Mammals Management

Mesaxonic, projecting long and narrow nasal bone, selenolophodont

Order: Perissodactyla

Family: Equidae

Genus and species: Equus caballus

Common name: horse

Habitat: grasslands, savanna, deserts

Management issues: charismatic yet cause considerable erosion and competition with native wildlife

Tusk-like upper canines oriented upwards, bunodont cheek teeth

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Suidae

Genus species: Sus scrofa

Common name: domestric pig / boar

Habitat: domestic variety, wild moist forests and shrublands with reeds

Management issues: introduced and imported, but very destructive to everything, diseases impact agriculture

Tusk-like upper canines oriented downwards, small paraoccipital process

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Tayassuidae

Genus species: Dicotyles tajacu

Common name: collared peccary

Habitat: brushy deserts, rocky canyons southern tropical rainforests

Management issues: habituated urban nuisances

Elongated premaxillaries, short and broad nasals, deep lacrimal depression, wing-shaped supraoccipital shield

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Cervidae

Genus species: Alces alces

Common name: moose

Habitat: northern boreal forest, often young or disturbed but moist and covered

Management issues: hunted for meat and sport, dangerous, hinder reforestation of pine and spruce

Vomer forming vertical partition extending to the rear of the palate, and upper vestigial canines present

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Cervidae

Genus species: Rangifer tarandus

Common name: caribou

Habitat: mountain ridges, bogs, tundra, and old boreal forest

Management issues: hunted for meat fur and antlers to endangerment

Deep lacrimal depression, nasolacrimal gap, vomer bone extends to the back of the palate; V-shaped branching of antlers

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Cervidae

Genus species: Odocoileus hemionus

Common name: mule deer

Habitat: mountains, forests, deserts, and brushlands

Management issues: game species, prey, over-browsing, pests, traffic hazards

Shallow lacrimal depression, nasolacrimal gap, vomer bone extends to the back of the palate; 90 degree branching of antlers,

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Cervidae

Genus species: Odocoileus virginianus

Common name: white-tailed deer

Habitat: lowland, forest edges and open woodlands, old fields, brushland

Management issues: game species, prey, over-browsing, pests, traffic hazards

Very deep lacrimal depression, nasolacrimal gap, vomer bone does not extend to the back of the palate

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Cervidae

Genus species: Cervus canadensis

Common name: elk

Habitat: generalists, mostly forested areas through the Holarctic

Management issues: game species, prey, over-browsing, pests, traffic hazards

Vomer bone does not extend to the back of the palate, smaller than other Cervidae; palmate antlers

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Cervidae

Genus species: Dama dama

Common name: fallow deer

Habitat: introduced, non-native, exotic

Management issues: competition

No lacrimal depression; pronghorns

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Antilocapridae

Genus species: Antilocapra americana

Common name: pronghorn

Habitat: prairies, deserts, or plains

Management issues: second most popular game species, endemic

No lacrimal canal or depression; short sharply curved true horns

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Bovidae

Genus species: Bos bison

Common name: American bison

Habitat: prairie, but now a lot in captivity

Management issues: meat, huge comeback, vital component of grasslands

No lacrimal canal or depression; variable slightly curved true horns

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Bovidae

Genus species: Bos taurus

Common name: domestic cattle

Habitat: captivity

Management issues: dairy, meat, leather, carry diseases, damage natural ecosystems, competition

No lacrimal canal or depression, braincase descending steeply to occipital ridge, premaxillaries not widely separated from nasals and not expanded

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Bovidae

Genus species: Capra hircus

Common name: domestic goat

Habitat: captivity

Management issues: destructive to habitats

No lacrimal canal or depression; smooth black true horn

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Bovidae

Genus species: Oreamnos americanus

Common name: mountain goat

Habitat: steep rocky areas

Management issues: damage to endangered plants, but very sensitive to disturbance

No lacrimal canal or depression; wide ridged brown true horn

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Bovidae

Genus species: Ovis canadensis

Common name: bighorn sheep

Habitat: meadows, grassy mountains, foothill country, in proximity to rugged rocky cliffs and bluffs

