• Large canines
• No diastema
• Body size large (TL >
68 cm)
• Claws not retractile
• Face not flat (except
for some C. familiaris
breeds)
• Long legs
Order Carnivora
Family Canidae
Vulpes vulpes
Canis latrans
Coyote
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
By Kim Schaefer
Canis latrans
Identification: Dorsum
generally grayish brown,
but variable; venter paler;
black tip on tail; large,
pointed ears; long, slender
snout; carry tail angled
down; well developed
sagittal ridge; prominent V
above orbits
Skull-160-210 mm
TL 1-1.3m; T 30-39 cm
http://www.abc-kid.com/coyote/
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/
accounts/information/Canis_latrans.html
Canis
latrans
Distribution: statewide
Also nationwide and beyond
-lack of natural predators
-very adaptive to human
activity
Habitat: wide range including
forests, clearcuts, woodlots,
prairie, farms, etc.
Dens- burrows, rock crevices,
variable depending on
location
Canis latrans
Diet: rodents, rabbits,
livestock, carrion, birds,
lizards, amphibians,
berries, fruits, plants
-Essentially carnivorous,
but will eat almost
anything.
http://www.entm.purdue.edu/wildlife/coyotes_
pictures.htm
Canis latrans
Reproduction: annual litter
averaging 6 pups
-born in the spring after
63 days of gestation
-adult size is reached in 6
to 9 months
-Sexually mature at 1
year
Canis latrans
Conservation status:
abundant with increasing
numbers
Other:
-good swimmers, but
poor climbers
-can run up to 40 mph
-acute hearing, olfactory
-host of rabies
-very vocal: howl, yelp,
http://www.entm.purdue.wildlife/coyote_pictures.htm
bark and huff
References: Canis latrans
Animal Diversity Web. Canis latrans. Availible at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/infor
mation/Canis_latrans.html. October 2004
Jones, J.K, Jr. and E.C. Birney. 1988. Handbook of Mammals
of the North-central States. University of Minnesota Press,
Minneapolis.
Kays, R.W. and D.E. Wilson. 2002. The Mammals of North
America. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New
Jersey.
Vulpes vulpes
Red Fox
Dawn Goshorn
Description
• The red fox is the
largest fox in Iowa.
• It is roughly the size of
a medium dog with a
slight build.
• The coat is reddish to
yellowish dorsally and
white ventrally, the feet
and tips of ears are
black and the tail has a
white tip.
www.greatescapetravel.com/album/
AS2000/pages/red_fox.html
Distribution
• The fox is widely
distributed over North
America.
• The species was
neither widespread or
common before
settlement.
• Their presence in Iowa
was not recorded until
1840.
http://www.canids.org/SPPACCTS/redf
ox.htm
Reproduction
• Average litter is about five
pups between March and
April.
• Both parents build the den
and the male provides
food for the female until
the pups are weaned.
• All color variations may
be born in one liter.
http://www.floodlightfindings.com/2redfox/redfox.html
Habitat
• Landscapes with open
fields and forested
areas
• It does best in open
areas of forest.
http://www.rrdsb.com/Education/Schools/Sixth
web/JUSTIN.htm
Diet
• Rabbits
• Quail and
pheasants
• Woodchucks
• Squirrels
• Muskrats
• Young eat
insects
http://www.canids.org/SPPACCTS/redfox.htm
Conservation
• Declining due to the
expansion of coyote
populations.
• Common to abundant
in Iowa.
http://www.kentuckylake.com/gallery/ontheroad
/misc/wildlifecen.htm
Interesting Facts
• Five toes on front feet but
only four on back feet.
• Pelts have gone for about
$ 50 in recent years.
• There are silver and black
color morphs.
• They travel up to 40 miles
from their dens.
http://www.sfcelticmusic.com/js/PHOTOGAL/A
mwildlife/silverfox1htm.htm
References
Rue, Lee L. 1968. Sportsman’s Guide to Game
Animals Popular Science Publishing Company,
Inc. New York, NY
Briney, Elmer C. Jones, J. K. 1988 Handbook of
Mammals of the North-Central States University
of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, MN
Bowels, John B. 1975 Mammals of Iowa Texas
Tech Press Lubbock, TX
Kays, Roland W. Wilson, Don E. 2002. The
Mammals of North America. Princeton University
Press, Princeton, NJ
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Gray Fox
Order Carnivora
Family Canidae
Canis Familiaris
Domestic Dog
Canis Familiaris : Domestic Dog
Abbie Parker
• Identification: There is a
large variety of domestic dogs,
they have a great variation in
coat type, color, and general
morphology.
•
The Chihuahua is the smallest
while the Irish Wolfhound is the
largest.
•
Their head and body length
ranges from 360-1450 mm, tail
length ranges from 130-510 mm,
shoulder height ranges from 150840 mm. The average weight
ranges between 1-79 kilograms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog
Canis familiaris
• Distribution:
There 50
million owned dogs and many
more feral dogs.
•
Feral dogs tend to be found in the
country side or in cities where
owners abandoned them
• Diet:
•
Domestic dogs prefer
meat to cereal diets.
They may take food from people,
scavenge for food, or actively hunt
deer or small mammals. Feral dogs
will eat garbage.
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/bioinformatics/mammal
s/images/Canis_familiaris2.jpg
Canis Familiaris
• Reproduction: Females
have an average gestation period of
63 days. They have on average 310 young and will nurse them up to
six weeks.
• Conservation Status:
Domestic Dogs are found
everywhere in homes to the wild.
http://www.sagarpa.gob.mx/ganaderito/perro/perro5
.jpg
Canis Familiaris
• Habitat: Dogs live
wherever they are sheltered.
