A Hotlist on Carnivores
An Internet Hotlist on Carnivores

created by Ali Hoffman

Introduction | Classification | Everything Information on Carnivores! | Amazing photos, and some information | Specified Information on Carnivores | Endangered Carnivores



Introduction

The Phylum Chordata has about 5 distinguishing features; in either the adult or larvae stage the most prominent feature is a hollow nerve cord in the dorsal side of the body or what is known as a 'notochord', which is a flexible rod between the nerve cord and the digestive tract. There are three subphylums of the the phylum Chordata and one of them is the subphylum vertebrata. The most distinguishing features of the subphylum vertebrata is a skull and a backbone containing vertebrae. There are seven classes inside this subphylum, one is Class Mammalia. Some characteristics of mammals are that they are endothermic, they have hair, mammary glands, also skin or epidermis is layered directly over a layer of fat to help maintain a constant body temperature. There are three major groups of mammals, the monotremes, the marsupials, and the most common, eutherians or placentals. There are many orders of the class mammalia, one of which is the Order Carnivora.

Order Carnivora is actually a very broad order. Most of the animals you see are carnivores. Your little dog, cat, if you have a snake, there is a good chance that he/she is a carnivore too. Actually not all Carnivora are carnivorous! Some bears are omnivorous, and at least one, the panda, is strictly vegetarian. The suborder called pinnipeds is translated to 'fin-feet', this suborder is made up of the creatures of the sea. Many fish and porpoises are in fact carnivores. Dolphins, whales, otters, eels and some fish are all carniverous. You can distinguish carnivores by their enlarged fourth upper premolar and first lower molar, which combine to cut and tear meat and flesh. This pair of teeth are called the carnassial pair. The Order Carnivora contains 11 families and 270 different species around the world.




The Internet Resources


Classification


Everything Information on Carnivores!


Amazing photos, and some information


Specified Information on Carnivores


Endangered Carnivores




 created by Filamentality Content by Ali Hoffman , bmperbaby@aol.com
http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/listcarnivoral1.html
Last revised Thu Mar 11 22:05:50 US/Pacific 2004