# data[].attributes.body
Physical

Since there is a lot of diversity in this order, the main classifications for the organisms are structural

Short Digestive Systems: Short and Long intestines and only one stomach, similar to humans, because they don't need to break down plant products like cows and other herbivores that have multiple stomachs

Specific skull structure and jaw movement

Structures that assist them in catching prey: (claws, fast muscles and reflexes, long tails for balance, etc.)

Hair or fur on body

Four muscular limbs

Geographical

They inhabit just about every habitat in the world, from deserts to the arctic circle

Behavioral

They are considered highly intelligent mammals and have large brains

Highly carnivorous animals are very territorial and will defend their territories

Some prefer to be social and are a part of a pack or clan, but others prefer to be solitary

Monogamy (wolves) and Polygyny (bears) occur in carnivorous animals

# data[].attributes.body
Since Order Carnivora is such a huge category, more than one type of natural selection is present.

Stabilizing- The Grey Fox usually has about 3 or 4 pups in a litter. If a little has more than 4 pups, they could become malnourished because there wouldn't be enough nutrition for all of them to survive, but if there were less than 3 pups, there would be less of a chance of the offspring being viable.

Disruptive-The Polar Bear evolved from the Brown Bear after selection pressures occurred. They are two successful species of bears that both adapted to be different colors because of their environments. Both the white polar bear and the brown bear have camouflage traits that help them survive, and both colors are successful.

# data[].attributes.body
Descent with modification means that traits get passed down from parents to their offspring. Individuals with higher fitness are able to reproduce more successfully and therefore pass down their traits more than those with lower fitness. Organisms with high fitness are best suited to live in the environment. In Order Carnivora, this is evident in many different species. For example, faster cheetahs are able to catch more prey, and therefore become stronger and thrive within their population. Since they are stronger, they are more likely to successfully reproduce with a mate, and therefore have a high fitness. The allele frequency of the trait that gives cheetahs their fast speed increases, and therefore all of the individuals will eventually become very fast. The gene pool constantly changes because organisms have different DNA and are reproducing with other organisms with DNA that is also different. This is what makes organisms within a population look different, and what drives evolution.

# data[].attributes.body
Microevolution is small evolutionary changes within a group of organisms. An example of this with carnivores can be seen with dogs and wolves. Dogs are obviously a domestically bred and closely related species of wolves. Although it was humans that caused the changes, there are about 150 types of dogs with super small variations in their DNA sequences that make them different.

# data[].attributes.body
All members of Order Carnivora reproduce sexually, and choose who they want to mate with based on their traits. Individuals want to choose mated that are the strongest and best suited for their environment. For example, a female cheetah would choose a male cheetah with not only a high fitness but also one that would give her healthy offspring. Males can also fight over female mates if two males want to mate with one female.

# data[].attributes.body
Order Carnivora has undergone multiple types of evolution, but the most prominent is divergent. The two main families in this order, Canidae (or dog-like) and Felidae (or cat-like) are a result in divergence. Adaptations, changes, and mutations occurred within a population long ago, and the organisms eventually diverged into the two different families. A more specific and easy to understand example of this would be how Polar Bears evolved from Brown Bears because they needed to blend in with the color of their environment better.

# data[].attributes.body
For organisms within the Order Carnivora, gradual equilibrium occurred over a long period of time. This is evident in looking at the fossil record I have researched. Dire Wolves existed thousands of years ago, but it is obvious that modern wolves are very closely related to them. Modern wolves have slowly adapted to become faster, lighter, and more agile. Another example of gradual equilibrium in carnivores can be seen when comparing the Ursus spelaeus to the Polar Bear. The organisms clearly have many similar structures, but exist one million years apart.

# data[].attributes.body
Development in the wombs of carnivores is very similar to that of other mammals, including humans. Delayed implantation can occur in some species of carnivores. After fertilization, the cells continuously multiply to form tissues and eventually organs. Early fetuses are curled together and lacking most organs, but have their fingers formed. After time passes, the skeleton starts to harden and eyelids form. After that, body fat is accumulated and lungs develop. Fetuses that are about to be born are very well developed with all necessary organs and tissues. Mammals give birth to live young through the mother's reproductive organs and breastfeed their young afterward. Mammals usually give birth to a litter with a range of numbers of young. Mammals can hold their young inside of them for up to 15 months before birth, but most pregnancy periods last 2 to 4 months.

