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68 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What are the most and second most diverse orders of mammals? |
1. Rodentia 2. Chiroptera |
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In what order are Calugos, or flying lemurs? |
Dermoptera |
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What word describes ability to truly fly? |
Volant |
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What are the 2 suborders of order Carnivora? |
1. Feliforma 2. Caniforma |
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What is the reason for the name "Carnivora"? |
Pronounced canines (NOT diet) |
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Describe the digestive systems of meat eating species |
Simple stomachs and undeveloped cecums |
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How are Carnoivores placed into the 2 suborders? |
By: 1. The structure of their auditory bullae
2. Aspects of their circulatory system |
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Contrast the pelage of Feliforms vs Caniforms |
In feliforms, concealment is more important for ambush, so they often have patterned pelts. In caniforms, pelage is more plain. |
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Name the 6 families in suborder Feliforma |
1. Nandinia 2. Hyaenidae 3. Eupleridae 4. Herpestidae 5. Viverridae 6. Felidae |
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How many species are in family Felidae? |
40 |
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Which family is "the most carnivorous of the carnivores" ? |
Felidae |
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Describe the foot posture of Felidae |
Digitigrade with recurved and retractile claws |
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Describe the dentition of Felidae |
Scarcely a trace of molar teeth behind the carnassals |
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How do Felids hunt? |
By stalk and ambush |
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What is the structure in the eyes of Felids which allows them to see at night? |
Tapetum lucidum |
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What Feliform family is the most abundant Carnivore in the Middle East, India, and Africa? |
Hyaenidae |
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Describe the diet of aardwolf |
Myremecophagous (eats ants and termites) |
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Describe the diet of hyenas |
Carrion specialists |
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In what family and suborder are the mongooses and meerkats? |
Herpestidae (suborder = Feliforma) |
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Where can members of Herpestidae be found? |
Africa, the Middle East, and Asia |
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In what family and suborder are civets and genets? |
Viverridae (suborder Feliforma) |
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In what family are the dogs? |
Canidae |
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About how many species are in family Canidae? |
35 |
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Describe the diet of family Canidae |
Eat animal prey throughout the year; Some species seasonally eat plant material. |
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Describe the body form of family Canidae and its function. |
Form: long limbs relative to head and body length Function: To pursue prey in open habitats |
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Describe the habitats of Canidae. |
Extremely variable - deserts, tropical, and arctic |
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Name the 9 families in suborder Caniformia |
1. Canidae 2. Mustelidae 3. Mephitidae 4. Procyonidae 5. Ursidae 6. Ailuridae 7. Otariidae 8. Phocidae 9. Odobenidae |
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Name the 3 families in the Pinnipedia |
1. Odobenidae 2. Otariidae 3. Phocidae |
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Are the Pinnipedia families monophyletic, polyphyletic, or paraphyletic? |
Monophyletic |
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In what family is the walrus? |
Odobenidae |
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In what family are fur seals and sea lions? (Eared seals) |
Otariidae |
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In what family are true seals? (Earless seals) |
Phocidae |
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Name 4 animals in family Mustelidae |
1. Weasels 2. Otters 3. Badgers 4. Wolverines |
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What is a characteristic body form of Mustelidae and the function? |
Form: enlarged anal scent glands Function: musk secretion for communication and defense |
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Name 2 Mustelids adapted to an aquatic life style |
1. River otter 2. Sea otter |
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In what family is the skunk? |
Mephitidae |
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Where is family Mephitidae found? |
New World - North and South America |
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What is skunk musk secretion made of? |
Buytlmercaptan (Containing sulphuric acid) |
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Name the 2 species to know in Mephitidae |
1. Spilogale putorius (Eastern Spotted Skunk) 2. Mephitis mephitis (striped skunk)
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In what family are raccoons? |
Procyonidae |
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What is the range of Procyonidae? |
New World - North and South America |
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True or false: raccoon claws are retractile |
Trick question: they are semi-retractile |
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Describe what body forms of Procyonidae demonstrate a departure from a carnivorous lifestyle. |
Shearing teeth modified into chewing teeth resembling molars (near molariform) |
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In what family are the bears? |
Ursidae |
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What is the historic range Ursidae? |
North America, Andes Mtns, Eurasia, and North Africa |
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Describe teeth of Ursidae |
Canines: large Carnassials: underdeveloped Molars: broad, flat - 2 are elongated |
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Describe the diet of Ursidae |
Omnivorous except polar bears (carnivorous) |
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Which species in Ursidae is myremecophagous? |
Sloth bear |
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In what family is the red/lesser panda? |
Ailuridae |
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What is the range of Ailuridae? |
Himalayas in high-elevation forests and bamboo thickets |
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Describe the diet of Ailuridae |
Bamboo and other vegetation |
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Which of the pennipeds occur in marine, freshwater, and estuarine communities? |
Phocidae (true seals) |
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What is the range of Otariidae? |
Pacific Ocean only, Arctic to Anarctic |
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What is the distribution of Phocidae? |
Widespread in the northern and southern regions if oceans |
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Compare and contrast the limbs of Phocidae and Otariidae |
Phocidae: limbs useless on land Otariidae: limbs can be used for locomotion on the beach |
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Describe the form and function of teeth in Odobenidae |
Form: Enormous, curved tusks. Peg-like cheek teeth. Function: digging for mollusks Dealing with shells. |
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What is the scientific name of the bobcat? |
Lynx rufus |
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What is the most diverse family in the Carnivora? |
Mustelidae |
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What are the purpose of molariform teeth in Felidae? |
Crushing and shearing |
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What is the only continent that has no apex Canidae predator? |
South America |
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Describe the distribution of Mustelidae |
Holarctic (northern hemisphere) |
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What is the scientific name of mink? |
Mustela vison |
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What is the scientific name of river otter? |
Lontra canadensis |
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What is the scientific name of least weasel? |
Mustela nivilis |
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What is the scientific name of long-tailed weasel? |
Mustela frenata |
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Name the 4 Mustelids we need to know. |
1. Mustela vison 2. Lontra canadensis 3. Mustela nivilis 4. Mustela frenata |
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Describe the distribution of Odobenidae |
Throughout the Arctic in Atlantic and Pacific Oceans |
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Describe the reproduction of Mustelidae |
1. Monestrus 2. Induced ovulation 3. Delayed implantation |