Transcript Document 7372859

Placental Carnivores: Past and
Present
Ilse Kotzee
Student # 2456349
Landscape Ecology and People
University of the Western Cape
Available at http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl/Eco_people/Presentations/
Placental Carnivore Definition:
 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. (www.britannica.com/eb/article9027844)
 Carnivore refers to any animal whose diet consists mainly out of
meat. (www.barteleby.com/carnivore.html )
 Presently there are about 260 placental carnivores
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivora)
Creodonts and Carnivores
 Placental carnivores represented by two
orders:
 The now extinct Creodonts
 The very successful true Carnivores
Creodonts
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Hyeanodon gigas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creodonta
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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
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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
http://en.wikipedia.org/wikia/Carnivora
Carnivores
Adaptations
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www.shsu.edu/~bio_mlt/Carnivor.html
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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
Carnivore evolutionary timeline
www.shsu.edu/~bio_mlt/Carnivor.html
The Oxyaenids
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www.paleocene-mammals.de/predators.htm
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
www.shsu.edu/~bio_mlt/Carnivore.html
Canidae
Ursids
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
http://images.google.co.za/images?q=carnivore+evolution&svnum
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
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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
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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
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Ottaridae
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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
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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://www.nature.ca/notebooks/english/walrus.htm
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
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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”
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Cat-fox)
http://www.herkimer.edu/communityed/cogar/yacovella/pages/Fox_jpg.htm
Newly discovered carnivores
References:
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Colbert E.H., Morales (M) (1991) Evolution of the
Vertebrates, 4th Ed. New York Wiley-Liss (Chapter
25)
www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/5405_Colbert_&Morales_
1991.htm
www.shsu.edu/~bio_mlt/Carnivor.html
www.paleocene-mammals.de/predators.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivora
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creodonta
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat-fox
http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/paleo.amnh.org/...c1.ht
ml
References:
http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/seals.htm
 http://www.nature.ca/notebooks/english/walru
s.htm
 http://www.herkimer.edu/communityed/cogar/
yacovella/pages/Fox_jpg.htm
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