Lec 10, 11, 12 Flashcards

Question

Order Carnivora Suborder Caniformia Superfamily Musteloidea Family Mephitidae

Answer 1

Skunks and stink badgers Family found in different places around the world Moderately small: 0.5-4kg Conspicuously colored -Black and white spots or stripes Formerly placed within Mustelidae Skunks inhabit most of Western hemisphere Stink badgers (2 species) inhabit Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines Adapted for digging Muscular legs, long claws Nocturnal, solitary, omnivorous Anal glands spray noxious odor

Answer 2

Raccoons, ringtails, coatis, kinkajous Pro = early, cyon = dog: early dogs New World - Southern Canada through much of South America Omnivorous and agile climbers Plantigrade feet, non-retractile or semi-retractile claws Dexterous forefeet in some species Tail long - prehensile in kinkajous Bunodont cheek teeth indicate omnivorous diet in raccoons

Answer 3

Weasels, stoats, badgers, marein and river otters, wolverine Nearly cosmopolitan - except Madagascar, Australia, oceanic islands Typically fairly small, long-bodied carnivores with short limbs and a pushed-in face Long braincase and short rostrum Carnassials sectorial in many species Aggressive hunters Anal scent glands well developed Induced ovulation common: -Typically requires prolonged copulation Delayed implantation of embryo common - May be delayed up to 10 months (badgers) - Implantation of the blastocyst takes place in response to environmental cues Glenoid/mandibular fossa: Deep, creates tight ball-and-socket joint to have good clamping Sea otter: Cheek teeth bunodont (used for crushing); they eat invertebrates Braincase is more than half of the size of the skull Mate in fall, don't give birth until spring when snow has melted Induced ovulation: Occurs as a result of prolonged copulation (usually a traumatic copulation (i.e. males have spines on testicles to induce ovulation)

Answer 4

Delicate, scrolled-up bones in nasal cavity support all of the soft tissue and blood vessels (acts as countercurrent mechanism) needed for good olfaction; exhale through nose to preserve body heat, blood vessels recapture the heat from the air that is being expired

Answer 5

Highly efficient predators Nearly cosmopolitan distribution Excellent senses of smell, sight, and hearing Catch prey with stealthy stalking and quick burst of speed Many species nocturnal -Tapetum lucidum present in eye Digitigrade; most have retractile claws Many species are agile climbers Most species solitary -African lions are social - live in prides

Answer 6

Africa, Turkey, Middle East, parts of India Large-bodied, forelimbs longer than hind limbs Robust skull and jaws Carnassials well-developed Feet with 4 toes and blunt, non-retractile claws Both scavengers and predators Spotted hyenas form large packs or clans - Highly social - Mostly nocturnal Striped hyenas more omnivorous Aardwolf feeds on termites - Reduced dentition, simple cheek teeth - Delicate skull, inflated auditory bullae

Answer 7

Old World distribution Small, long-bodied carnivores Diurnal, terrestrial Anal scent glands well-developed Some highly social species Some species fight and kill venomous snakes

Answer 8

Old World tropical and southern temperate regions Some are agile climbers, some semiaquatic, others terrestrial Mostly carnivorous and nocturnal Long rostrum Large premolars Tail long and bushy

Answer 9

Nearly Worldwide distribution Fossils date to Eocene of North America Broadly adapted carnivores Large nasal chamber (excellent sense of smell) Robust canines Carnassials present Molars retain crushing surfaces -More flexible diet Limbs generally long Feet digitigrade Blunt, non-retractile claws

Answer 10

5 genera and 8 species Distribution includes: North America, Eurasia, Malay Peninsula, China, parts of South America, northwest Africa (Atlas mountains, likely extinct) Large body size Mostly omnivorous diet (except polar bear and giant panda) -Polar bear is hypercarnivore Long rostrum Post-carnassial teeth robust and adapted to crushing Limbs powerful, feet plantigrade Claws non-retractile Tails very short

