88 Order CARNIVORA 



11. Tail not black tipped, less than 40 mm. (1J/ in.) long; over- 



all length of animal less than 220 mm. ( 8f6 in.) 



least weasel, Musiela rixosa 



Tail black tipped, more than 40 mm. long; over-all length 

 of animal more than 230 mm. ^9 in.) 12 



12. Feet white ; tail less than a third of over-all length of animal 



short-tailed weasel, Mustela erminea* 



Feet predominantly brown; usually tail more than a third 



of over-all length of animal 



long-tailed weasel, Mustela frenata 



13. Claws retractile, nearly concealed in fur and strongly 



curved, fig. S\e\ total number of teeth 30 or less 14 



Claws not retractile, but well exposed and only moderately 

 curved, fig. 61/; total number of teeth 32 or more 16 



14. Tail less than a third of over-all length of animal; upper 



jaw with 3 cheek teeth on each side bobcat, Lynx rufus 



Tail at least a third of over-all length of animal; upper 

 jaw with 4 cheek teeth on each side 15 



15. Skull more than 175 mm. (6^ in.) long; over-all length of 



animal more than 800 mm. (311/2 in.) . cougar, Felis concolorf 

 Skull less than 100 mm. (about 4 in.) long; over-all length 



of animal less than 700 mm. {21\i in.) 



common cat, Felis domestica 



16. Pupil of eye of living animal elliptical as in cats; length 



of head+body less than 30 inches; tail straight and 



bushy 17 



Pupil of eye circular; tail and length of head+body varia- 

 ble but, if head+body less than 30 inches long, tail usu- 

 ally curled or short haired IS 



17. Body gray above; tip of tail black; back of ears black 



gray f° x > Urocyon cinereoargenteus 



Body reddish yellow above ; tip of tail usually white ; back 

 of ears rusty yellow red fox, Vulpes fuiva 



18. Tail variable in shape, size, and color, usually not black 



tipped and without a black stripe along upper surface; 



nose and ears variable domestic dog, Cams familiaris 



Tail long, bushy, with black tip and tendency toward a 

 black stripe on the upper surface; nose and ears pointed. 19 



19. Legs, snout, and back of ears reddish; upper surface of 



body distinctly reddish and with gray frosting 



red wolf. Cams nigerf 



Legs and face less reddish ; upper surface of body gray and 

 without reddish cast 20 



20. Nosepad more than 24 mm. (1 in.) wide; over-all length of 



animal usually more than 1,400 mm. (55 in.) 



timber wolf, Canis lupusf 



Nosepad less than 24 mm. wide; over-all length of animal 

 less than 1,300 mm. (51 in.) covote, Canis latrans 



♦This species may occur in Illinois, but there are no official records of it. 

 tThis species is no longer found in Illinois. 



