CARNIVORA Systematics & Biology Mammalogy – EEOB 625 23 February 2004

Risks &Advantages of Carnivory Few orders have been successful, n = ? Adaptations: dental = canines & carnassials digestive & locomotory adaptations Primitive Order Creodonta primitive carnassials: (M2/ M3) Cimolestes: weasel-like member of the ancestral family Miacidae

Fig. 15.1 Feldhamer See Fig. 12-1 Vaughan

Adaptations of Carnivores Dental ‑ Carnassial Teeth: last upper premolar & first lower molar (P4/ M1) Carnassial function - shearing action Digestion: Simple with rapid passage Locomotion: Plantigrade to Digitigrade What is the most highly derived family? Function & control of retractile claws

Fig. 6.6B, Feldhamer

Shape of the Mandibular Fossa Musteliae: “C”-shaped Ursidae flat

lion hyena dog Fig. 15.4

Fig. 6.2, Feldhamer

Fig. 6.2

Adaptations of an omnivorous carnivore Schwartz (1959)

Suborder Feliformia “Cat‑like” taxa in four families Felidae: most highly derived, speciose (36 species, Herpestidae with 37 species), and nearly Worldwide in distribution Herpestidae & Viverridae Hyaenidae: Highest in adaptive radiation? Ardwolves: transitional to true myrmecophagy?

Schwartz & Schwartz (1959)

Adaptive radiation in Hyaenidae Spotted hyaena Ardwolf

Suborder Caniformia “dog‑like”families &marine carnivores Procyonidae: the New World ominvores Giant Panda ‑ a member of Ursidae? ‑ anatomy of the manus and skull ‑ DNA hybridization & other techniques The ursid phylogenetic tree Mustelidae: Origin & diversity (65species)

Brown bear Giant Panda Raccoon