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