BIOL 140
Exam 2
Study Guide
Order Carnivora
Closest relatives in Mammalia not yet known
Some omnivorous/some obligate carnivores
Largest size range of all orders
heterodont
carnassials
digitgrade
plantigrade
*Know latin name/common name, ID characteristics, generalized range, generalized habitat, primary food on ALL of the following… (other specifics listed below)
Family Felidae
4 toes
retractile claws
Puma concolor
Largest NW felid
Extreme human avoidance
Kittens spotted
Lynx Canadensis
May be same species as European lynx
Probably not in Oregon, but sightings?
Lynx rufus
Longer tail than lynx
Family Mephitidae
Anal musk glands for defense
5 toes
non-retractile claws
Spilogale gracilis
Hand stand spraying defense
More acrid than striped, doesn’t spray as far
Mephitis mephitis
Spray up to 20 feet
Accurate to 10
Family Mustelidae
Delayed implantation
5 toes
non-retractile claws
overlapping prints due to bounding gait
Martes americana
Arboreal
Reclusive
smaller than fisher
Martes pennanti
Arboreal
Larger than marten
Any white or yellow rare
Very rare
Mustela erminea
Seasonal coat
Smallest Mustelid in PNW
Male impregnates all females of family
Mustela frenata
Seasonal coat
Tail longer than ermine
Male impregnates all females of family
Mustela vison
Semi aquatic
Anal scent glands like skunks
Male 2x female
Gulo gulo
Largest Mustelid in PNW
Rare in PNW
Taxidea taxus
Digger
Huge front claws
Very pigeon toed
Lontra Canadensis
Playful
More aquatic than mink
Webbed feet
Long wiskers
Enhydra lutris
Armpit pockets
Most aquatic of weasels
Eats/sleeps while floating
Carries favorite “anvil” rock
4 webbed feet
larger than river otter
Family Procyonidae (5 toes)
Basariscus astutus
Small cat/foxlike face
Long ring tail half of total length
Found (in our region) only in SW OR
Procyon lotor
Highly sensitive fore paws
Don’t actually wash food
Use water for softening fore paws
May carry roundworm parasites (may be lethal to humans)
Family Ursidae
Ursus americanus
2nd largest carnivore in PNW
90-95% plant diet
May be more than black
Greatly reduced range
Light hibernator
Heel pad in hind track
Ursus arctos
Largest carnivore in PNW
Shoulder hump
Deep hibernation
Female nurses while sleeping
70-80% plants
biggest track
Family Canidae
5 toes (5th as dew claw, does not show in tracks)
Non-retractile claws (except grey fox)
Canis latrans
Complex communication
Range expansion after wolf extirpation
Canis lupus
Packs
Social hierarchy – feeding/breeding
Ancestor of dogs
Complex communication
Vulpes vulpes
May be other than red
Solitary
Leaping pounce like cats
Vulpes macrotis
Largest ear to head ratio
Smallest fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Only arboreal canid
Fur not prized
Claws semi-retractable
Order Lagomorpha
Formerly in Rodentia
2 families
chisel incisors
2 pairs incisors in uppers
Coprophagy
No hibernation
Leporidae vs Ochotonidae
Hares vs rabbits
Family Leporidae
Pygmy rabbit
Smallest in world
Extirpated from WA
May have been different species
Burrowing
Keystone species
Brush rabbit
Common in Portland
2nd smallest
Eastern cottontail
Introduced from east coast NA
Breed year round
Mountain cottontail
Native cottontail
Snowshoe hare
Hind feet
Seasonal coat
Lynx predator/prey cycle with willow/alder
Black tailed Jackrabbit
2nd largest in PNW
very long ears
long legs
extremely athletic
prolific reproduction in large cycles
oddly missing from Washington
possible keystone species
White tailed Jackrabbit
Largest in PNW
Similar to black tailed but white tail
Not as common as black tailed
Family Ochotonidae
American Pika
Short round ears
Tail not visible
Does not hop (not saltatorial)
More primitive than other rabbits and hares
Most closely related to rodents of all Lagomorphs
Very vocal
Live in colonies in talus slopes/piles
Collect haystacks for winter |