Ferae
| Ferae | ||||||||||||
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Indian lions and a front Indian pangolin curled up for protection , both are distant relatives and are united in the taxon Ferae. Photo from Gir National Park in Gujarat . |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Ferae | ||||||||||||
| Linnaeus , 1758 | ||||||||||||
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The Ferae are a taxon (a systematic group) of mammals . It includes the two recent orders of the pangolins (Pholidota) and the predators (Carnivora) - which thus form their closest relatives - as well as possibly some extinct groups. The name is derived from the Latin ferus , which means "wild".
features
The close relationship of these two outwardly different groups is based on molecular biological studies and is not supported by morphological characteristics. The pangolins, which are toothless insectivores with a body covered by horny scales, were previously placed in close relation to the anteaters due to some similarities in their body structure . The similarities are based only on convergence , however , molecular biological findings clearly speak against a relationship. The predators - to which the seals also belong - are a diverse order of predominantly carnivorous animals, whose closest relatives were unclear for a long time.
Systematics
The Ferae are classified in the molecular-genetic class of the Laurasiatheria . Their closest living relatives are probably the odd-toed ungulates , the common taxon from ferae and odd- toed ungulates is called Zooamata .
The classification of extinct groups in the Ferae has not been fully clarified. Mostly the Creodonta , a group of carnivorous animals widespread in the early Cenozoic and now extinct, are considered to be close relatives of the carnivores, but this is controversial. The Cimolesta , a group of mammals predominantly found in the Palaeogene , to which Tillodonta , Taeniodonta , Pantodonta and Apatotheria are counted, are sometimes included in the Ferae. But it is doubtful whether the Cimolesta represent a monophyletic group (descendants of a single common ancestor) at all .
A possible cladogram of the Laurasiatheria looks like this:
| Laurasiatheria |
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While the Ferae are seen as relatively safe today, there are still regular discussions about the system within the Laurasiatheria.
supporting documents
- ↑ after Westheide / Rieger (2004), p. 503.
literature
- TS Kemp: The Origin & Evolution of Mammals. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2005, ISBN 0-19-850761-5 .
- Malcolm C. McKenna, Susan K. Bell: Classification of Mammals. Above the species level. Columbia University Press, New York 2000, ISBN 0-231-11013-8 .