Week 5 Carnivora BIOL 140
Most closely related to No one?! Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Carnivora Meat ea@ng Wide range Many obligate Some omnivorous Widest range sizes of Mammalia Least weasel 25 g Polar bear 1000 kg Southern elephant seal 5000 kg 4
Carnivore Teeth Heterodont Large canines Carnassials (sectorial teeth) Last premolar of the upper jaw First molar of the lower Blade- like teeth Occlude (close) with a scissor- like ac@on Shearing and shredding meat
All have 4 or 5 toes First digit on fore paws Dew claw Ves@gial or absent Digi@grade Walk on toes Cats, Wolves Plan@grade Walk on whole foot Bears Carnivore Locomo@on
8 Families Felidae Cats Cougar Lynx Bobcat Mephi@dae Skunks SpoYed skunk Striped skunk Carnivore Families bear- tracker.com/mammals.html
Mustelidae Weasels American mar@n Fisher Short tailed weasel (ermine) Long tailed weasel Mink Wolverine Badger River OYer Sea OYer Carnivore Families bear- tracker.com/mammals.html
Procyonidae Raccoons Ringtail Northern Raccoon Phocidae Hair Seals Harbor seal Northern elephant seal Otariidae Eared Seals Northern fur seal Northern sea lion California sea lion Carnivore Families bear- tracker.com/mammals.html
Ursidae Bears Black bear Grizzly bear Canidae Dogs Coyote Gray Wolf Red fox Kit fox Common Gray Fox Carnivore Families bear- tracker.com
Mountain Lion / Cougar Puma concolor (Felidae) 6-9 c long 26-32 in tall 70-190 lbs Buffy gray to tawny color Buff to white underside Some@mes dis@nct dark markings on face Tail 1/3 total length Habitat Wooded, remote, rocky, ocen mountainous areas May move subalpine/ foothills if food available
Cougar Range Canadian Rockies to West South through Central and South America Mostly in wild, mountainous areas Feeding Mostly deer Also elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, beaver, porcupine Occasional rodents, birds Reproduc@on Female usually breeds year 3 LiYer of 1-6 (avg 3) Any@me of year 3 month gesta@on KiYens black spoyed Nurse 6 wks Stay with mother up to 2 yrs
Track Four toes Front and rear No claws seen Retractable Scat ~1 diameter Rounded ends Segmented Usually contains fur Cougar
Lynx canadensis (Felidae) Same species as European lynx? 31-40 in. long 18-23 in. tall @ shoulder 15-40 lbs. Short tail (~4 ) 2 black hairs on ear @ps Long buffy/gray mix fur Faint stripes Huge thickly- furred paws Like snow shoes Habitat Dense northern coniferous forests Down trees, thickets Provide ambush sites Vegeta@on dictates prey available Den Hole under log, in rocks, or cave Canada Lynx
Range Northern boreal, coniferous forests Oregon? Feeding Mostly snowshoe hare Some squirrels, grouse, rodents, pets Will cache unconsumed kills Reproduc@on Breed March/April At 1 year old 2 month gesta@on 1-5 kits (2-3 avg) Gray, faint stripes Weaned at 2 months Adult coat 8-10 months Canada Lynx
Canada Lynx Track Wider than adult human hand Four toes front and rear Shorter stride than cougar Scat 4-6 inches Segmented Usually full of white fur Tapered ends
Bobcat Lynx rufus (Felidae) 30-49 in. long 17-21 in tall @ shoulder 15-29 lbs. Tawny to yellowish brown Some@mes reddish in summer Dark brown spots on sides Stripes on chest (+/- ) and outside of legs Black bars across cheeks Ear tucs less than 1 White throat/chin Bobbed tail 5-6 Habitat Open coniferous/deciduous forest, brush Willow stands offer excellent camouflage May replace Lynx where absent Den - temporary - any cavi@es
Range Most of con@nental U.S. and southern Canada Further north in Rockies Feeding Rabbits preferred Squirrels, rats, mice, voles, beavers, skunks, turkeys Occasional deer Occasional scavenging Reproduc@on Breed Feb/Mar At 1 yr (males at 2) 2 month gesta@on 1-7 kiyens Avg 3 Nurse 2 months Leave mother 3-5 months Bobcat
Bobcat Track 4 toes front and rear Smaller than adult human hand Scat 3-4 inches Smaller than lynx Segmented Tapered ends Usually have fur May include nearby scratches To cover To scent maybe in trail
SpoYed Skunk Spilogale gracilis (Mephi@dae) 13-23 in. long 1-2 lbs. Tail 4-8 in. Smaller than striped Black body White forehead spot White stripes break into dashes on back Individually unique Black tail ends in white plume Low round ears Anal musk glands Habitat Dry woodlands, scrub, brush, open grasslands No wetlands or marshes Like farmland Den Nomadic - any cover
Range Western U.S. into northern Mexico S.W. B.C. Feeding Omnivorous Insects, berries, eggs, birds, rodents, lizards, frogs Anything it can catch Reproduc@on 2-6/liYer Avg 4 Born May June Weaned at 2 months Disperse following spring SpoYed Skunk
Track 5 toes each foot Claws evident Hind foot usually includes heel pad Scat ½ long x ¾ wide May include Berries, insect exoskeletons, fur, feathers SpoYed Skunk
Striped Skunk Mephi8s mephi8s (Mephi@dae) 22-32 long Tail 8-14 4.5-9.25 lbs. Black body White top of head Splits into 2 parallel stripes moving caudally Small white stripe down forehead to nose Musk glands flank anus Long fore claws for digging Habitat Woodlands, semi- open areas, stream banks, brushy grasslands Farms, ci@es Den Underground burrow Nest of dried leaves and grass
Striped Skunk Range Most of con@nental U.S. Central southern Canada Excluding western B.C. Feeding Insects 40% of diet Birds, eggs, amphibians, rep@les, grains, vegeta@on Fruits, berries Carrion Reproduc@on Breed Feb- Mar 2 month gesta@on 2-10 young Avg 5-6 Weaned at 6-7 weeks Young disperse following spring
Track 5 toes per foot Claws evident May not be seen on hind foot Hind foot may show heel print Scat Berries, seeds, insect exoskeletons Small Rounded ends Minimally segmented Striped Skunk