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Felidae
The order Carnivora (pronounced car-niv o-ra) includes over 260 placental mammals. The name comes from caro (flesh) and vorare (to devour). Almost all of these animals eat meat. The notable exception is the Giant Panda, which is an herbivore, Some eat meat almost exclusively and others, such as bears and foxes, are omnivorous. All of the animals in this order have a characteristic skull shape, and their dentition includes prominent canines and carnassials.
Modern classification systems integrate the findings from molecular techniques for discovering genetic relationships. They generally divide the Carnivora into the suborders Feliformia (cat-like) and Caniformia dog-like), The latter now includes the pinnipeds, which were formerly assigned to their own order. This poster shows representational species from the 14 existing families. (The biological family name ends in idae. There are two extinct famlies - Nimravidae (false sabre-tooths) and Amphicyonidae (the beardogs).
Canadian Lynx Lynx canadensis Leopard Panthera pardus European Wild Cat Felis silvestris Caracal Caracal caracal Iberian Lynx Lynx pardinus Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa Cornish Rex Felis silvestris catus Snow Leopard Uncia uncia
Herpestidae
Mongoose and alllies. 35 species in 17 genera The mongoose is a small, cat-like carnivore; they range in size from one to four feet in length. They eat insects, crabs, worms, lizards and other small creatures. They are famous for their ability to fight and kill venomous snakes such as cobras. They can do this because of their speed, agility and cunning.
Hyaenidae
Hyenas and Aardwolf. 4 species in 4 genera Hyenas have some of the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom. Spotted Hyenas can range from dark-brown fur to amber and reddish in color. The Aardwolf looks ike the Striped Hyena but has a smaller and more pointed muzzle, sharper ears, vertical stripes, and a long mane down the middle line of the neck and back. It has warm, sand-colored coat
Viverridae
Civets, Genet & Linsang. 35 species in 20 genera These are small, lithe-bodied animals that look somewhat like a cat, but the muzzle is extended and often pointed, They range in legnth from 17 to 28 inches. They are native to most of the Old World tropics. Palm Civet. 1 species in 1 genus Favoured habitats include woodland, savanna, mountains and, above all, tropical rainforest. The African Palm Civet is a small mammal native to eastern Africa, where they usually live in trees. Their diet is omnivorous, and includes rodents, Binturong insects, eggs, carrion, fruit, birds and fruit bats. Although it physically Arctictis binturong resembles other civets, it is genetically distinct, and thus classified as the only species in their genus and family. Otter Civet Cynogale bennettii
Nandiniidae
Indian Mongoose Herpestes javanicus Striped Hyena Herpestes javanicus Aardwolf Proteles cristatus
Small spotted Genet Genetta genegga African Palm CIvet Nandinia binotata
Ursidae
Bears. 8 species in 4 genera Bears have a large body with powerful limbs and are capable of standing up on their hind legs. They have broad paws, long snouts, and round ears. Their teeth are used for defense and tools and depend on the diet of the bear. Their claws are used for ripping, digging, and catching. They have excellent senses of smell and hearing, five un-retractable claws, and long, dense, shaggy fur. The Giant Panda is now usually classified in the bear family. Its main food is bamboo, but they may eat other foods such as honey.
Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus Maned Wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus
Mustelidae
Weasels, Martens, Badgers, and Otters. 55 species in 24 genera This is the most successful and diverse familiy in order Carnivora. Mustelids range from the Least weasel whiich not much larger than a mouse, to the wolverine, a 50 pound animal that can kill reindeer and has even been known to drive bears from thier kills.
Procyonidae
Raccoons and allies. 19 species in 6 genera Because of their general build, the Procyonidae are looked upon as being small cousins of the bears. This is apparent in their German names: a racoon is called a Waschbr (washing bear, as he washes his food before eating), a coati is a Nasenbr (nose-bear) while a Kinkajou is a Honigbr (honey-bear).
Ailuridae
Red Panda. 1 species in 1 genus. The Red Panda is a mostly herbivorous mammal, slightly larger than a domestic cat. It was formerly classified in the raccoon family and then in the bear family. Recent DNA research indicates it is unique and it is now placed in its own family,
Mephitidae
Skunks and Stinkbadgers. 10 species in 3 genera These are moderately small mammals with black-and-white fur. Skunks are known for their ability to spray musk. The word skunk is a corruption of an Abenaki name for them, segongw or segonku, which means one who squirts Wolves, foxes and badgers seldom attack skunks,
Phocidae
True Seals. 19 species in 9 genera Phocids are more streamlined than fur seals and sea lions, and can therefore swim more effectively over long distances. True seals lack external ears and cannot bring their hind flippers under their body to walk on them. This makes them very clumsy on land as they have to wiggle forward on their front flippers and abdominal muscles. Because of this, they sometimes called crawling seals. True seals do not bark like the fur seals and sea lions. They communicate by slapping the water and grunting.
Odobenidae Walrus. 1 species in 1 genus The walrus is a large semi-aquatic mammal that live in the cold Arctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. Two subspecies exist: the Atlantic, Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus, and the Pacific, Odobenus rosmarus divergens. The Pacific walrus is slightly larger, the male weighing up to 1800kg.
Otariidae
Fur Seals and Sea Lions. 14 species in 7 genera The eared seals, or walking seals, fur seals and sea lions are adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle. They feed and travel in the water but breed and largely rest on land, or in some cases, on ice. They are slightly less adapted to the aquatic lifestyle than are the true seals.
Walrus Odobenus rosmarus Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus Hooded Seal Cystophora cristata Antarctic Fur Seal Arctocephalus-gazella South American Sea Lion Otaria byronia