Carnivorans

Carnivoran has taxonomic vaule = refers to group of meat/omnivore/herbivorous mammals

Carnassial teeth (modified, blade-like posterior premolars/anterior molars)

• Used for shreading and shearing 

Sharply pointed unguals (modified distal toe bones) 

• Feliformes - retrained retractile claws, used in tree climbing
  • Often considered primitive for Carnivorans
  • Repeatedly lost in lineages that no longer needed them

Approx 280 living Carnivorans

First distinguished from Miacid (primitive carnivoramorphans) in late Eocene

Divergence of two main clases - Feliformia and Caniformia ~42mya

• Few amphibious civets and mongooses
• Most amphibious and aquatic carnivorians = caniform carnivorans
  • Include Ursids, Pinnipeds, Mustelids
  • Evidence that Carnivorian clade returned to water

Ursids and Pinnipeds close relatives

Sea otters and Mustelids closely allied to skunks and racoons

Caniforms - dog-like branch

Include long-legged predators

Also short-leffed small mammal predators/omnivores

Herbivory evolved at >3 times in Caniforms

Includes aquatic Ursids, marine Pinnipeds and amphibious otters