In theanimalkingdom , the order Carnivora has two suborders . Caniformia , which mean “ andiron - like , ” includesdogs , of course , but also bear , skunks , raccoon , seals , and sea horse . Feliformia , meaning “ CT - like , ” includescatsin the kinsfolk Felidae as well as non - cats in other families . Here are a few you may not be conversant with .
1. Fossa
Thefossa(Cryptoprocta ferox ) is the declamatory carnivore in Madagascar , where they deplete lemurs and other small animals . As a female fossa matures , she belong through a stage of “ virilization , ” in which her genitals elongate andresemble a burred penis . Fossas are conceive a vulnerable mintage and are protected in reserves , but are still hunted and eaten in some residential area . Because they are far-flung and claim a large single territory , it is hard to get meaningful number on their population . Some look at them vermin due to their tendency to prey on crybaby and small livestock .
2. Falanouc
Thefalanouc(Eupleres goudotii ) also lives in Madagascar and belong to the same kinfolk as the fossa , but resembles a mongoose more than its full cousin . Its tooth are different from most of its taxonomically close-fitting relatives because the falanouc eat up primarily insects and earthworms .
3. African Civet
There are more than a dozen coinage of civet in Africa and Asia belonging to several genera . What they have in common is their anal musk glands , which they use to mark territory and attract mates . Civets search like cat with the stretch body of otter or weasel . TheAfrican civet(Civettictis civetta ) is the most common coinage and the one from which chemists traditionally obtain musk for use in perfumes — though syntheticCivetoneis used more often today . African civets are institute in the savannah , forests , and rainforest of Africa . They have block out face markings like a raccoon .
4. Mongoose
The namemongooserefers to 29 species in the house Herpestidae , which live in southern Europe , southern Asia , and in Africa . They are famous for their power to fight snakes . The mongoose has receptors for acetylcholine thatreject the neurotoxin in snake maliciousness , much like Snake themselves have . Therefore , they are immune to snake venom . Another typical trait is the mongoose’shorizontal schoolchild , which give them a wider arena of vision in front and behind them . This pupil figure go on more frequently among shaving animals .
5. Linsang
There are four species of linsang : two in Africa , and two in Asia . TheAsiatic linsang(genusPrionodon ) comes in two flavors : banded ( P. linsang ) or spotted ( P. pardicolor ) . That discover their physical structure mark ; both have long striped shadower . The band linsang resembles a weasel or ferret out , with a longer tail and more catlike teeth , and lives in the rainforest canopies of Southeast Asia .
6. Binturong
Thebinturong(Arctictis binturong ) , also call the bearcat , is observe in Southeast Asia . It looks and moveslike a small round bear , and is a distant relative to genets , palm civets , and linsangs . Despite belonging to the orderCarnivora , the Arctictis bintourong eats mostly fruit . They will also run through meat , egg , fish , and insects when the opportunity arises . Binturongs spend most of their clip in tree , which is made easier by their ankles , which can turn 180 degrees , and their prehensile tails , which can grapple like a fifth limb .
7. European Genet
The Europeangenet(Genetta genus Genetta ) is often mistaken for a computerized tomography , although it is more closely related to the mongoose . A couple dozen species stove throughout Africa and Europe . In 2014 , a camera trap caught a genethitching a rideon a buffalo and a rhino in South Africa . It was determined that it was the same Edmund Charles Edouard Genet , and it had made a habit of riding other brute on unlike occasion .
8. Meerkat
We all bang meerkat ( Suricata suricatta ) for their witching drug abuse of scanning the horizon for danger as if they were posing for the camera , and because of a Disney graphic symbol name Timon . mierkat are mongooses in the familyHerpestidae . What sets them apart is their inclination to live in clans of 20 to 50 animals , and that substance abuse of standing on their back feet in purchase order to see across the African champaign . Meerkats aresocial and loyalto the group , often babysitting and even nursing each other ’s young .
A version of this story was published in 2014 ; it has been updated for 2024 .
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