Carnivora: Caniformia

Need to Know

Carnivora (Order)

Families

• Canidae

• Ursidae

• Otariidae

• Odobenidae

• Phocidae

• Mustelidae

• Mephitidae

• Procyonidae

• Ailuridae

Canidae (Family)

• Mostly Carnivorous

• Variable social life (solitary & groups)

• Range: Cosmopolitan (except Madagascar & Oceanic Islands)

• Genera: Canis, Vulpes, Urocyon

Canis (Genus)

• Well-defined Carnassials

• Dental formula: 3/3 1/1 4/4 2/3 (with variation in molar #)

• Wolves & Coyotes

• Carnivorous

• Defined Sagittal Crest

Vulpes (Genus)

• Red Fox

• “V” formation on top of skull

• Recall Mammals of Illinois Labs

Urocyon (Genus)

• Gray Fox

• “U” formation on top of skull

• More arboreal than Vulpes

Ursidae (Family)

• Bears

• Omnivorous (with exceptions

– Polar bears – Ursus

maritmus – are carnivorous;

Pandas – Ailuropoda – eat

bamboo)

• Range: Most of N. America,

Asia, and Andes Region in S.

America

• Genus: Ursus

Ursus (Genus)

• Bunodont molars

• Elongated skull with large & broad paraoccipital process

• Large mastoid process

• Alisphenoid canal present

Otariieae (Family)

• Sea Lions

• External ear flaps

• Can rotate hind

flippers

• Diet: fish and squid,

some feeding on

penguins and young

seals

• Range: Tropical

climates and cool

waters in Pacific,

Atlantic, and Indian

Oceans

Zalophus (Genus)

• Lack carnassial teeth

• Molars unicuspid

• 3/2 1/1 4/4 1-3/1

• Upper medial incisors

have transverse groove

Odobenidae (Family)

• Walrus

• No external ears and little hair

• Diet: mollusks and benthic invertebrates

• Range: Arctic seas from East Canada and Greenland to North

Eurasia and West Alaska

Odobenus (Genus)

• Enlarged mastoid process

• Tusk-like canines (absent in lab

specimen)

• 1-2 / 0 1/1 3-4/3-4/ 0/0

Phocidae (Family)

• Seals

• Lack external ears

• Highly adapted to

aquatic habitats

• Diet: fish, krill,

squid, invertebrates

• Range: Mostly in

colder latitudes, with

some in tropics and

freshwater

Phoca (Genus)

• Rounded brain case

• Lack carnassial teeth

• Molars multicuspid

Mustelidae (Family)

• Weasels, badgers,

otters

• Range: World-wide

(except Madagascar,

Australia, most

Oceanic Islands)

• Genera: Mustela,

Neovison, Taxidae,

Lontra, Gulo, Enhydra

Mustela (Genus)

• Weasels

• Ferrets

Neovison (Genus)

• Hourglass shaped molars

• Longer palette than mepthitis

Mink

Taxidea (Genus)

• Badger

Lontra (Genus)

• River Otter

Gulo (Genus)

• Wolverine

Enhydra (Genus)

• Sea Otter

• Bunodont molars, large canines

• Flat maxilla

Mephitidae (Family)

• Skunks

• Aposematic coloration

• Defensive spraying

• Diet: Mostly insects and rodents

• Range: N. and S. America

Mephitis (Genus)

• Skunks

• Skull similar to

Mustelidae but

has shorter

palette, less

specialized

carnassial teeth,

squarer upper

molars, smaller

auditory bullae

• M1 not constricted

in middle

Procyonidae (Family)

• Raccoons

• Generalist diets (omnivores)

• Range: North, Central, and South Americas

• Dental formulas: 3/3 1/1 4/4 3/3

• Genera: Procyon, Nasua, Bassariscus

Procyon (Genus)

• Raccoon

Nasua (Genus)

• Coati

• Smooth Cranium

Bassariscus (Genus)

• Ring-tailed Cat