Management issues: susceptible to diseases

5/4 incisors, fenestrated palate, inflected angular process; marsupial pouch

Order: Didelphimorphia

Family: Didelphidae

Genus species: Didelphis virginiana

Common name: virginia opossum

Habitat: deciduous forests or urban and suburban environments

Management issues: introduced competition

1/1 incisors, protrogomorphous; vestigial tail

Order: Rodentia

Family: Aplodontiidae

Genus species: Aplodontia rufa

Common name: mountain beaver

Habitat: most forests, dense brushy areas

Management issues: raid crops or damage vegetation

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, 5 cheekteeth; gray body white belly, bushy tail

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Genus species: Sciurus griseus

Common name: western gray squirrel

Habitat: forests

Management issues: hunted, dispersers, pests, cause power outages

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, 5 cheekteeth; grayish brown body white belly, bushy tail

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Genus species: Sciurus carolinensis

Common name: easter gray squirrel

Habitat: parklands and residential areas

Management issues: hunted, dispersers, pests, cause power outages

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, 4 cheekteeth; grayish red body lighter belly, bushy tail

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Genus species: Sciurus niger

Common name: eastern fox squirrel

Habitat: mature forests and urban parks

Management issues: hunted, dispersers, pests, cause power outages

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, 4 cheekteeth; gray body red belly, bushy tail

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Genus species: Tamiasciurus douglasii

Common name: douglas’ squirrel

Habitat: temperate conifer forests

Management issues: hunted, dispersers, pests

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, pterygoids touch auditory bullae; patagium, bushy tail

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Genus species: Glaucomys oregonensis

Common name: Humboldt’s flying squirrel

Habitat: northern conifer forests near water

Management issues: pests, but dispersers

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, 5 cheek teeth, non-yellow incisors; grayish tan

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Genus species: Cynomys ludovicianus

Common name: black-tailed prairie dog

Habitat: temperate grasslands with well drained soils

Management issues: destroy crops and burrows may be hazardous, but benefit grazers

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, large, interorbital depression; bulky body, bushy tail

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Genus species: Marmota flaviventris

Common name: yellow-bellied marmot

Habitat: talus slopes and mountain meadows burrowed under rocks or scree

Management issues: pests

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, v-shaped temporal ridge; grainy gray body with dark patch, white belly, bushy tail

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Genus species: Otospermophilus beecheyi

Common name: California ground squirrel

Habitat: stubble fields, grazed pastures, road sides, agricultural fields

Management issues: agricultural pests

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, u-shaped temporal ridge; stripes up to shoulders

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Genus species: Callospermophilus lateralis

Common name: golden-mantled ground squirrel

Habitat: mixed forests and chaparral habitat

Management issues: harm reforestation efforts, vector for zoonotic diseases

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, u-shaped temporal ridge, small post orbital processes; white stripe up to shoulder, underside of tail is white

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Genus species: Ammospermophilus leucurus

Common name: white-tailed antelope squirrel

Habitat: desert succulent shrub, riparian, and wash areas, as well as chaparral and grasslands

Management issues: pests on farmland, but dispersers

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, no temporal ridge; stripes up to the eyes, bushy tail

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Genus species: Neotamias senex

Common name: Allen’s chipmunk

Habitat: dense, moist, mature forests

Management issues: prevent reforestation, but dispersers

1/1 incisors, sciuromorphous, no postorbital process; leather-like flattened tail

Order: Rodentia

Family: Castoridae

Genus species: Castor canadensis

Common name: North American beaver

Habitat: lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams

Management issues: keystone species in riparian habitats, dam waterways, but foresters consider them a pest

Hystricomorphous, grooved upper incisors, tiny; long and bare tail, no cheekpouches, white belly

Order: Rodentia

Family: Zapodidae

Genus species: Zapus trinotatus

Common name: pacific jumping mouse

Habitat: marsh ecosystems along coastal redwood forests

Management issues: dispersers, but habitat is decreasing due to livestock and introduced deer

Myomorphous with perforated maxilla, auditory bullae extends past zygomatic arch; external cheek pouches, hair on feet

Order: Rodentia

Family: Heteromyidae

Genus species: Dipodomys spp.

