Caniformia
| Caniforms | |
|---|---|
| All extant caniform families (from left to right): Canidae, Ursidae, Procyonidae, Mephitidae, Ailuridae, Mustelidae, Otariidae, Odobenidae, Phocidae | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Caniformia Kretzoi, 1943 |
| Subgroups | |
Caniformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "dog-like" carnivorans. They include dogs (wolves, foxes, etc.), bears, raccoons, mustelids, and pinnipeds (seals, walruses and sea lions). The center of diversification for the Caniformia is North America and northern Eurasia. Caniformia stands in contrast to the other suborder of Carnivora, the Feliformia ("cat-like" carnivorans), the center of diversification of which was in Africa and southern Asia.