Page "Carnivora" Paragraph 5

The Canoidea superfamily ( or Caniformia suborder ) – Canidae ( wolves, dogs and foxes ), Mephitidae ( skunks and stink badgers ), Mustelidae ( weasels, badgers, and otters ), Procyonidae ( raccoons ), Ursidae ( bears ), Otariidae ( eared seals ), Odobenidae ( walrus ), and Phocidae ( earless seals ) ( the last three families formerly classified in the suborder Pinnipedia ) and the extinct family Amphicyonidae ( bear-dogs ) – are characterized by having nonchambered or partially chambered auditory bullae, nonretractable claws, and a well-developed baculum.

Most species are rather simply colored, lacking the flashy spotted or rosetted coats like many species of felids and viverrids have.

This is because Canoidea tend to range in the temperate and subarctic biomes, although Mustelidae and Procyonidae have a few tropical species.

Most are terrestrial, although a few species, like procyonids, are arboreal.

All families except the Canidae and a few species of Mustelidae are plantigrade.

Diet is varied and most tend to be omnivorous to some degree, and thus the carnassial teeth are less specialized.

Canoidea have more premolars and molars in an elongated skull.