Dichotomous Key/Ursidae

From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection

Dichotomous Key: Ursidae
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Mammalia Subclass: Placentalia Order: Carnivora Suborder: Caniformia Family: Ursidae

Parent key: Carnivora

Suborders

Caniformia - Feliformia

Key: {{{5}}}

{{{6}}}

{{{7}}}

[edit] 1

Glossary for this page (all links are to Wikipedia articles)

Herbivore: an animal that is adapted to eat primarily plants (rather than meat). Omnivore: Organisms that consume both plants and animals Masseteric fossa: Septum: A wall separating two cavities or two spaces containing a less dense material Fossa: A pit, groove or depression in a bone Nocturnal: A animal that sleeps during the day and is active at night Diurnal: A animal that sleeps during the night and is active in the daytime

• Food
  • Exclusively herbivorous - #3: Ailurinae
  • At least partly omnivorous #2

[edit] 2

• Masseteric fossa on the lower jaw divided by a bony septum into two fossae
  • Present - #4: Ursus
  • Not present - Tremarctos ornatus

[edit] 3

• Diet
  • Exclusively bamboo - Ailuropoda melanoleuca
  • Varies - Ailurus fulgens

[edit] 4: Ursus

• Hump of muscle over shoulder
  • Present - Ursus arctos
  • Not present - #5

[edit] 5

• Fur color
  • White - Ursus maritimus
  • Other coloration - #6

[edit] 6

• Leg direction while walking
  • Turned inward - Helarctos malayanus
  • Forward - #7

[edit] 7

• Time of activity
  • Nocturnal - Melursus ursinus
  • Diurnal - Ursus americanus