Carnivores

By: Mark Fortese

Carnivora

• Comes from the Latin “caro”, meaning “flesh”, and “vorare”, meaning “to devour”

• Order of mammals• 269 species world wide• 14 species in pa (not including the mountain

lion)

Carnivora

• All carnivores eat meat, but some like bears are omnivorous which means they also eat vegetation

• Carnivore teeth are distinct and they have large canines and carnassial teeth

• Their teeth are designed to cut through flesh

Carnivore Teeth

Carnivore Teeth

Carnvora Taxonomy

• Two main sub-orders:– Feliformia (cat-like)– Caniformia (dog-like)

• Feliforms all have a double chambered auditory bulla where caniforms have a single boned auditory bulla

Feliform vs. Caniform

In Pennsylvania

• All but 1 species of carnivore in Pennsylvania are Caniforms

• The bobcat is the only species that is a Feliform

• 5 families including 13 species make up the rest of PA’s carnivores

PA Carnivores

• The family with the most species in our state is also the largest family of carnivores in the world and is probably the least known about by the public

• They are the Mustelidae or commonly know as weasels– The 6 species of Mustelidae in PA are :• Otter, Mink, Fisher, Long-tailed Weasel, Least Weasel

and Ermine

Mustelidae in PA