Caniformia

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Caniforms
Temporal range: 43–0 
Ma
Eocene-Holocene
All extant caniform families (from left to right):
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Caniformia
Kretzoi, 1943
Subgroups

Caniformia is a

Pinnipedia (seals, walruses and sea lions) are also assigned to this group. The center of diversification for the Caniformia is North America and northern Eurasia. Caniformia stands in contrast to the other suborder of Carnivora, the Feliformia ("cat-like" carnivorans), the center of diversification of which was in Africa and southern Asia
.

Description

Most members of this group have nonretractile claws (the

vesicula seminalis are always absent. Relative to body size, the baculum is usually longer in the Caniformia than in the Feliformia.[7]

Extant families

Polar bear, the largest terrestrial caniform
The smallest caniform is the least weasel.

Caniformia consists of nine extant families, with three extinct families also recognized. The extant families are

pinnipeds
are distributed throughout the world's oceans.

Family Canidae (dogs and other

wolves, dogs, coyotes, and foxes, as well as a number of less familiar animals. The family is currently divided into two major groups, the true dogs (tribe Canini), which includes nine genera, and the true foxes (tribe Vulpini) with two genera. In addition, two basal genera are described. About 35 species of extant canids are currently recognized. Canids are the most social of all caniforms, sometimes living in packs. The dog is the most diverse of all mammals in terms of body structure variants.[citation needed
]

Family Ursidae (bears) is the largest of all the land caniforms. Eight species are recognized, divided into five genera. They range from the large polar bear (350–680 kilograms (770–1,500 lb) in males) to the small sun bear (30–60 kilograms (66–132 lb) in males) and from the endangered giant panda to the very common black bear. Common characteristics of modern bears include a large body with stocky legs, a long snout, shaggy hair, plantigrade paws with five nonretractile claws, and a short tail. Most bears are omnivorous, with largely varied diets that include both plants and animals. The polar bear is the most carnivorous of bears due to the arctic climate in which it lives, and shows a preference for eating seals. The giant panda is the most herbivorous bear and has evolved a number of adaptations, including a sixth "toe", specialized teeth, and strong jaw muscles, to allow it to feed nearly exclusively on bamboo, a tough member of the grass family. The sloth bear has some adaptations for ant and termite eating, with a long snout, powerful claws, and missing upper front teeth, though it also eats honey and fruit.

Family Ailuridae consists today of a single species, the red panda, which was once thought to be included in the Procyonidae or Ursidae lineages, but is now placed in its own family along with a number of extinct species. It is found in the Himalayas, including southern China, Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Pakistan. Fossil species of the family are also found in North America.[9]

Family Mephitidae (skunks and stink badgers) was once classified as mustelids, but are now recognized as a lineage in their own right. The 12 species of skunks are divided into four

Conepatus (hog-nosed skunks, four species). The two skunk species in the genus Mydaus inhabit Indonesia and the Philippines; all other skunks inhabit the Americas from Canada to central South America
.

Family Mustelidae (badgers, weasels and otters) is the largest family of carnivora, with 22 extant genera and roughly 57 extant species. While highly variable in shape, size, and behavior, most mustelids are smaller animals with short legs, short, round ears, and thick fur. Mustelids are predominantly carnivorous. While not all share identical dentition, they all possess teeth adapted for eating flesh, including the presence of shearing carnassials.

Members of Family Procyonidae (raccoons, coatis) are smallish animals, with generally slender bodies and long tails. Nineteen extant species in six genera are currently recognized. Except for the kinkajou, all procyonids have banded tails and distinct facial markings, and like bears, are plantigrade, walking on the soles of their feet. Most species have nonretractile claws. Early procyonids may have been an offshoot of the canids that adapted to more omnivorous diets.[10]

Pinnipedia (seals, sea lions, and walruses clade) is a widely distributed and diverse group of semiaquatic marine mammals which is closely related to an extinct group of pinnipeds, Enaliarctos. While support for the monophyly of pinnipeds is strong, the relationship of pinnipeds to terrestrial mammals is still unclear. Some studies support the hypothesis that the bears are their closest relatives,[11][12][13] while others support a closer relationship to the mustelids.[14][15][16][17]

Pinnipeds split from other caniforms 50 million years ago (Mya) during the Eocene.[16]

The clade is currently divided into three families:

Family
Phocidae (true or earless seals) consists of around 19 species of highly aquatic, barrel-shaped animals ranging from 45 kg (100 lb) and 1.2 m (4 ft) in length (the ringed seal), to 2,400 kg (5,300 lb) and 5 m (16 ft) (southern elephant seal
). Phocids are found throughout the world's oceans.
Family
pinnae
), more dog-like faces, and the ability to turn their rear flippers forward.
Family .
Miacis is the earliest known member of the order Carnivora.

Evolution

Caniforms first appeared as tree-climbing, superficially

preyed on smaller animals, such as small mammals, reptiles, and birds
.

Common raccoon
(Procyon lotor)

Debate continues on the origin of pinnipeds. Recent molecular evidence suggests pinnipeds evolved from a bear-like ancestor about 23 Mya during the

mustelids
.

Classification

Phylogeny

The

molecular phylogeny of six genes in Flynn (2005),[15] with the musteloids updated following the multigene analysis of Law et al. (2018).[18]

   Caniformia   

Amphicyonidae† Ysengrinia americana

Canidae African golden wolf

   Arctoidea   
   Ursoidea   

Hemicyoninae

Ursidae American black bear

   
Mustelida
   

References

  1. ^ Basic Biology (2015). "Carnivora".
  2. ^ Rhines, C (2003). "Martes pennanti". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  3. ^ "American Marten". New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  4. . OCLC 30436543. p11.
  5. S2CID 253993605. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on May 15, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  6. ^ Goldberg, J. (2003). "Bassariscus astutus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  7. ^ . Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  8. .
  9. ^ "Two new carnivores from an unusual late Tertiary forest biota in eastern North America" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
  10. .
  11. .
  12. ^ Hunt, R. M. Jr.; Barnes, L. G. (1994). "Basicranial evidence for ursid affinity of the oldest pinnipeds". Proceedings of the San Diego Society of Natural History. 29: 57–67.
  13. PMID 17996107
    .
  14. .
  15. ^ .
  16. ^ .
  17. .
  18. .

External links