Caniformia, or Canoidea (literally "dog-like") are a suborder within the order Carnivora. They typically possess a long snout and non-retractile claws (in contrast to the cat-like carnivores, the Feliformia). The Pinnipedia (seals, sea lions, and walruses) evolved from caniform ancestors and are accordingly assigned to this group. All members of this group have non-retractile claws and tend to be plantigrade (with the exception of Canidae). Anoth...
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Caniformia, or Canoidea (literally "dog-like") are a suborder within the order Carnivora. They typically possess a long snout and non-retractile claws (in contrast to the cat-like carnivores, the Feliformia). The Pinnipedia (seals, sea lions, and walruses) evolved from caniform ancestors and are accordingly assigned to this group. All members of this group have non-retractile claws and tend to be plantigrade (with the exception of Canidae). Another trait that separates them from the Feliformia is that they have more teeth. They have a longer rostrum with less specialized carnassials. They tend more towards omnivorous and opportunity-based feeding, while the feliforms are more specialized in eating meat. Caniforms have single-chambered or partially divided auditory bullae, composed of a single bone, while in feliforms the auditory bullae are double-chambered, composed of two bones joined by a septum.
Caniformia consists of twelve families, with nine extant and three extinct. At one...
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