Carnivora

Carnivora is a big group of mammals called carnivorans. Most of them eat meat. There are at least 279 different species of carnivorans. They live all around the world, from cold places to deserts and even in the oceans. Carnivorans come in many shapes and sizes, each with their own special way of living.

Carnivorans are split into two main groups. One group is called Feliformia. This group includes true cats and other cat-like animals such as hyenas and mongooses. Most of these animals live in Europe, Asia, and Africa, but cats also live in the Americas. They crossed over through the Bering land bridge. The other group is called Caniformia. This group includes true dogs, bears, raccoons, skunks, and seals, among others. These animals are found everywhere and look, eat, and behave in many different ways.

Etymology

The word Carnivora comes from old Latin words. One word, carō (with the stem carn-), means "flesh." The other word, vorāre, means "to devour." Together, they name these meat-eating animals.

Phylogeny

Carnivorans are meat-eating mammals with ancient origins. Their earliest known ancestors appeared in North America 6 million years after the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event. These early animals looked like small weasels or genets and lived quietly at night in forests or trees.

After other meat-eating animals disappeared, carnivorans expanded and took over many roles. By the Miocene epoch, they had diversified into many families and became top predators in places like Eurasia and North America.

Systematics

Evolution

Carnivorans are a group of mammals called Laurasiatheria. This group also includes bats and ungulates. Carnivorans belong to a smaller group called Ferae, which has pangolins and some extinct groups.

Carnivorans first appeared about 60 million years ago. They split into two main groups: the cat-like feliforms and the dog-like caniforms. Over time, carnivorans became important predators on land.

Classification of the extant carnivorans

In 1758, Carl Linnaeus grouped all known carnivorans together. By 1821, the group got its modern name. At first, scientists divided them into land animals and marine animals like seals.

Later studies showed that some groups were not correctly placed. For example, some animals once thought to be closely related are now known to belong to different families. This research used genetics, shape, and fossil records to better understand how these animals are related.

Anatomy

Skull

Carnivorans have strong teeth, including big teeth called canines, and usually three small teeth called incisors on each side of their jaws. The sea otter is an exception, with only two lower incisors. Their skulls are strong with a special bone arch and often a bump on top. Most have their eyes at the front of their faces. The shape of their faces and number of teeth can vary; for example, dogs have longer faces with more teeth, while cats have shorter faces with fewer teeth.

Postcranial region

Carnivorans all walk on four legs, with most having five toes on the front feet and four on the back feet. Their feet can have soft pads, and they may walk on their toes or the full palm of their feet depending on the species. In animals like seals, the legs are changed into flippers for swimming. Most carnivorans have fur that changes with the seasons, with thicker fur in cold climates and thinner fur in warmer areas. Some animals, like the arctic fox, even change their fur colour with the seasons.

Sexual dimorphism

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Relationship with humans

Carnivorans are very important to humans. The dog was the first animal to be domesticated by people. For thousands of years, people have bred dogs for many different jobs, and today there are many types of dogs. The cat is another animal that lives with humans.

Many other carnivorans are famous and loved by people, and they are often called charismatic megafauna. Some cultures see animals like the lion as symbols of power. However, some carnivorans such as wolves and big cats have been hunted in many places. Changes in their homes and climate change have also made life harder for many of these animals. Sadly, a few types of carnivorans have disappeared completely. These include the Falkland Island wolf, the sea mink, the Japanese sea lion, and the Caribbean monk seal.

Some animals like the red fox and the stoat have been taken to places like Australasia, where they have caused problems for animals that live there.