Carnivora
Canidae
Felidae
Herpestidae
Hyaenidae
Mephitidae
Mustelidae
Odobenidae
Otariidae
Phocidae
Procyonidae
Ursidae
Viverridae
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The diverse
order Carnivora includes over 260 placental
mammals. While the
Giant Panda is an herbivore, nearly all others eat meat as their primary diet item: some (like the
cat family) almost exclusively, others (like the bears and foxes) are more omnivorous. Members of Carnivora have a characteristic skull shape, and their
dentition includes prominent canines and carnassials.
- ORDER CARNIVORA
- Suborder Fissipedia
- Family Canidae: dogs and allies; 35 species in 10 genera
- Family Procyonidae: raccoons and allies; 19 species in 7 genera
- Family Ursidae: bears; 8 species in 5 genera
- Family Mustelidae weasels, ferrets, badgers, and otters; 55 species in 24 genera
- Family Mephitidae skunks; 10 species in 3 genera
- Family Felidae: cats; 37 species in 4 genera
- Family Viverridae: civets and allies; 35 species in 20 genera
- Family Herpestidae: mongooses and allies; 35 speces in 17 genera
- Family Hyaenidae: hyenas and Aardwolf; 4 species in 4 genera
- Suborder Pinnipedia (most authorities list the pinnipeds within Carnivora; others list them as a separate order)
- Superfamily Otarioidae: walrus and eared seals
- Superfamily Phocoidae: true seals
- Family Phocidae: true seals; 19 species in 10 genera