Feral dogs tend to live in the
country side, but feral dogs in
cities find shelter in vacant
buildings, garages, under
parked cars and stairways.
• The relationship between
domesticated dogs and humans
dates back to 14,000 years ago.
Where this relationship started
no one knows for sure!
http://www.doghouseplans.com/
Canis Familiaris
• Other:
•
There are multiple
breeds of dogs and historically it is
believed that different races of
wolves contributed to the ancestry
of today’s modern dog.
Many people believe that the
American Indians were the first to
have domesticated dogs, that they
were breed from wolves. Then it is
thought that when the Europeans
came the brought even more breeds
to mate.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/2970/dingo.jpg
Bibliography
•
Norwalk, Ronald M. "Walker's Mammals of the World." Dogs, Wolves, Coyotes, &
Jackals. 26 Oct 2004
<http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walkers_mammals_of_the_world/carnivora/carnivora.
canidae.canis.html>.
•
Hubrecht, Robert. Dogs & Dog Housing. 26 Oct 2004
<http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/enrich/dogs.htm>.
•
Zgurski, Jessie. The Origin of the Domestic Dog, Canis familiaris. 26 Oct 2004
<http://www.ualberta.ca/~jzgurski/dog.htm>.
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Identification
• Dorsum gray
• Whittish underparts
• Black, white, and rufous
markings on neck, head,
and flanks
• Rufous legs
• Hairs along middle of
back and top of tail are
tipped with black
http://www.k12.de.us/warner/grayfox.htm
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Identification (continued)
• Crepuscular and nocturnal
• Smaller than red fox
• Total length= 8801040mm
• Tail= 280-370mm
• Hind foot= 125-145mm
• Ear= 70-80mm
• Weight= 3.5-6.5kg
http://www.mntrappers.com/grayfox.html
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Distribution
• Statewide
• Southern Canada through
most of United States to
northern South America.
http://www.canids.org/SPPACCTS/greyfox.
htm
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Habitat
• Inhabits mostly wooded areas preferring
mixed hardwoods
• Rocky and brushy riparian habitats
• Favors woodland near farmland borders
• Possible of 3-5 foxes in one square mile of
good habitat
• Home range for males is 336 acres and for
females it is around 254 acres
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Diet
• Omnivore
• Small mammals, birds, fish, small reptiles, eggs, rodents,
fruits, berries, and corn
• Hunt by stalking, dash and grab, jumping onto prey
http://www.richard-seaman.com/mammals/Guatemala/
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Reproduction
•
•
•
•
Breed December-April
Gestation 51-63 days
1 litter of 1-7 young
Young weigh
~100grams
• Kits have blackish coat
with eyes shut for 10-14
days
http://www.southwestwildlife.org
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Reproduction (continued)
• Independently forage on own after 4 months
• Dens are less conspicuous than red fox
• Den sites: hollow logs or trees, crevices in
rocks, caves, and in piles of brush and
wood, abandoned buildings, underground
burrows
• Live up to 10-15 years
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Conservation status
• Abudant
http://www.stat.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/Dfw_foxes.htm
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Other
• Run up to 26 mph for
short distances
• Only member of canine
family to climb trees
• Have been found 60 ft
above ground in squirrel
an hawk nests
http://www.stevenrotsch.com
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Other (continued)
• Furbearer
• Territorial
• Communication by
scent, body posturing,
and sound
Urocyon cinereorargenteus
References
Jones, J.K. Jr. and E.C. Birney. 1988. Handbbok of Mammals of the
North-Central States. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.
Kays, R.W. and K.E. Wilson, 2002. The Mammals of North America.
Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.
Mammels of Texas. Common Gray Fox. Available at
http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot/uroccine.htm
The Cyber Zoomobile. Gray Fox. Available at
http://home.globalcrossing.net/`brendel/fox.html
•
•
•
•
Large canines
No diastema
Claws not retractile
Bushy, ringed tail
Order Carnivora
Family Procyonidae
Procyon lotor
Procyon lotor
Raccoon
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu
Patty Morgan
Procyon lotor: raccoon
• Identification:
Grizzled gray/brown,
darkest dorsally, with
black mask on face and
4-7 black rings on tail.
4-15 kg, up to 48lbs in
north
24-37 inches in total
length
Nocturnal
http://rosswarner.com/raccoon.html
Procyon lotor: raccoon
• Distribution:
Southern Canada throughout
United States
Statewide in Iowa
• Habitat:
Woodlands near water, urban
and farmland
www.lioncrusher.com/animal
Procyon lotor: raccoon
• Diet:
Omnivorous- fruits, corn,
invertebrates, small
vertebrates, eggs
• Reproduction:
One litter per year; 1-8 young,
young stay with mother for
one year, Den in trees,
underground burrows,
abandoned buildings
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu
Procyon lotor: raccoon
• Conservation status:
Common in Iowa, population
growing as raccoons adapt to
urban areas
• Other:
Hunted for fur
Life span of 3-4 years,
Can carry diseases and parasites,
Seen as a pest to farmers and in
urban areas
http://www.furcenter.com
Procyon lotor: raccoon
Damage from raccoons
www.entm.purdue.edu/wildlife/raccoon_pictures.htm
References
Animal Diversity Web. The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Available at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Procyon_
lotor.html. October 2004.
eNature.com. National Wildlife Federation. Available at
http://www.enature.com. October 2004.
Jones, J.K, Jr. and E.C. Birney. 1998. Handbook of Mammals of the Northcentral States. University of Minnesota Press, Minneaopolis.
Kays, R.W. and D.E. Wilson. 2002. The Mammals of North America.
Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.