Common name: kangaroo rat

Habitat: endemic to California plains

Management issues: habitat loss due to agriculture and solar farms

Myomorphous with perforated maxilla, auditory bullae does not extend past zygomatic arch; external cheek pouches, no hair on feet

Order: Rodentia

Family: Heteromyidae

Genus species: Perognathus spp.

Common name: pocket mouse

Habitat: arid and semiarid with grasses sagebrush and other scrubby vegetation

Management issues: endemic and currently being reintroduced

Myomorphous with nonperforated maxilla; external cheek pouches

Order: Rodentia

Family: Geomyidae

Genus species: Megascapheus bottae

Common name: Bott’s pocket gopher

Habitat: borrows in mountains deserts and agricultural areas

Management issues: destruction of underground utility cables and irrigation pipes, pests to farmers and gardeners

Myomorphous, prismatic cheekteeth, four pointed projections on lingual side of last upper molar, no zygomatic arch; brown

Order: Rodentia

Family: Cricetidae

Genus species: Microtus californicus

Common name: California vole

Habitat: chaparral woodland shrubland

Management issues: conflict with crop production, but important prey

Myomorphous, prismatic cheekteeth, skull > 50 mm; large, glossy brown, laterally compressed scaly tail, partially webbed hind feet

Order: Rodentia

Family: Cricetidae

Genus species: Ondatra zibethicus

Common name: muskrat

Habitat: brackish and fresh water marshes, ponds, rivers, and streams

Management issues: furbearer, agricultural pests

Myomorphous, semi-prismatic cheeckteeth, skull > 40 mm; brown back, white belly, tail not bushy

Order: Rodentia

Family: Cricetidae

Genus species: Neotoma fuscipes

Common name: dusky-footed woodrat

Habitat: under cover near water

Management issues: carries parasites and diseases

Myomorphous, premaxilla does not extend beyond end of nasals; bicolored tufted tail not longer than head and body, white feet

Order: Rodentia

Family: Cricetidae

Genus species: Peromyscus sonoriensis

Common name: western deermouse

Habitat: nest in trees in plant communities

Management issues: vector of diseases

Myomorphous, grooved upper incisors; brown back, ears lined with orange hair

Order: Rodentia

Family: Cricetidae

Genus species: Reithrodontomys megalotis

Common name: western harvest mouse

Habitat: open areas including grasslands prairies meadows and marshes

Management issues: prey

Myomorphous, prismatic cheekteeth, three projections on lingual side of last upper molar; orange back, short round furry ears, tail shorter than body

Order: Rodentia

Family: Cricetidae

Genus species: Arborimus pomo

Common name: Sonoma tree vole

Habitat: canopies of conifers

Management issues: uniquely feeds on needles, prey

Myomorphous, three cusped cheekteeth, skull > 25 mm, temporal ridges straight and parallel; yellow brown back, tail shorter than head and body

Order: Rodentia

Family: Muridae

Genus species: Rattus norvegicus

Common name: brown rat

Habitat: peridomestic and in disturbed habitats

Management issues: laboratories, domesticated, pest, diseases

Myomorphous, three cusped cheekteeth, skull > 25 mm, temporal ridges bowed outward posteriorly; black back, scaley tail longer than head and body

Order: Rodentia

Family: Muridae

Genus species: Rattus rattus

Common name: black rat

Habitat: peridomestic and in disturbed habitats

Management issues: laboratories, domesticated, pest, diseases

Myomorphous, three cusped cheekteeth, skull < 25 mm, no temporal ridges; off-white belly

Order: Rodentia

Family: Muridae

Genus species: Mus musculus

Common name: house mouse

Habitat: close association with humans

Management issues: laboratories, pest, diseases

Hystricomorphous, large, short paraoccipital process; quills

Order: Rodentia

Family: Erethizontidae

Genus species: Erethizon dorsatum

Common name: North American porcupine

Habitat: conifer forests, alpine, desert chaparral

Management issues: chews trees, houses, cars, etc

Hystricomorphous, large, long and curved paraoccipital process; coarse pelage, membraned hindfeet

