Study zoology of carnivores
Carnivores first appeared between 50 and 60 million years ago. The modern carnivores are thought to have descended from a small, tree-dwelling mammal that consumed insects and other small mammals as food.
You will learn the essentials of the biology, taxonomy, and behaviour of carnivores in this course. The biological traits of numerous types of carnivores are covered as the course proceeds.
Learn all there is to know about these intriguing animals by taking this course.
- Learn about the physiological and anatomical characteristics that set carnivores apart from other species of animals.
- Recognize the differences between several carnivore species.
- Learn about the anatomy and behaviours that go along with a meat-eating lifestyle, such as territoriality, predation, and hunting.
Lesson Structure
There are 9 lessons in this course:
- Taxonomy and Evolution
- Distinguishing characteristics of carnivores
- Principles of taxonomy
- Modern science changes to taxonomy
- Carnivore classification – 12 families
- Case study – polar bear
- Carnivore evolution
- Carnivore Biology
- Introduction
- Musculo skeletal system
- Types of joints
- Types of muscles
- Digestive system
- Excretory system -skin, kidneys, liver
- Endocrine system
- Nervous system
- Reproductive system
- Case study – Domestic cat
- Respiratory system
- Anatomical adaptations for feeding
- Locomotion
- Camouflage
- Sight
- Carnivore Behaviour
- Kinds of behaviour – reactive, active, cognitive
- Learned behaviour -classical conditioning, operant conditioning
- Physiology and behaviour
- Senses
- Range and distribution
- Ecology
- Longevity
- Ultraism
- Reproduction
- Predation
- Pathogens and parasites
- Sustainable management
- Mating and sexual behaviour
- Social behaviours
- Hunting behaviours
- Territories
- Canines
- Introduction
- Atelocynus (short-eared dog)
- Canis (dogs, wolves and foxes)
- Cerdocyon (crab-eating fox)
- Chrysocyon
- Chrysocyon (maned wolf)
- Cuon (dhole)
- Dusicyon (Falkland Islands wolf)
- Lycalopex (culpeo, fox)
- Lycaon (African wild dog)
- Nyctereutes (raccoon dog)
- Otocyon (bat-eared fox)
- Vulpes (fox)
- Felines
- Sub families
- Anatomy
- Digestive system
- Panthera (Lion, tiger, leopard, Jaguar)
- Neofelis (Clouded Leopard)
- Pardofelis (Marbled Cat)
- Felis (cat)
- Prionailurus (Fishing Cat)
- Leopardus (Andean Mountain Cat)
- Case study – Tiger
- Bears
- Introduction
- Anatomy/
- Dentition
- Lifespan
- Hibernation
- Mating and reproduction
- Living genera and species
- Ursus
- Helarctos(Sun Bear)
- Melursus (Sloth Bear)
- Tremarctos (Andean Bear, Spectacled Bear)
- Ailuropoda (Giant Panda)
- Case study – Giant Panda
- Aquatic Carnivores
- Introduction
- Odobenidae (walrus)
- Phocidae (true, earless, or hair seals)
- Otariidae (eared seals) (fur seals, sea lions)
- Case study – Walrus conservation
- Mustelids
- Introduction
- Mustelidae family – Weasels, Baders, Otters
- Genus Taxidea (American badger)
- Mellivora (Honey badger)
- Arctonyx
- Meles (Badgers)
- Eira (Tayra)
- Gulo (Wolverine)
- Martes (Martens and Fishers)
- Melogale (Ferret badgers)
- Iconyx (Striped polecat)
- Lontra (New world otters)
- Enhydra (Sea otters)
- Lutra (old world otters)
- Mustela Weasels, European Mink, Ferrets, Stoats and polecats
- Others
- Mephitidae family – skunks
- Other Carnivores
- Introduction
- Procyonidae (raccoons)
- Ailuridae (lesser panda)
- Viverridae (civets, genets)
- Herpestidae (mongooses – often considered part of Viverridae)
- Hyaenidae (hyenas, aardwolf)
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school’s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
- Talk about the traits, grouping, and importance of carnivorous animals to humans, ecosystems, and surroundings.
- Explain the morphological and physiological traits that set carnivores apart from other types of animals.
- How do carnivores behave?
- Distinguish the several species of animals that make up the Canidae taxonomic family.
- Distinguish the several species of animals that make up the Felidae taxonomic family.
- Distinguish the several species of animals that make up the Ursidae taxonomic family.
- Distinguish between many aquatic canine species.
- Distinguish between various species of animals that belong to the taxonomic families Mustelidae and Mephitidae.
- Distinguish the many species of animals that are members of the taxonomic families that have not yet been covered.
How numerous are carnivores?
There are about 280 distinct current species of predators, but if you count extinct species, the number rises significantly.
Throughout this course, you will become acquainted with the twelve families that zoologists have classified these live carnivores into and learn what makes each family unique.
The families still alive are:
- Canidae (dogs, jackals, fox, wolves)
- Ursidae (bears, panda)
- Procyonidae (raccoons, lesser panda)
- Mustelidae (otters, weasels, badgers, mink)
- Mephitidae (skunks-previously part of Mustelidae)
- Viverridae (civets, genets)
- Herpestidae (mongooses-often considered part of Viverridae)
- Hyaenidae (hyenas, aardwolf)
- Felidae (cats, lion, tiger)
- Odobenidae (walrus)
- Phocidae (true, earless, or hair seals)
