Carnivora: Caniformia Need to Know Carnivora (Order) Families • Phocidae • Mustelidae • Mephitidae • Procyonidae • Ailuridae • Canidae • Ursidae • Otariidae • Odobenidae Canidae (Family) • Mostly Carnivorous • Variable social life (solitary & groups) • Range: Cosmopolitan (except Madagascar & Oceanic Islands) • Genera: Canis, Vulpes, Urocyon Canis (Genus) • Wolves & Coyotes • Well-defined Carnassials • Carnivorous • Dental formula: 3/3 1/1 4/4 2/3 • Defined Sagittal (with variation in Crest molar #) 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) • Lack carnassial teeth • Molars multicuspid • Rounded brain case 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) Mink • Hourglass shaped molars • Longer palette than mepthitis 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 .