LABORATORY MANUAL FOR MAMMALOGY - Rowan

Order Carnivora
F. Canidae
Examine the skulls of various canids in lab. Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are
thought to be derived from gray wolves (Canis lupus). Compare the skulls of a gray wolf and a
dog. Note the prominent "brow" of the dog, a feature that distinguishes dogs and wolves. The
skull of a red wolf, a rare species from North America, is also on display. Note also that the
cheek teeth of canids are less specialized for carnivory than those of cats.
Three wild canids are found in New Jersey. Coyotes (Canis latrans) are the largest local
wild canids. There are also two species of foxes.
Local species
Canis latrans coyote
Vulpes vulpes (or Vulpes fulva) red fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus gray fox
Examine the skulls and illustrations of red and gray foxes in lab. These two species are
readily distinguished by their coats, but their skulls are also distinguishable by the shape of the
ridges forming the sagittal crest. Conveniently, the ridges in Vulpes look like a "V", whereas the
ridges in Urocyon form a "U".
F. Ursidae
Bears are large omnivores found mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, the main exception
being the spectacled bear of South America. Examine the skull of a black bear and note the
bunodont cheek teeth.
Local species
Usrus americanus black bear
F. Procyonidae
Procyonids include a number of New World species, but only the raccoon (Procyon
lotor) is native to New Jersey. Examine the skull of a raccoon. Note the bunodont,
quadritubercular molars.
Procyon lotor raccoon
F. Mustelidae
Mustelids include a variety of smaller carnivorans with elongate bodies. New Jersey is
home to several mustelid species, but only three are represented in lab.
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