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Carnivora

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Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior

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Synonyms

The mammalian carnivore order

Definition

Carnivora is a mammalian order that includes bears, cats, dogs, seals, skunks, and weasels, among other species.

Introduction

The mammalian order Carnivora encompasses 15 families and 286 species (Fig. 1) including humankind’s longest domesticated companions, cats and dogs. It includes both terrestrial carnivores (fissipeds) and aquatic carnivores (pinnipeds). Although there is ongoing debate regarding its taxonomy, molecular and morphological evidence supports organizing Carnivora into two suborders: (1) Feliformia that includes the families Eupleridae (Malagasy carnivores), Felidae (cats), Herpestidae (mongooses), Hyaenidae (aardwolf and hyenas), Nandiniidae (African palm civet), and Viverridae (civets, genets, linsangs, and relatives) and (2) Caniformia that includes the families Ailuridae (red panda), Canidae (dogs, foxes, wolves, and relatives), Mephitidae (skunks and stink badgers), Mustelidae (badgers, otters, weasels, and...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA, USA

    Andrew J. Edelman

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  1. Andrew J. Edelman
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Correspondence to Andrew J. Edelman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University , Rochester, MI, USA

    Jennifer Vonk

  2. Department of Psychology, Oakland University Department of Psychology, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Georgia College & State University, Mobile, Al, USA

    Stephanie Jett

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Edelman, A.J. (2019). Carnivora. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1737-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1737-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

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