introduction to carnivores
DESCRIPTION
dogs and cats: carnivoresTRANSCRIPT
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