CLASSIFICATION OF CARNIVORES 873 



Family Ursidac — Bears. The molars have broad tiiberculated crowns 

 used for grinding. The three anterior premolars are usually 

 rudimentary. The auditory bulla is depressed. In relation to 

 the character of the teeth, it should be noted that the diet is at 

 least in part vegetarian , even the polar bear eats herbs in the 



summer. Ursus, |^, absent from Ethiopian and Austrahan 



regions, represented in the Neotropical region by only one 



species, elsewhere widespread. 

 Family Procyonid^e— The Himalayan Panda {Mlurus fulgens), the 



American raccoon (Procyon). 

 Family Mustelidse — The otter {Lutra), the sea-otter {Latax lutris), 



the skunk {Mephitis), the badger {Meles), the ratel {Mellivora), 



the marten, sable, polecat, stoat, weasel (Mustela). 



Creodonta (extinct) 



In Eocene and early Miocene strata, in Europe and America, there 

 are remains of what seem to be generalised Carnivora, ancestral to the 

 modern types, and apparently related to Insectivora as well. Those 

 included in the sub-order Creodonta have strong canines but no single 

 carnassials, while the molars are often like those of Marsupials. The 

 brain seems to have been small. 



Examples. — Hycenodon, Proviverra, Arctocyon. 



Order Pinnipedia. Seals, Eared Seals, and Walruses 



Marine Carnivores, unable to move readily on land, but coming 

 ashore for breeding purposes. They feed for the most part on fish, 

 molluscs, and crustaceans. Absent from the Tropics, they are repre- 

 sented on most of the coasts in temperate and Arctic zones. Many are 

 markedly gregarious. 



The upper parts of the limbs are included within the skin and general 

 contom- of the body. There are five well-developed digits connected 

 by a web of skin. In the hind-foot the first and fifth toes are generally 

 stouter and longer than the rest. There are no clavicles. The tail is 

 very short. 



The small milk-teeth are absorbed before or immediately after 



birth. The incisors are always fewer than - ; there are no carnassials ; 



the back teeth have pointed cusps, often sloping shghtly backwards. 

 The tusks of the walrus are rootless, and may be a yard long. 



The cranial cavity is rounded ; there is a characteristic interorbital 

 constriction. 



The brain is large and well convoluted. The eyes are large and 

 prominent, with a flat cornea. The external ear is small or absent. 



The caicum is very short. The kidneys are divided into lobules. 

 The mammae are two or four in number, and lie on the abdomen. 

 The young are " precocious." 



Family Otariidae. — Eared or fur-seals, connecting the Pinnipeds with 

 the Fissipeds. The hind-feet can be turned forward and used on 

 land in the normal fashion. The palms and soles are naked. 



