Carnivores
Author: Ray Bowers

Description:
Carnivores, or “meat eating mammals” are as small as the least weasel (5 inches to 7 inches long) and as big as the Brown Bear (10 feet long). All carnivores in New Mexico walk on all four paws. Their paws always have at least four toes and the toes always have claws. Members of the canine and feline (dog and cat) families walk on their toes while all other carnivores walk on their whole foot.

Geographic range:
Carnivores can be found all over the world except for Antarctica and Australia. Carnivores live all over New Mexico.

Habitat:
There are twenty-five kinds of carnivores that have lived in New Mexico now and in the past. Only 20 still live there. They are found in every environment within New Mexico.

Food Web:
Carnivores feed primarily on freshly killed animals (prey) or dead animals that they find. Not all carnivores eat only meat. Some carnivores like bears and raccoons can be considered omnivores (because they eat anything) and some dogs will also eat plant material.

Reproduction and Development:
Carnivore young are usually born from 49 to 113 days after their parents mate, or sometimes it may take longer. For example, it takes longer for bears and weasels to be born because of delayed implantation. Delayed implantation happens when the fertilized egg is not immediately implanted in the uterus. Carnivores may have one or two litters per year and the litter size can range from having one to thirteen babies. Carnivores are usually blind and helpless at birth and they are covered with hair. The young are cared for by the mother or sometimes by both parents. Most carnivores can have children after one or two years.

Behavior:
Carnivores hunt largely by their sense of smell and sight. Predatorscaptured their prey by stalking them followed by a chase, a swift rush, or an unexpected pounce. Carnivores move by walking, running, shuffling, or using a bouncing gait. Most carnivores take care of and protect a territory that they live in. They mark their territory boundaries with a scent. Some carnivores use sound to communicate their location, territory, and alarm.

Ecosystem roles:
Carnivores are often the top predators in an area. Because of this position in the food pyramid their populations are small. Another factor that affects their population size is their body size, the larger the animal the smaller their population size. Carnivores feed on a variety of animals, but they are important in controlling the herbivore populations, such as lagomorphs, rodents and deer.

Conservation:
Carnivores are often blamed for killing livestock because they feed on the carcasses of livestock that may have died from other causes and are often eliminated from an area to protect livestock.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora

There are five families of carnivores living in New Mexico:

Canidae: coyotes, foxes, and wolves
Ursidae: bears
Procyonidae: coatimundi, raccoons, and ringtails
Mustelidae: badgers , ferrets, skunks, and weasels
Felidae: bobcats, jaguars, and mountain lions

References:
Cockrum, E. Lendell; and Yar Petryszyn. 1992. Mammals of the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. Tucson: Treasure Chest Publications, 192 p.

Findley, James S. 1987. The Natural History of New Mexican Mammals. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 164 p.

Findley, James S.; Arthur H. Harris; Don E. Wilson; and Clyde Jones. 1975. Mammals of New Mexico. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 360 p.

Noeman, David. 1994. Prehistoric Life. USA: Macmillal, Inc.

Nowak, Ronald M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2 vols.

Related Terms: Carnivora, Carnivorous, carnivore, carnivores, carnivorous