Family Mustelidae
Otters
Family Felidae
Cats
Family Odobenidae
Walruses
North American River Otter
Southeastern River Otter sbssp.
Southwestern River Otter sbssp.
Sea Otter
Southern Sea Otter sbssp.
Northern Sea Otter sbssp.
Russian Sea Otter sbssp.
European Otter
Giant Otter Bengal Tiger sbssp.
Siberian Tiger sbssp.
The order Carnivora is made up of 250 species of mammals in 8 families.
The main distinction between other mammals and carnivores is their eating
habits: carnivores are strictly meat-eaters. Although insectivores also feed
on meat, they are classed separately because of their appearance, and no
carnivores eat only insects. Many carnivores do feed on plants, but this is
not their staple diet.
Carnivores are typically large in size, from the size of a house cat to a
Kodiak bear. They all have furry or hairy coats that usually thicken in the
winter. Many are nocturnal. The teeth are well developed and include
molars and sharp canines ideal for the shredding of meat. The sense of
smell is very acute, as is the sense of sight in most species. Pack hunting is
mostly consistent with the canines, felines, and hyaenas. All carnivores have
strong claws and chest muscles and prominent canines.
The 8 families are:
Canidae (dogs, jackals, fox, wolves)
Felidae (cats, lions, tigers)
Hyaenidae (hyaenas, aardwolves)
Mustelidae (otters, weasels, badgers)
Procyonidae (raccoons, pandas, lesser pandas)
Ursidae (bears)
Viverridae (civets, genets)
Odobenidae (walrus)
Phocidae (true, earless, or hair seals)
Otariidae (eared seals, sea lions)
Herpestidae (mongooses)
Mephitidae (skunks-previously part of Mustelidae)
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