Order: Rodentia

Family: Echimyidae

Genus species: Myocastor coypus

Common name: nutria

Habitat: brackish streams, ponds, irrigation, ditches, and marshes

Management issues: fur trapping, pest

2/1 incisors with pegs, simple fenestrated maxilla; toe beans, round ears

Order: Lagomorpha

Family: Ochotonidae

Genus species: Ochotona princeps

Common name: American pika

Habitat: talus slopes and high elevations with vegetation and rock crevices

Management issues: climate change but important to maintain diversity

2/1 incisors with pegs, web-like fenestrated maxilla, thick post orbital process; longer ears and tail

Order: Lagomorpha

Family: Leporidae

Genus species: Lepus californicus

Common name: black-tailed jackrabbit

Habitat: semi-arid to arid regions, range lands and agricultural areas

Management issues: prey, pest

2/1 incisors with pegs, web-like fenestrated maxilla, thinner post orbital process, horizontal bar in back of head; blackish gray, shorter ears and tail

Order: Lagomorpha

Family: Leporidae

Genus species: Sylvilagus bachmani

Common name: brush rabbit

Habitat: dense brushy cover along riparian zones or in second growth

Management issues: game, prey, pests, endangered

2/1 incisors with pegs, web-like fenestrated maxilla, large tympanic bullae; brownish gray, shorter ears and tail

Order: Lagomorpha

Family: Leporidae

Genus species: Sylvilagus audubonii

Common name: desert cottontail

Habitat: desert and arid grasslands and woodlands, riparian brush, sagebrush

Management issues: game, prey, pest

Zygomatic arch, blocky humerus, skull > 30 mm, 11 lower teeth per side; shovel-like paw, forefeet wider than long

Order: Eulipotyphla

Family: Talpidae

Genus species: Scapanus orarius

Common name: coast mole

Habitat: everywhere but wet swampy ground

Management issues: pests, but aerate soil and control insects

Two condyloid processes, no zygomatic arch, 6 lower red teeth per side, hooked upper incisor; pinna, long proboscis, short hind limbs, stick-like paws

Order: Eulipotyphla

Family: Soricidae

Genus species: Sorex pacificus

Common name: pacific shrew

Habitat: moist streamsides, thickets, and woods

Management issues: little information

Tragus, large, glossy yellow-brown, uropatagium naked

Order: Chiroptera

Family: Vespertilionidae

Genus species: Eptesicus fuscus

Common name: big brown bat

Habitat: cities, towns, and rural areas

Management issues: misunderstood, white-nose syndrome

Tragus present, small and brownish, uropatagium naked

Order: Chiroptera

Family: Vespertilionidae

Genus species: Myotis californicus

Common name: California myotis

Habitat: semi-arid deserts, arid grasslands, humid forests

Management issues: disturbances, white-nose syndrome

Tragus present, fully furred uropatagium

Order: Chiroptera

Family: Vespertilionidae

Genus species: Lasiurus cinereus

Common name: northern hoary bat

Habitat: variety of trees and forests

Management issues: white-nose syndrome

Very large ears, brown and gray

Order: Chiroptera

Family: Vespertilionidae

Genus species: Corynorhinus townsendii

Common name: Townsend’s big-eared bat

Habitat: high elevation forests and humid coastal areas

Management issues: inconveniences

Tragus and tall but wide ears present, pale, uropatagium naked, pale and yellow

Order: Chiroptera

Family: Vespertilionidae

Genus species: Antrozous pallidus

Common name: pallid bat

Habitat: desert habitats and farmland

Management issues: pest but also eats pests, rabies

Tragus present, black back with frosted tips, ½ of uropatagium naked

Order: Chiroptera

Family: Vespertilionidae

Genus species: Lasionycteris noctivagans

Common name: silver-haired bat

Habitat: boreal or coniferous and deciduous forests near bodies of water

Management issues: rabies, white-nose syndrome

Tail extends past uropatagium

Order: Chiroptera

Family: Molossidae

Genus species: Tadarida brasiliensis

Common name: Brazilian free-tailed bat

Habitat: caves and man-made structures

Management issues: rabies

Alisphenoid canal, 6 or more cheekteeth, round auditory bulla, straight profile

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus species: Canis latrans

Common name: coyote

Habitat: generalists

Management issues: human-wildlife conflict, competition, rabies

Alisphenoid canal, 6 or more cheekteeth, round auditory bulla, thick post orbital process, lobed incisors

