Mammals - Carnivores
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Biology Further Mammal Study Order Carnivora H. Jones, St. Columba’s College
Introduction to Carnivores
Members of the order Carnivora are distinguished by their prominent canine teeth.
These are the long, curved, teeth beside the incisors that are particularly effective for stabbing.
Most carnivores are predatory meat-eaters with small but sharp incisors, good for nipping, but other larger carnivores have long teeth for killing, such as the big cats.
Many cats have a rasp-rough tongue that can literally lick the meat off of bones.
Carnivore Facts
270 Species of Carnivore
11 Different Families
The smallest carnivore is the Least Weasel.
The largest land carnivore is the Polar Bear.
The largest aquatic carnivore is the Elephant Seal.
Carnivore Facts - 2
The carnivores have strong jaws, powerful muscles, and heavy skulls to put their teeth into action. Among the strongest jaws are the Jaguar of South America, that can bite through a turtle's shell. The hyena of Africa, that can bite through bones to get to the bone marrow inside. Carnivores generally eat meat, although some can plant material too i.e. they are omnivores. The Carnivores have become widely diversified; some species are nocturnal in habit, while others are active during the day (diurnal), and many are active both day and night.
Evolution of the Carnivores Carnivores are an ancient order, having evolved from the early Palaeocene period (40 to 60 million years ago. They have spread successfully to all parts of the world, including the Arctic and Antarctic. But are not native as land dwellers to Australia, New Zealand, or many oceanic islands. (The dingo is a domestic dog introduced into Australia by aboriginal man, and the fox was introduced by later inhabitants of Australia.)
Classification of Carnivores Carnivores can be divided into groups called Fissiped (separate toes) or Pinniped (fin footed). There are 239 terrestrial and semiaquatic species of so-called fissiped carnivores. The pinniped carnivores are all aquatic. There are 34 species of pinniped carnivores divided into three families.
The Canids The
most familiar family of fissipeds is the Canida - dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes found in a variety of habitats from the Arctic to the tropics. They are highly predatory and often hunt over great distances, have either great speed, as in the coyote, or endurance, as in wolves. Some canids hunt in packs; many eat carrion, fruit and other plant material, or almost any edible matter available
Ursidae – The Bears
Closely related to the dog family are bears, or Ursidae, which are the largest living terrestrial carnivores. Although there are tropical species, for the most part bears inhabit cold northern regions. In temperate climates they may take refuge in caves but do not actually hibernate. Bears have become omnivorous and lost the shearing capacity of their carnassials (Very large teeth), but the polar bear is still a meat-eater. The giant panda, included in the bear family, has a unique diet of bamboo and is therefore not literally a Carnivore, yet is still classified as such.
The Mustelids Mustelids
are small animals with short legs and long bodies, and have well-developed scent glands. This family includes weasels, badgers, skunks, and otters and has a wide distribution in all climates, in both the Old and New Worlds. They seek out and prey upon various vertebrate animals smaller than themselves, such as rodents, and are known to eat insects as well
The Felids - Cats
The well-known felids, or cat family, range worldwide except in Australia, Antarctica, and certain islands. There are 40 species of felid alive today. They are the elite of predators, with strong limbs and sharp, curved, retractile claws, able to stalk, run down, and kill prey of their own size or very much larger. They possess large eyes with excellent night vision. The cheetah's claws are only semi-retractile. Felids include the Cheetah, Lion, Tiger, Leopard and the house cat.
The Pinnipeds
The seals, sea lions, and walrus, known as the pinnipeds, are highly aquatic carnivores. They are found along nearly all coastal regions of the world, including the Arctic and Antarctic. Their bodies are streamlined and their limbs are modified for swimming, but unlike cetaceans (whales and dolphins) they have kept their hind limbs. They breed and give birth on land. In fact, some species spend considerable time ashore. All are carnivorous, the diets varying from fish to marine invertebrates, birds, or even other seals.