# data[].attributes.body
Digestive System Physiology: Carnivores have relatively simple digestive systems, because meat is easily broken down. They can fill up 60-70% of the total volume of their digestive tract with prey they consume. Their intestines are shorter than the other types of heterotrophic organisms. They don't have any digestive enzymes in the saliva, since their source of nutrition is meat and they don't spend much time chewing, rather they swallow pieces of their prey whole. Instead, the pancreas provides all of the necessary enzymes to break down the meat. Because of this, the pH of the stomach, even with food inside, is less than 1.

# data[].attributes.body
Dental Anatomy: The teeth of organisms in Order Carnivora have to be very sharp so that they can tear up the flesh of other animals for digestion. These teeth are called incisors, and most carnivores have 6 on each jaw. Molars in these animals are usually used for crushing. Carnivores that depend only on meat as a food source (like cheetahs) have around 30-34 teeth, but organisms like bears and foxes have 40-42 teeth because they consume plant products in addition to meat. Carnassial teeth are utilized in a scissor-like way in order to cut meat and tendons. Highly carnivorous animals have more developed Carnassials.

# data[].attributes.body
Although humans have 4 more pairs of chromosomes than Lions do, they are very similar in size and shape and each species has one pair of sex chromosomes. This shows that the two species are relatively close in relation but not the same. Order Carnivora and Order Primate must have evolved from similar ancestors. Humans and carnivores don't have the same appearances but only a few chromosomes are different.

# data[].attributes.body
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, and just like lions one pair of chromosomes determine whether they are male or female.

# data[].attributes.body
Lions have 19 pairs of chromosomes. One pair of chromosomes determines the sex of the lions.

# data[].attributes.body
This phylogenetic tree shows how the organisms in order carnivora evolved into a few main families. They are obviously very different but they share some of the same distinguishing characteristics.

# data[].attributes.body
In simple terms, the fossils all look very similar except for their varying sizes. Newer fossils have thinner bones and smaller teeth because they don't need to be as big as they once were in order to survive. The newer fossils also have longer tails to increase balance and smaller paws than their ancestors because they live in a different climate than their ancestors did. Their ancestors lived in a snow filled climate which required their paws to have a large surface area so they could move fast even in the snow. The newer skulls are narrower yet longer. Their necks and legs are longer because they need to be able to run quickly. Organisms have adapted to live in their different environments over time.

# data[].attributes.body
(Holocene: 12,000 to 11,500 years ago )

# data[].attributes.body
( Late Pleistocene: 125,000 to 10,000 years ago)

# data[].attributes.body
(Pleistocene: 1.6 million to 100,000 years ago)

# data[].attributes.body
(Pleistocene: 1.6 million to 100,000 years ago)

# data[].attributes.body
(Oligocene: 65.5 million to 23 million years ago)

# data[].attributes.body
All of the exemplary organisms have four muscular limbs that they use to walk or run, similar skeletal structures, similar muscular functions and ways of movement, have fur or hair, reproduce sexually and through non random mating, have claws or nails, have tails, are warm blooded and are all predatory and heterotrohpic. Although they may look completely different from each other, their structures and functions are very similar.

# data[].attributes.body
Common Name: Grey Fox
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Urocyon
Species: cinereoargenteus
Information:

Live in wooded and brush filled areas

They make dens in rock formations, fallen logs, and burrows

They are the only canines that are able to climb trees by using their claws and fore-paws

They are fast runners and can run 42 miles per hour

Mothers usually give birth to 3 or 4 pups after around 50 days of pregnancy

# data[].attributes.body
Common Name: Polar Bear
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ursus
Species: martimus
Information:

Live in arctic areas on ice sheets and swim in the coastal waters

They typically eat seals or any other source of meat

They need a thick layer of fur to protect them against the harsh temperatures

They dig down under the snow in the winter to insulate themselves

Mothers usually give birth during the winter time to twins

# data[].attributes.body
Common Name: Cheetah
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Acinonyx
Species: jubatus
Information:

Live in the savanna or plains

Eat antelope and gazelle

Can run up to 70 miles per hour and are the fastest traveling land mammal

Usually give birth to 2 to 8 cubs per litter

Have markings that camouflage them into their surroundings