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus species: Canis lupus

Common name: gray wolf

Habitat: conifer forests and tundra

Management issues: human-wildlife conflict, but important top predators and symbols

Alisphenoid canal, 6 or more cheekteeth, round auditory bulla, concave profile; variable

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus species: Canis familiaris

Common name: domestic dog

Habitat: around humans

Management issues: pets, but can be feral

Alisphenoid canal, 6 or more cheekteeth, round auditory bulla, smaller, U-shaped temporal; gray with orange accents

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus species: Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Common name: gray fox

Habitat: hardwood woodlands, bushy riparian areas

Management issues: hunted, rabies

U-shaped temporal ridges forming a small sagittal crest; orange line separating gray back from white belly

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus species: Urocyon littoralis

Common name: island gray fox

Habitat: all habitats on the Channel islands

Management issues: endemic, hunted, pets

V-shaped temporal ridges indistinct, lacks lobed incisors, has proportional canines; black tipped tail and grayish light brown body

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus species: Vulpes velox

Common name: swift fox

Habitat: shrubs and arid deserts

Management issues: fur bearer

V-shaped temporal ridges indistinct, lacks lobed incisors, has long slender canines; black tipped tail and gray spine with slight brown sides

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus species: Vulpes macrotis

Common name: kit fox

Habitat: shrubs and arid deserts

Management issues: fur bearer

Alisphenoid canal, 6 or more cheekteeth, round auditory bulla, smaller, V-shaped temporal ridge; white tip of tail

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus species: Vulpes vulpes

Common name: red fox

Habitat: diversity of vegetation

Management issues: fur bearers, hunted, threats to poultry, rabies

Alisphenoid canal, bunodont, long last upper molar, not strained one hand hold; variable

Order: Carnivora

Family: Ursidae

Genus species: Ursus americanus

Common name: American black bear

Habitat: generalists in forests

Management issues: human-wildlife conflict, hunted

Alisphenoid canal, bunodont, long last upper molar strained one hand hold; brown with hump on back

Order: Carnivora

Family: Ursidae

Genus species: Ursus arctos

Common name: grizzly bear

Habitat: grasslands, prairies, forests, and tundra

Management issues: human-wildlife conflict, big game

No alisphenoid canal, palate extends past teeth, oval last upper molar, large

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mustelidae

Genus species: Enhydra lutris

Common name: sea otter

Habitat: ocean near shore, kelp forests

Management issues: furbearers, help keep sea urchins in check

No alisphenoid canal, palate extends past teeth, square last upper molar, large

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mustelidae

Genus species: Lontra canadensis

Common name: North American river otter

Habitat: rivers and sloughs

Management issues: furbearer, competition for game fish

No alisphenoid canal, palate extends past teeth, bell-shaped last upper molar, large

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mustelidae

Genus species: Gulo gulo

Common name: wolverine

Habitat: high and remote forests, open plains of mountains

Management issues: furbearer, pests

No alisphenoid canal, palate extends past teeth, dumbbell shaped last upper molar, no exposed root on upper premolar

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mustelidae

Genus species: Martes americana

Common name: American marten

Habitat: complex conifer forests, higher elevation

Management issues: furbearer, competition

No alisphenoid canal, palate extends past teeth, dumbbell shaped last upper molar, exposed root on upper premolar

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mustelidae

Genus species: Pekania pennanti

Common name: fisher

Habitat: complex boreal forests, lower elevation

Management issues: furbearer, control porcupine populations

No alisphenoid canal, palate extends past teeth, dumbbell shaped last upper molar, small, braincase ½ of skull length; tail ½ of body length

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mustelidae

Genus: Mustela

Common name: weasels and ferrets

Habitat: forests, open woodland, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural fields

Management issues: furbearer, control rodents

No alisphenoid canal, palate extends past teeth, dumbbell shaped last upper molar, small, braincase less than ½ of skull length; tail over ½ of body length

