Carnivorous mammals need large canine teeth as stabbing and slashing weapons, and also a pair of
enlarged, meat-slicing teeth (carnassials) further back. In the early order Creodonta, the carnassial teeth were
far to the rear, either M1/M2 or M2/M3. In the more successful order Carnivora,
the carnassials were always P4/M1. The earliest Carnivora, of the family Miacidae, were small,
weasel-like forest dwellers. Two great radiations of land carnivores (fissipeds), differing in details of skull anatomy, are derived from the miacids.
The canoid radiation includes the Mustelidae or weasels (most of which remained small), the increasingly omnivorous
raccoons, bears, and pandas, and the often pack-hunting dogs and wolves (Canidae). The feloid radiation includes the
civets, the carrion-feeding hyaenas, and the cats (Felidae), who are mostly ambush predators that hunt alone.
The aquatic carnivores, or Pinnipedia, include the sea lions and walruses, possibly derived from canoid ancestors,
and the earless seals, possibly derived from ancient mustelids.
- Carnivores and their teeth
- Order Creodonta
- Oxyaenidae
- Hyaenodontidae
- Order Carnivora
- Suborder Fissipedia
- Superfamily Miacoidea: Family Miacidae
- Superfamily Canoidea:
- Canidae
- Ursidae
- Ailuridae
- Procyonidae
- Mustelidae
- Superfamily Feloidea:
- Viverridae
- Hyaenidae
- Felidae
- Suborder Pinnipedia: Families Otariidae, Phocidae, Obobaenidae
Illustrations
|