Dichotomous Key/Ursidae

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}}}
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1

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

2

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

3

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

4: Ursus

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

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

5

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

6

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

7

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