Rank Superfamily | Higher classification Caniformia | |
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Lifespan Wolverine: 5 – 13 years, Stoat: 4 – 6 years Mass Wolverine: 9 – 25 kg, Stoat: 260 g, European badger: 12 kg Gestation period Wolverine: 30 – 50 days, Stoat: 280 days Speed Sea otter: 9 km/h, American mink: 6.5 km/h Lower classifications Mustelids, Weasel, Otter, Marten, Wolverine | ||
Musteloidea is a superfamily of carnivoran mammals united by shared characters of the skull and teeth. Musteloids share a common ancestor with the pinnipeds, the group which includes seals.
The Musteloidea consists of the families Ailuridae (red pandas), Mustelidae (mustelids: weasels, otters, martens, and badgers), Procyonidae (procyonids: raccoons, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, olinguitos, ringtails and cacomistles), and Mephitidae (skunks).
In North America, ursoids and musteloids first appear in the Chadronian (late Eocene). In Europe, ursoids and musteloids first appear in the early Oligocene immediately following the Grande Coupure.
References
Musteloidea Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA