Caniformia

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Caniforms
Fossil range: Paleocene - Recent
Grizzly bears
Grizzly bears
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Caniformia
Kretzoi, 1943
Families

Caniformia is one of two suborders within the order Carnivora and consists of the "dog-like" carnivores, such as dogs, wolves, bears, weasels, skunks, pinnipeds, and related taxa. The other suborder of Carnivora is Feliformia, the "cat-like" carnivores, such as felids (true cats), hyenas, mongooses, and civets. One shared characteristic distinguishes Carnivora from all other mammals: the possession of the four carnassial teeth in the front of the jaw. Feliforms are diagnostically distinguished from Caniforms by having auditory bulle that are double-chambered, composed of two bones joined by a septum.

They typically possess a long snout and non-retractile claws in contrast to the cat-like carnivores, the Feliformia).Caniforms have single-chambered or partially divided auditory bullae, composed of a single bone, while in feliforms the auditory bullae are double-chambered, composed of two bones joined by a septum.


The Pinnipedia (seals, sea lions, and walruses) evolved from caniform ancestors and are accordingly assigned to this group. All members of this group (with the exception of Canidae) have non-retractile claws and tend to be plantigrade. Another trait that separates them from the Feliformia is that they have more teeth. They have a longer rostrum with less specialized carnassials. They tend more towards omnivorous and opportunity-based feeding, while the feliforms are more specialized in eating meat.

Overview and description

The Carnivora order is divided into the suborders Feliformia (cat-like) and Caniformia (dog-like), the latter of which includes the pinnipeds. Feliformia includes such familes as Felidae (the "true cats"), Hyaenidae (hyenas and aardwolves), Herpestidae (mongooses), and Viverridae (true civets), and related extant and extinct taxa. Some of the major sub-groups within Caniformina are the families Canidae (dogs, wolves, and foxes), Ursidae (bears), Mustelidae (weasels, badgers, and otters), and Mephitidae (skunks), as well as the pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses).

Extant families

They are 9 living families (3 extinct and 1 once thought to belong to the group, the Hyaenidae). They are found all over the world (even when not counting dogs), even mainland Antarctica, as seals have no natural land predators so they can rest on land.

The Family Canidae (canids, commonly known as either dogs or canines) includes wolves, dogs, foxes and so on. They are the most social of all the caniforms, living in packs. The dog is the most diverse of all mammals in terms of body structure.

The Family Ursidae (the bears) are the largest of all the land caniforms. They range from the large polar bear (males, 775–1500+ lb) to the small sun bear (males, 66–132 lb) and from the endangered giant panda to the very common black bear. They are more of a herbivore.

The Family Ailuridae (the red panda) was once thought to be either part of the Procyonidae or the Ursidae. It now belongs to its own family. It is found in China, but may have also lived in North America.

The Family Mephitidae (the skunks), once thought to be part of the Mustelidae, is now a group in its own right. This group is famous for its foul smell.

The Family Mustelidae (the weasels and otters) is the most diverse of the group. The members are famous for their fierce hunting instinct and (usually) streamlined body.

The Family Procyonidae (the raccoons)

The Family Phocidae (the seals)

The Family Otariidae (the eared seals and sea lions)

The Family Odobenidae (the walrus)

Evolutionary history

The caniforms first appeared as tree-climbing, cat-like carnivores in the Paleocene (65–55 million years ago). Miacis was probably an early caniform.

Classification

   Caniformia   

Amphicyonidae†



Canidae


   Arctoidea   
   Ursoidea   

Hemicyonidae†



Ursidae




Pinnipedia

Enaliarctidae†



   

Phocidae



   

Otariidae



Odobenidae





   Musteloidea   
   

Ailuridae



   

Mephitidae



   

Procyonidae



Mustelidae








REferences

Fahey, B. and P. Myers. 2000. "Canidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 09, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Canidae.html.


Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2008. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed September 09, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.org. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Caniformia.html#Caniformia Suborder Caniformia (caniform carnivores)

Wund, M. 2005. "Mustelidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 09, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mustelidae.html.



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