Answer 11

Monophyletic group: - Walrus - Eared seals - Earless seals (true seals) Probably evolved from bear-like ancestor in the northern hemisphere 24-18 Mya Highly adapted to marine lifestyle - Only distal limbs protrude from body - Torpedo-shaped body - Orbits large - Manus and pes fully webbed - Diving and swimming ability highly advanced

Answer 12

- Red panda - -Arboreal and largely crepuscular; mostly solitary - -Restricted to northern Myanmar and parts of China - -Mostly eat bamboo leaves; also berries, flowers and other plant material - -Mostly solitary - Skunks and stink badger - -Conspicuously colored (black and white spots or stripes) - -Adapted for digging (muscular legs, long claws) - -Nocturnal, solitary, omnivorous - -Anal glands spray noxious odor - Raccoon, ringtail, and relatives - -New World - Souther Canada through much of South America - -Omnivorous and agile climbers; dexterous forefeet in some species - -Plantigrade feet, non-retractile or semi-retractile claws - -Tail long (prehensile in kinkajous) - Weasels, badgers, otters, and wolverine - -Nearly cosmopolitan - except Madagascar, Australia, oceanic islands - -Typically fairly small, long-bodied carnivores with short limbs and a pushed-in face - -Long braincase and short rostrum - -Carnassials blade-like in many species - -Aggressive hunters - -Anal scent glands well developed

Answer 13

Nested in superorder afrotheria Subungulates CLADE of mammals Paenungulata = "almost having hooves" - Ungulata = "having hooves" - -Hooves = protective coverings made of keratin to protect the distal-most phalanges - -Hoof AKA unguis Plantigrade = tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges contact ground Digitigrade = tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges contact ground Digitigrade = tarsals, metatarsals raised; just phalanges contact ground Unguligrade = unguis (hoof covering the distal-most phalanx) only touches ground Depoperate = NOT very diverse Order Proboscidea - Elephants Order Sirenia - Manatees and sea cows Order Hyacoidea - hyraxes --Formerly diverse, included huge species Order Desmostylia - Desmostylians - Amphibious, hippo-like, had proboscis to stick up over water - EXTINCT Common ancestor of paenungulates was probably an amphibious hyracoid that spent a lot of time underwater and used their proboscis for breathing -Modern elephants do this (up to 6 hrs) Probably evolved 40-50Mya in the Tethys Sea

Answer 14

NO clavicles Short nails on digits, four toes on forefeet All are non-ruminating, herbivorous, hind-gut fermenters

Answer 15

Mammals have fermentation chambers to break down plants Ruminant = brings food back up to chew again; seen in all foregut fermenters, easy to "burp up" food and chew again Hindgut fermenters = cecum of large intestine becomes fermentation chamber is NOT present in ruminants (can't burp it up it it's behind the gut); all of these are HINDGUT fermenters

Answer 16

Stocky four-legged animals that resembed hippos externally, but their skull structure suggests they are closely related ot elephants and manatees Ancient paradox: Skull reminiscent of elephant group around this time 40Mya Assignment of Desmostylia to Afrotheria problematic from a biogeographic standpoint: - Africa was the locus of the early evolution of the Afrotheria - Desmostylia fossils have only been found along the Pacific Rim

Answer 17

Elephants - Fossils record begins in Eocene of North Africa ~50Mya - Diversifies in late Eocene ~40Mya - Expands out of Africa in late Oligocene - Reached North America in Miocene Modern elephants are NOT diverse, historically VERY diverse

Answer 18

Graviportal: Locomotion found in large, heavy mammals; legs are directed directly beneath the mass of the body to support heavy weight Columnar limbs/graviportal locomotion Enlarged skull and reduced neck Elongate proboscis Incisors become tusk-like Numerous cross lophs on cheek teeth Sequential replacement of cheek teeth

