Carnivora

The Carnivora is an order of mammals descended from carnivorous ancestors. Although most of the living Carnivora are indeed meat-eaters, some are omnivorous, and the giant panda is largely vegetarian. Bears, hyenas, cats and seals are all members of the Carnivora.

Family

  • Ailuridae Red panda (species)

  • Bears (Ursidae)

    The bear family (Ursidae) has eight living species in it, including the polar bear, sloth bear and giant panda. They are most common in the northern hemisphere, and not found in Australia, Antarctica or most of Africa..

  • Cats (Felidae)

    The cat family (Felidae) occur naturally on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Most cat species live solitary lives, lions being an exception.

  • Dogs (Canidae)

    The dog family (Canidae) contains all the fox, wolf, coyote, jackal and dog species. Wild canids are found on every continent, with the exception of Antarctica..

  • Earless seals (Phocidae)

    Earless seals, or true seals, are one of three families to belong to the seal superfamily. Members of the phocidae include the grey seal, common seal and the massive southern elephant seal.

  • Fur seals and sealions (Otariidae)

    Fur seals and sealions are distinguished from true seals by the presence of external ears and the ability to bring their rear flippers underneath their bodies to enable them to stand on all four limbs. For this reason, fur seals and sealions are more adept at moving on land..

  • Herpestidae Meerkat (species)

  • Odobenidae Walrus (species)

  • Raccoons, coatis and allies (Procyonidae)

    Coatis, kinkajous and raccoons are among the members of the Procyonidae mammal family. They are all omnivores and only found in the Americas..

  • Weasels, badgers and allies (Mustelidae)

    Weasels, badgers and their allies form the family Mustelidae, and include weasels, otters, badgers and wolverines. It's the largest family in the order Carnivora.

About

The diverse order Carnivora (pronounced /kɑrˈnɪvərə/ or sometimes /ˌkɑrnɪˈvɔərə/; from Latin carō (stem carn-) "flesh", + vorāre "to devour") includes over 260 species of placental mammals. Its members are formally referred to as carnivorans, while the word "carnivore" (often popularly applied to members of this group) can refer to any meat-eating animal. Carnivorans are the most diverse in size of any mammalian order, ranging from the Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis), at as little as 25 grams (0.88 oz) and 11 centimetres (4.3 in), to the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) which can weigh up to 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb), to the Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) whose adult males weigh up to 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb) and measure up to 6.9 metres (23 ft) in length.

The first carnivoran was a carnivore, and nearly all carnivorans today primarily eat meat. Some, such as cats, pinnipeds, and weasels, are obligate carnivores. Others, such as racoons and bears, depending on the local habitat, are more omnivorous; the Giant Panda is almost exclusively a herbivore but will take fish, eggs and insects, while the Polar Bear's harsh habitat forces it to mainly subsist on prey. Carnivorans have teeth, claws, and binocular vision adapted for catching and eating other animals. Many hunt in packs and are social animals, giving them an advantage over larger prey.

Carnivorans apparently evolved in North America out of members of the family Miacidae (miacids) c 42 million years ago. They soon split into cat-like and dog-like forms (Feliformia and Caniformia).

Read more at Wikipedia

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Scientific Classification

Class: Mammal (Mammalia)

Order: Carnivora

Other Mammalia

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