivora - Hyaenidae - hyenas & aardwolf

grassland

Diet: Carnivora - Hyaenidae - hyenas & aardwolf

carnivore

Activity Pattern: Carnivora - Hyaenidae - hyenas & aardwolf

nocturnal

Lifestyle: Carnivora - Hyaenidae - hyenas & aardwolf

terrestrial

Behavior: Carnivora - Hyaenidae - hyenas & aardwolf

solitary to gregarious

Range: Carnivora - Hyaenidae - hyenas & aardwolf

AF+ASIA

Skull Characteristics: Carnivora - Hyaenidae - hyenas & aardwolf

extremely robust jaws; massive premolars, no alisphenoid canal

Coyote – long narrow rostrum, slender skull

Canis latrans

Gray wolf – broad rostrum, large robust skull

Canis lupus

Red fox – narrow skull, white-tipped tail

Vulpes vulpes

Gray fox – short rostrum, black dorsal tail stripe

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

American black bear – bunodont molars, straight facial profile

Ursus americanus

Raccoon – short rostrum, black facial mask

Procyon lotor

Striped skunk – rounded skull, bold white stripes

Mephitis mephitis

American badger – triangular skull with sagittal crest

Taxidea taxus

American marten – small rounded skull, orange throat patch

Martes americana

Fisher – large mustelid skull, dark grizzled fur

Pekania pennanti

American mink – elongated skull, dark fur with white chin

Mustela vison

Short-tailed weasel – tiny skull, white winter coat

Mustela erminea

Long-tailed weasel – long slender skull, long black-tipped tail

Mustela frenata

Least weasel – smallest skull, very short tail

Mustela nivalis

North American river otter – flattened skull, thick tapered tail

Lontra canadensis

puma/mountain lion/cougar – short-faced skull, long uniform tan tail

Puma concolor

Canada lynx – short skull, long ear tufts and large paws

Lynx canadensis

Bobcat – short rostrum, spotted coat and bobbed tail

Lynx rufus