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mustelidae

Genus: Neogale

Common name: weasels and minks

Habitat: brushlands, field edges, grasslands, mashes, all near water

Management issues: raiders, furbearers

No alisphenoid canal, palate extends past teeth, triangular last upper molar, large

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mustelidae

Genus species: Taxidea taxus

Common name: American badger

Habitat: generalists, meadows, dry open areas

Management issues: prey on pests, furbearer, burrows are hazardous

No alisphenoid canal, palate extends to posterior edge of teeth, square shaped last upper molar, round profile; 2 white stripes

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mephitidae

Genus species: Mephitis mephitis

Common name: striped skunk

Habitat: forests and fields or suburban and agricultural areas

Management issues: prey on pests, historical furbearer, rabies

No alisphenoid canal, palate extends to posterior edge of teeth, square shaped last upper molar, flat profile; white spots

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mephitidae

Genus species: Spilogale gracilis

Common name: Western spotted skunk

Habitat: rocky areas of woodlands, farmlands, grasslands

Management issues: historical furbearer

No alisphenoid canal, 6 cheekteeth, secodont cheek teeth

Order: Carnivora

Family: Procyonidae

Genus species: Bassariscus astutus

Common name: ringtail

Habitat: rocky areas and tanoak madrone and fir forests

Management issues: help control rodents

No alisphenoid canal, 6 cheekteeth, bunodont cheek teeth

Order: Carnivora

Family: Procyonidae

Genus species: Procyon lotor

Common name: Northern raccoon

Habitat: anywhere with water

Management issues: furbearers, damage crops and poultry, rabies

No alisphenoid canal, 4 upper cheekteeth, tiny last upper molar, small

Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Genus species: Felis catus

Common name: domestic cat

Habitat: human habitation

Management issues: feral, destructive outside

No alisphenoid canal, 3 upper cheekteeth, tiny last upper molar, large

Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Genus: Lynx

Common name: bobcat and lynx

Habitat: generalist, forests

Management issues: hunted, prey on pets

No alisphenoid canal, 4 upper cheekteeth, tiny last upper molar, large

Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Genus species: Puma concolor

Common name: mountain lion

Habitat: scrub, chaparral, swamps, and forests

Management issues: hunted, predate domestic animals and humans

Alisphenoid canal, homodont cheekteeth, no diastema before last upper molar; pinnae, hind limbs capable of turning forward

Order: Carnivora

Family: Otariidae

Genus species: Zalophus californianus

Common name: California sea lion

Habitat: coastlines and rivers

Management issues: navy retrieval programs, education, reduce fish

Alisphenoid canal, supraorbital process, homodont cheekteeth, diastema before last upper molar; pinnae, hind limbs capable of turning forward, golden brown

Order: Carnivora

Family: Otariidae

Genus species: Eumetopias jubatus

Common name: stellar sea lion

Habitat: cold ocean waters

Management issues: hunted, reduce fish

No alisphenoid canal, homodont cheekteeth with a single cusp, 2/1 incisors; no pinnae, clawed hind limbs incapable of turning forward

Order: Carnivora

Family: Phocidae

Genus species: Mirounga angustirostris

Common name: northern elephant seal

Habitat: coastline and offshore islands

Management issues: tourists, research for collapsed lungs and weightlessness on bone density

No alisphenoid canal, homodont cheekteeth with three cusps, 3/2 incisors; no pinnae, clawed hind limbs incapable of turning forward, spotted belly

Order: Carnivora

Family: Phocidae

Genus species: Phoca vitulina

Common name: harbor seal

Habitat: cold shallow coastal waters

Management issues: hunted, ecotourism, interfere with fisheries

C shaped negative space, leading toe, retracted claws

Felid

X shaped negative space, claws

Canid

H shaped negative space, claws

Fox

Tapered and variable

Coyote

Blobby with fruit hair and bones

Gray fox

Very tapered

Red fox

Short tapering, dimpled, segmented

Bobcat

Long and segmented

Mountain lion

Asymmetrical, curved anterior edge of metacarpal pad

Bear

Plop

Bear

Logs

Racoon

5 long toes

Racoon

5 short toes

Ringtail

5 toe pads

Striped skunk