Detachment Predatory: characteristics, representatives, features of life activity

The Predatory team unites representatives of the Mammal class, consuming mostly animal food. The wolf and the fox, the tiger and the lion, the marten and the badger - these animals are known to everyone. This is not surprising, because predators have adapted to dwelling on all continents, except the coldest one - Antarctica. Let's look briefly at what information on these animals biology has collected so far.

Order of Predators

First of all, they are united by the nature of food. It is not just of animal origin. All representatives of the Predatory detachment themselves attack their victims, killing them. Some of them feed on carrion, thus cleansing the habitats of decaying organic remains.

The main characteristic of the order of the Predatory is connected with the peculiarities of the structure, allowing them to hunt. Therefore, they all have a developed brain, a strong trained body, well-developed differentiated teeth. The fangs that they grab and tear prey are especially prominent. On each side, one molar tooth is modified into so-called carnivorous teeth. With their help, it is even possible to split large bones and sever powerful tendons - it is so sharp.

From other mammals, predatory is also distinguished by a highly developed nervous system, especially the brain. This determines the complex forms of behavior of these animals.

Predatory are quite diverse and number about 240 species. Therefore, a number of families are singled out in this detachment.

The Wolf family

Characterizing the detachment Predatory (mammals), first of all, mention the family, which got its name due to the tireless orderly of the forest. We are talking about the wolf and its relatives: fox, jackal, arctic fox, raccoon and domestic dogs.

They all have medium sizes and fairly long limbs. The structure of the musculoskeletal system and the muscular system allows them to pursue their future prey long and tirelessly.

The strongest and agile among the representatives of this group is the wolf. Animals prefer to live in large flocks, the number of individuals in which reaches forty. Wolves are not only wonderful hunters, but also dangerous predators, which can attack even a person. They are rightfully considered to be the orderlies of the forests, eating a large amount of carrion.

But the fox can not only eat animal food. Her favorite delicacy is the sweet and juicy fruits of forest plants. Foxes live in pairs or whole families. Man especially appreciates the beautiful, warm and fluffy fur of these animals.

Family Cat

We continue to study the Predatory detachment by the example ... of a domestic cat. What kind of predator is this? The most real! His ancestor is a wild wild cat. And modern pets are the result of their domestication.

Basically, the representatives of the cat family are united by large body sizes with elongated limbs, which end in retracting sharp claws. Everyone saw how a cat hunts for a mouse? She is not catching up, but is stalking her prey. The same behavior is typical for larger cats: a tiger, a lynx, a lion.

Most of the representatives of this family live in the tropical and subtropical climatic zone of our planet. But the Amur tiger is the owner of the taiga of the Far East. This is one of the largest predators, by mass inferior only to the polar bear. Within the range of his range, he always occupies a dominant position. This applies to the links of food chains, since tigers hunt other predators, for example wolves.

Wonders of breeding

Since the lion and the tiger are the most vivid representatives of the entire animal world of the planet, genetic scientists have attempted to create their hybrids. This experiment was completed quite successfully, because as a result of crossing, viable individuals obtained new properties in comparison with the original forms. So, the liger - a hybrid of a lion and a tigress, is capable of unlimited growth. In nature, this feature is characteristic of plants and fungi. Ligue grows throughout life, sometimes reaching a length of up to 3 meters.

Typically, interspecies hybrids are not able to produce prolific offspring. Tigrolev is an exception to this rule. This is practically the only case in breeding. Female, obtained by crossing a tiger and a lioness, are capable of procreation.

The Cunyi family

We continue to consider the order Predatory mammals on the example of a family that unites individuals with valuable fur fur. Otter, marten, ermine, mink, ferret - that's far from a complete list of representatives of the family Cunyi. Many of them perfectly climb trees, and otters are excellent swimmers. Another badman is a badger. He is particularly valued meat, which is used for food, and fat, which has medicinal properties.

The Bear family

The Predatory detachment has mastered all the climatic zones. Its representatives can be found even in the cold expanses of the Arctic. It is there that the largest representative of predatory mammals lives - a polar bear, the mass of which can reach 750 kg. He swims beautifully, hunting for fish and pinnipeds.

But in the woods the Predatory detachment represents another beast - a brown bear. He can eat both plant and animal food, attacking deer or wild boar. In winter, this species of bears hibernates, and in summer leads an active lifestyle. He is an object of hunting thanks to valuable meat and skin.

The Predatory group unites a number of families of the Mammal class, in the diet of which animal food predominates. These animals are well developed sharp teeth for hunting. Many species are valued by man because of valuable fur, meat and fat. Therefore, at present many species of carnivorous mammals need protection.