Carinvora

Carnivora

__**Specific Characteristics**__ The Carnivora is on top of the food chain. All Carnivoras have very good senses, they have great sight and hearing. They have a good sense of smell. They also are usually really fast at running to kill their prey. They are very strong and they have razor sharp teeth to kill and rip the flesh of an animal. This group includes the most common wild animals.


 * __Carnivora families__**
 * ~ **Canidae** ||< Fox, wolf, and coyote ||< [[image:http://www.treehugger.com/gray_wolf.jpg width="166" height="248"]] ||
 * ~ **Mephitidae** ||< Skunk ||< [[image:http://www.itsnature.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/striped_skunk.jpg width="168" height="189" caption="Skunks can give off an odor that actually causes temporary blindness"]] ||
 * ~ **Procyonidae** ||< Raccoon ||< [[image:http://wahi.typepad.com/.a/6a01053624b365970c011572146a19970b-500wi width="170" height="169"]] ||
 * ~ **Ursidae** ||< Bear ||< [[image:http://www.wildlifemanagementpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/black-bear-returning.jpg width="172" height="157"]] ||
 * ~ **Felidae** ||< Bobcat/Cougar ||< [[image:http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/cougar/graphics/cougar4.jpg width="176" height="117"]] ||

__**What they eat**__ They hunt and stalk their prey. They wait for the right moment to move in when they know they can get what they want. Sometimes they might work together in groups. They attack and start ripping it apart and kill it. Then they all enjoy a nice meal.
 * Canivore**-meat eating animals.
 * Omnivore**-meat and plant eating animal.

Fox, wolf, coyote, raccoon, bear, bobcat, and many more.
 * __Carnivores found in Minnesota__**


 * __Range in sizes__**
 * Smallest**- Least Weasel,
 * Length** 6-7",
 * Weight** 1-2oz


 * Largest**- Black Bear,
 * Length** 4/1/2-6',
 * Weight** 100-900lbs


 * __Worldwide__** - There are 269 different species of Carnivores. Compared to other mammal orders, Carnivora is about in the middle for total species.


 * __Definition__** - Carnivora means, A flesh eating animal. In latin Caro means flesh, and Vorare means to devour.


 * __Fun Fact__** - They have a very simple digestive system because meat is easier to break down into energy than vegetable matter.

Sources: [] [] http://www.answers.com/topic/carnivore