Carnivora

Carnivora Animals

Bears, dogs, seals, cats, weasels, etc

Carnivora Skull Characterisitcs

-Carnassial Pair

-3/3 Insicors

-POP

Carnivora Body Characterisitcs

SCAPHOLUNAR BONE

First main suborder

Feliformia-Cat like

• cats, hyenas, moongooses, civets

• mostly old world

• AB divided into 2 chambers by a septum

• Neartic family covered: Felidae

Second main suborder

Caniformia - Dog like

• dogs, bears, racoons, weasels, skunks, seals, sea lions, walruses

• AB in 1 chamber

• More represented in Neartic

• Covered in this lecture: Canidae, Ursidae, Procyonidae

Felidae Body and Skull Charcteristics

• Digitigrade (5 toes on front, 4 on back)

• Retractable claws

• Diverse coloration

• Robust carnassial w/ no crushing basin

• Very few teeth: 3/3, 1/1, 3/2, 1/1 = 30 (28 in Lynx)

Ursidae Body and Skull Charcteristics

• Plantigrade, 5 digits per foot

• Very short tails

• Large

• Large robust skull

• Large rostrum

• Rectangular palate

• Bunodont cheekteeth

• Large canines, small premolars

• Small diastema

• 3/3, 1/1, 3-4/4, 2/3 = 40-42

• Sagittal crest

Canidae Body and Skull Charcteristics

• Digitigrade, only four toes contact ground

• 5 toes on front, 4 on back

• Non retractable claws

• Long legs and tails

• Long rostrum

• Carnassial well developed

• Sagittal crest present

• POP blunt

• 42 teeth in most spp. : 3/3,1/1,4/4,2/3

Proncyidae Body and Skull Charcteristics

• 5 toes; short limbs

• Long tails, often striped

• Rounded skull with prominent POP

• Carnassial poorly developed or not visible

• Dental formula: 3/3.1/1,3-4/3-4.2,2-3

Mountain Lion

Puma concolor

Suborder Feliformia

Bobcat

Lynx Rufus

Suborder Feliformia

Domestic Cat

Felis catus

Puma v Mountain Lion Skull

Puma has suture between Frontal and Parietal Bones

Grey fox

Urocyon cinereoargentus

Kit fox

Vulpes macrotis

Red fox

Vulpes vulpes

Coyote

Canis latrans

Domestic dog

Canis familiaris

Skull differential between Canids

Racoon

Procyon lotor

Ringtail

Bassariscus astutus

Black bear

Ursus americanus

Brown bear

Ursus arctos

Suborder Mustelidae genera

Enydra (Sea Otter0

Lontra (River Otter)

Mustela (Weasal)

Taxidea (Badger)

Suborder Mustelidae - Sea Otter

Enhydra lutis

Suborder Mustelidae - American Badger

Taxidea taxus

Suborder Mustelidae - Long-tailed Weasal

Mustela Frenata

Suborder Mephitidae genera

Mephitis - Striped Skunk

Spilogale - Spotted Skunk

Suborder Mephitidae - Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis

Suborder Mephitidae - Spilogale Skunk

Spotted putorius

Suborder. Pinnipeds different families

F. Phocidae → earless seals

F. Otariidae → earred seals

F. Odobenidae → walrus

F. Phocidae - Harbor Seal and Northern Elephant Seal

Harbor → Phoca vitulina

Northern Elephant → Mirounga angustirostris

F. Otariidae - California Sea Lion

Zalophus Californianus

F. Odobendidae

Walrus