Knowra Caniformia Caniformia Caniformia is one of the two major suborders of Carnivora, comprising dogs, bears, mustelids, skunks, raccoons, red pandas, and pinnipeds. Its members share evolutionary ancestry and generally have non-retractile claws.
Carnivora : An order of mammals that includes cats, dogs, bears, seals, and their extinct relatives. Caniformia is one of Carnivora’s two major living suborders.
Carnivoran phylogeny : The evolutionary history and branching relationships among members of Carnivora. Phylogenetic evidence establishes the branches grouped within Caniformia.
Miacidae : An extinct, diverse group of small carnivorous mammals from the Paleocene and Eocene. Miacids represent early carnivoran-grade mammals near the origins of modern branches.
Gray wolf : A large, social canid native to Eurasia and North America. The gray wolf exemplifies the ecological role of a large terrestrial caniform predator.
Feliformia : The other major living suborder of Carnivora, containing cats, hyenas, mongooses, and civets. Feliformia is Caniformia’s sister suborder within Carnivora.
Canidae : The mammal family containing dogs, wolves, foxes, and their close relatives. Canids are the dog-like branch of Caniformia.
Molecular phylogenetics : The study of evolutionary relationships using genetic sequence data. DNA comparisons have reshaped relationships among caniform families.
Amphicyonidae : An extinct family of large carnivorous mammals commonly called bear-dogs. Bear-dogs were prominent extinct caniforms with varied body forms and diets.
Sea otter : A marine mustelid that forages in coastal waters and often uses tools to open prey. Its kelp-forest effects show how a caniform predator can shape an ecosystem.
Felidae : The mammal family containing cats, including lions, tigers, and domestic cats. Cats provide a familiar comparison for caniform skulls, claws, and evolutionary history.
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