Introduction to Carnivores

Order Carnivora

*Latin word carne = "flesh“ vorare = "to devour“

*12 families260 species

*meat-eatersbut some actually don’t

*synapomorphycaninespossession of carnassial teeth

Carnassials

*molar and premolar teethfirst lower molar (M1)fourth upper premolars (P4)

-carnassial pair

*modified for shearing and shredding flesh

sharp cutting edgesscissor-like motion

*diphyodonttwo successive sets of teeth

The Divergence

*two Suborders 1. Feliformia

“cat-like”2. Caniformia

“dog-like”

*structure of auditory bullae

Suborder Feliformia

*auditory bullaedouble-chamberedtwo bones joined by a septum

*shorter rostrumsfewer teethmore specialized carnassials

*digitigrade (walking on toes)

*retractile to semi-retractile claws

*more carnivorous and ambush hunter

double-chamberedseptum

digitigrade

retractile claws

The “Cat-like” form

*Extant FamiliesFelidae (True Cat Family)Hyaenidae (Hyena Family)Herpestidae (Mongoose Family)Viverridae (Civet Family)

The True Cats

*Feliformiasubfamily Pantherinae “big cats”

tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard

subfamily Felinae “small cats”domestic cats, cougar,cheetah, caracal

*obligate carnivores

What Separates Them?

*ability to roar (Pantherinae)free floating hyoid bonespecialized larynx

*Felinae can’t roarhardened hyoid bonebut can purr

Big cat vs. Small cat

Standing posture Feeding behavior

Suborder Caniformia

*auditory bullaesingle-chambered

*long muzzlemore teethless specialized carnassials

*plantigrade (walking on sole)except Canidae

*non-retractile claws 

auditory bullae

plantigrade Canids have longer snout

Feliformia vs. Caniformia

lion digitigrade

polar bear plantigrade

auditory bullae

tracks

The Nimravidae

”false saber tooth cats”

*extinct

*different structure of ear bonesno septumcartilaginous housing

The “Dog-like” form

*Extant FamiliesCanidae (Dog Family)Ursidae (Bear Family)Mephitidae (Skunk Family)Mustelidae (Weasel Family)Procoynidae (Raccoon Family)clade Pinnipedia (Aquatic Carnivores)

The “Fin-footed”

*clade PinnipediaPhocidae (Eareless Seal Family)

Otariidae (Eared Seal Family)

Odobenidae (Walrus Family)

The True Dogs

*Caniformiasubfamily Canini “true dogs”

domestic dog, wolf,coyote, jackal

subfamily Vulpini “foxes”arctic fox, red fox,bat-eared fox

Differences Between Them

tail

flattened skull

skull shape

size