Available at Placental Carnivores: Past and Present Ilse Kotzee Student # Landscape Ecology and People University of the Western Cape

 Placental refers to a mammal who gives birth to live young, which is nourished throughout the pregnancy by placenta; a specialized organ attached to the uterus wall. ( )  Carnivore refers to any animal whose diet consists mainly out of meat. ( )  Presently there are about 260 placental carnivores ( Placental Carnivore Definition:

Creodonts and Carnivores  Placental carnivores represented by two orders:  The now extinct Creodonts  The very successful true Carnivores

Creodonts  Primitive carnivorous mammals  Long and low scull with primitive brain  Head large in proportion to body  Short and heavy limbs; long tail; sharp clawed toes Hyeanodon gigas

Carnivores  Dominated from late Eocene up to present day  Large brain case  Good sense of smell  Well developed canines  Shearing and crushing teeth  Strong body capable of powerful movement Lion en.wikipedia.org/wikia/Carnivora

Adaptations  Differ from insectivores in having special pairs of upper and lower carnassials  Dagger like canines used for stabbing, main weapon for killing prey  Strong incisor teeth used for nipping bio_mlt/Carnivor.html

Carnivore evolutionary timeline

The Oxyaenids  Characteristic long body, short limbs and very long tail  Can be compared to martens and cats of today  Diet consisted out of birds, eggs, small mammals and most likely still insects  Capable of climbing trees Reconstruction of the cat-like creodont Oxyaena

The Hyaenodontids  Resembled hyena's and dogs of present time  Reached very large sizes  Had longer limbs, so were better runners  Active predators, able to compete with true carnivores for short time  Much more abundant than Oxyaenids

Extinction of Creodonts  A change in temperature may have favored the early carnivores  No match for the true carnivores with greater intelligence and more specializations

Miacids  Seen as most primitive representative of True Carnivores  Still had primitive features such as; a low scull, elongated body and tail, and short limbs, but larger brain  Diet consisted of small animals living in dense undergrowth or in trees  Resembled modern day weasels

The Fessipeds  Dominated from late Eocene till present time  They are the familiar and well known dogs, cats, raccoons, bears, wolves etc.  Order divided into two groups; Cannoids and Feloids  Division based on anatomical differences

Super family: Canoidea  The early Cannoids kept much of their primitive characteristics  Did show some elongation of limbs and feet  Carnassials more specialized for shearing then in Miacids  The brain case was also bigger

Canidae  Has long legs, of all carnivores most adapted for running  They are social hunters that rely on speed to chase and pin down prey  Possesses an elongated muzzle and bushy tail

Ursids  In the Miocene dogs started evolving into larger heavier carnivores  This could be where the ancestry of bears can be traced  Like dogs bears are very adaptable and widely distributed  Dentition more suitable for omnivory Panda

Procyonids  The Oligocene gave rise to yet another Cannoid  A small, climbing carnivore with hand like forepaws, and flexible limbs  Differs from dogs in that they walk on the soles of their feet  Like dogs they have 5 toes ending in non retractable claws Kinkajou

Mustelids  Of all carnivores this group shows the widest range of adaptive radiation  Group consists out of primitive mustelines, the mellivorines, melines, mephitines and the lutrines  Can be identified by their tapering body and short legs  Each group’s diet and behavior is equally diverse Skunk

Viverridae  Included in the Feloid carnivores, is one of the oldest carnivores still living today; the civets  They first made their appearance in the Eocene and lower Oligocene age  The small, forest living genet ‘s ancestry can be closely linked with that of the civet’s Genet

Herpestidae  Recently split from the civet stock due to technical details in anatomy  Least known and studied of all carnivores  Small carnivore, with short legs and a long tail Mongoose

Hyaenidae  Very large and heavy descendant of the civet  Hyena has heavy skull, with strong enlarged teeth for cracking bones  Legs are elongated for faster running.  Highly specialized carnassials with almost no molars Hyena

Nimravidae  The evolution of cats mirrors that of the Hyena only occurring earlier  A very successful group that very rapidly evolved into the modern day cats we know today

Felidae: Cats  Includes the lynxes, lions, leopards, jaguarundi, tigers, bobcats, mountain lions, ocelots and cheetahs  Members of this group are the ultimate carnivores  A distinguishing feature is their four toes ending in retractable claws  Top class hunters, with acute sense of smell, hearing and excellent balance

Felidae: Cats contd.  Two groups separates the Felidae into the big cats (genus Panthera) and the small cats (genus Felids)  The ability to purr distinguishes these two groups  Unable to run for long distances they are excellent sprinters

The Pennipeds  Includes the sea lions, walruses and seals  First appeared during Oligocene to Miocene  Made the move from land to water  Four feet are transformed into paddles with webbing between toes  Large size, with thick blubber

Ottaridae  Represented by eared seals and sea lions  Males larger then females  Able to dive and remain submerged for extended periods of time  Fur has even black color  Dentition specialized for eating fish Seal

Odobenidae  Represented by walrus  A strong carnivore with little to no hair and no external ears  Diet consists out of mollusks taken from sea bottom with lips and tusks  Sociable and with groups of 1000 and more also polygamous http ://

Phocidae  Of all the aquatic carnivores this group is most abundant  Known to be monogamous as well as polygamous  Hind limbs specialized for swimming cannot be used on land  Mottled fur that is spotted or banded

Newly discovered carnivores  This order is very progressive, and even today new members are being discovered  The cat-fox is a potentially new carnivore  Discovered in Indonesia (Borneo)  “The mammal is slightly larger then a cat, with red fur, a long tail and hind legs longer then the front legs” ( Cat-fox)

References:  Colbert E.H., Morales (M) (1991) Evolution of the Vertebrates, 4th Ed. New York Wiley-Liss (Chapter 25) htm htm       ml ml

References:   s.htm s.htm  yacovella/pages/Fox_jpg.htm