In Our Zoo Carnivores Carnivorous Mammals
Wednesday, 08 April 2009 12:03 | 
Written by Laurinda Steyn | 
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| Animals in our Zoo - Carnivores |
What is a carnivore?
 | A carnivore is an animal with a diet consisting mainly of meat, whether it comes from animals living (predation) or dead (scavenging). Not all carnivores, however, eat meat only - many of them are omnivores. Not all mammals that eat meat are classified as carnivores. The main classification of carnivores are based on that they have teeth that can that is made for grasping and tearing. The only animals that eat carnivores are bigger carnivores. That is why carnivores are at the top of the food chain. | |
| Photo taken by Luca Galuzzi * http://www.galuzzi.it |
Main identification of carnivorous mammals:
 | TEETH Important teeth for carnivorans are the large, slightly recurved canines, used to dispatch prey, and the carnassial complex, used to rend meat from bone and slice it into digestible pieces. JAWS Carnivoran jaws can only move on a vertical axis, in an up-and-down motion, and cannot move from side-to-side. The jaw joint in carnivores tends to lie within the plane of tooth occlusion; an arrangement that further emphasizes shearing (as in a pair of scissors). STOMACH Carnivora have a simple stomach designed to digest primarily meat, as compared to the elaborate digestive systems of herbivorous animals which are necessary to break down tough, complex plant fibers. | |
| This tiger's sharp teeth and strong jaws are the classical physical traits expected from carnivorous mammalian predators. Photo by ArtMechanic | ||
The carnivorous mammals in the Bloemfontein Zoo are divided into:
2 superfamilies and 6 families
Caniformia ("dog-like") | Feliformia (“cat-like") | |||||
Canidae (dogs, foxes, jackals) | Procyonidae (coatis, raccoons) |
| Herpestidae | Hyaenidae (hyenas) | Felidae (cats) | Viverridae (civets, genets) |
Black-backed jackalBat-eared foxCape FoxAfrican Wild Dog | Raccoon | Water-mongooseMeerkat | Brown spotted hyena | Pantherinae African LionBengal TigerJaguarLeopardBlack LeopardFelinaeCougar (Puma)CheetahCaracalAfrican Wild catServalBlack-footed cat | African CivetLarge-spotted Genet Small-spotted Genet | |
Differences between two superfamilies:
| Caniformia | Feliformia | |
| Typically possess a long snout (rostrum) | Shorter rostrums | |
| Non-retractile claws | Retractable or semi-retractile claws | |
| Single-chambered or partially divided auditory bullae | Auditory bullae are double-chambered | |
| More teeth, including molars | Fewer teeth - more specialized carnassials | |
| More omnivorous | More carnivorous | |
| Opportunity-based feeders | Ambush hunters | |
| Plantigrade (walking flat footed) | Digitigrade (walking on toes) |
Last Updated (Monday, 04 May 2009 09:23)