Biology Further Mammal Study Order Carnivora H. Jones, St. Columba’s College
Introduction to Carnivores
Members of the order Carnivora are distinguished by their prominent canine teeth.
These are the long, curved, teeth beside the incisors that are particularly effective for stabbing.
Most carnivores are predatory meat-eaters with small but sharp incisors, good for nipping, but other larger carnivores have long teeth for killing, such as the big cats.
Many cats have a rasp-rough tongue that can literally lick the meat off of bones.
Carnivore Facts
270 Species of Carnivore
11 Different Families
The smallest carnivore is the Least Weasel.
The largest land carnivore is the Polar Bear.
The largest aquatic carnivore is the Elephant Seal.
Carnivore Facts - 2
The carnivores have strong jaws, powerful muscles, and heavy skulls to put their teeth into action. Among the strongest jaws are the Jaguar of South America, that can bite through a turtle's shell. The hyena of Africa, that can bite through bones to get to the bone marrow inside. Carnivores generally eat meat, although some can plant material too i.e. they are omnivores. The Carnivores have become widely diversified; some species are nocturnal in habit, while others are active during the day (diurnal), and many are active both day and night.
Evolution of the Carnivores Carnivores are an ancient order, having evolved from the early Palaeocene period (40 to 60 million years ago. They have spread successfully to all parts of the world, including the Arctic and Antarctic. But are not native as land dwellers to Australia, New Zealand, or many oceanic islands. (The dingo is a domestic dog introduced into Australia by aboriginal man, and the fox was introduced by later inhabitants of Australia.)
Classification of Carnivores Carnivores can be divided into groups called Fissiped (separate toes) or Pinniped (fin footed). There are 239 terrestrial and semiaquatic species of so-called fissiped carnivores. The pinniped carnivores are all aquatic. There are 34 species of pinniped carnivores divided into three families.
The Canids The
most familiar family of fissipeds is the Canida - dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes found in a variety of habitats from the Arctic to the tropics. They are highly predatory and often hunt over great distances, have either great speed, as in the coyote, or endurance, as in wolves. Some canids hunt in packs; many eat carrion, fruit and other plant material, or almost any edible matter available
Ursidae – The Bears
Closely related to the dog family are bears, or Ursidae, which are the largest living terrestrial carnivores. Although there are tropical species, for the most part bears inhabit cold northern regions. In temperate climates they may take refuge in caves but do not actually hibernate. Bears have become omnivorous and lost the shearing capacity of their carnassials (Very large teeth), but the polar bear is still a meat-eater. The giant panda, included in the bear family, has a unique diet of bamboo and is therefore not literally a Carnivore, yet is still classified as such.
The Mustelids Mustelids
are small animals with short legs and long bodies, and have well-developed scent glands. This family includes weasels, badgers, skunks, and otters and has a wide distribution in all climates, in both the Old and New Worlds. They seek out and prey upon various vertebrate animals smaller than themselves, such as rodents, and are known to eat insects as well
The Felids - Cats
The well-known felids, or cat family, range worldwide except in Australia, Antarctica, and certain islands. There are 40 species of felid alive today. They are the elite of predators, with strong limbs and sharp, curved, retractile claws, able to stalk, run down, and kill prey of their own size or very much larger. They possess large eyes with excellent night vision. The cheetah's claws are only semi-retractile. Felids include the Cheetah, Lion, Tiger, Leopard and the house cat.
The Pinnipeds
The seals, sea lions, and walrus, known as the pinnipeds, are highly aquatic carnivores. They are found along nearly all coastal regions of the world, including the Arctic and Antarctic. Their bodies are streamlined and their limbs are modified for swimming, but unlike cetaceans (whales and dolphins) they have kept their hind limbs. They breed and give birth on land. In fact, some species spend considerable time ashore. All are carnivorous, the diets varying from fish to marine invertebrates, birds, or even other seals.
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