Answer 19

Largest living land mammals (up to 7000 kg) Long, muscular trunk Large ears (smaller in Elephas) Digitigrade posture with dense heel pad -Foot pad: Cushioned layer of connective tissue that the bones rest on Skull is very high relative to the width Skull unusually short, high Contains large air cells Large air cells allow the skull to be lighter but still have structural integrity -May also be used in resonance and protection of braincase Feed on trees, shrubs, grasses, and aquatic plants Highly social - Matriarchal kinship groups - Capable of communicating using infrasound over long distances - Audible, tactile, and visual communication at short range Males will travel in groups; as they get older, they get less cooperative with other males Social unit of elephants is based on related females and their young Female elephants spend their entire lives in tight-knit matrilineal family groups 22 month gestation - longest of any mammal Known for memory and ability to recognize selves in mirror Visit gravesites? Mourn dead relatives? -We don't know if they are actually "mourning" Adult male elephants form bachelor herds or are solitary Musth - Periods of heightened aggression and sexual activity in males - Temporal gland secretions Cracks in skin: Method to retain water as an evaporative cooling mechanism -Water is absorbed instead of just going in every direction

Answer 20

NO canines or incisors in the lower jaw 1 huge cheek tooth gets replaced by posterior cheek tooth Anterior most end has been broken off and worn down Elephant teeth are: - Hypsodont: high-crowned - Lophodont: Lophs/ridges - Polyphyodont: Replace teeth multiple times (6) An elephant will have 6 cheek teeth over the course of its lifetime There are no more teeth to come after m6; elephants will rarely live past 5 decades because their cheek teeth don't accommodate that Elephants in captivity may liver longer due to soft diet

Answer 21

Competely aquatic; the paenungulate version of cetaceans Dugongs and manatees Completely aquatic herbivores Fossils date to early Eocene of Jamaica -Early sirenians likely capable of terrestrial locomotion 2 genera and 4 living species 5th recent species, Steller's sea cow, became extinct in 1768 Fossils date to early Eocene of Jamaica -Early sirenians likely capable of terrestrial locomotion Distribution around the world: -East coast of N and C America, African coasts, European coasts Weighs over 1500kg (3000lbs) Nearly hairless, thick skin Nostrils Valvular -Found in aquatic and semi-aquatic mammals; can close nasal openings to preven water coming in Deep dentary bone Middle ear bones massive Horizontal orientation of lungs -Allows for even buoyancy; if it was only in chest, only chest would have ballast Dense, heavy bones provide ballast - Ribs are pachyostotic (thick) - Ribs, limbs, neural arches are osteosclerotic (dense) - Ballast = lets them sink down, obtain neutral buoyancy Only completely aquatic herbivores Inhabit coastal seas, large rivers and lakes Make complex sounds Long-lived with low reproductive rate Slow moving grazers Slow metabolism and little body fat -Restricted to warmer waters 2 families Synapomorphies: 1) 5-toed manus enclosed in flipper 2) Pelvis reduced 3) Hind limbs absent 4) Tail is horizontal fluke

Answer 22

Manatees Rounded, spoon-shaped tail fluke Only 6 cervical vertebrae No functional incisors Cheek teeth covered with enamel Indefinite number of cheek teeth -Replaced from behind as needed

Answer 23

Dugongs Notched flukes 7 cervical vertebrae (normal number) Incisors present, tusk-like Cheek teeth large, columnar, and covered with cementum (no enamel) 2-3 cheek teeth in each jaw quadrant Teeth NOT indefinite Tusk-like incisors

Answer 24

Hyraxes Africa and Middle East Earliest fossils from Eocene of Morocco (Northwestern Africa) Diverse in Paleogene of Africa -Mouse-sized to horse-sized Diversity declined in Miocene - May have resulted from competition from ungulates that first appeared at this time - Diversity declined, possible due to ungulates; ungulate foregut fermentation more efficient in obtaining nutrients Tree hyrax: - Solitary - Arboreal - Mostly nocturnal Rock hyraxes: - Live in family groups - Inhabit kopjes - Mainly diurnal - use each other's body heat to stay warm Rabbit-sized Deep mandible Incisors ever-growing, tusk-like Diastema present herbivorous Nimble climbers Use behavioral thermoregulation (basking) Rock hyraxes - Diurnal with polygynous family groups - -Females will care for other young (even of different species!) - Heterohyrax and Procavia share rock outcrops and share nurseries (mixed groups of young) Elastic pads on soles of feet = allow for better traction Note nails on front feet -Nails are a paenungulate feature