What evolutionary lineage within *Carnivora* does the wolverine's family, Mustelidae, belong to?
Answer
Caniformia
The Order Carnivora is divided into two primary suborders: Feliformia (cat-like carnivores) and Caniformia (dog-like carnivores). The wolverine, being a member of the Family Mustelidae, falls squarely within the Caniformia suborder. This grouping signifies a shared ancestry with other Caniforms, which, as noted in the text, includes bears (*Ursidae*), raccoons (*Procyonidae*), and seals (*Pinnipedia*). This placement establishes the wolverine's deep evolutionary root within the branch characterized by features often associated with dog-like or bear-like predators, rather than the cat-like lineage.
Related Questions
Why is the Genus *Gulo* considered monotypic within the Mustelidae family?What is the specific subspecies classification recognized for the wolverine population in North America?What Latin meaning is associated with the genus name *Gulo*?What physical feature defines membership in the Order Carnivora?What defining characteristics place the wolverine within the Class Mammalia?What essential structural element characterizes organisms belonging to the Phylum Chordata?What ecological metric related to snowpack duration is used to indirectly track the health of the *Gulo gulo luscus* population?What evolutionary lineage within *Carnivora* does the wolverine's family, Mustelidae, belong to?What feature causes the wolverine to be an outlier within its immediate Family Mustelidae?What classification status does the Genus *Gulo* share with members of the *Mustela* genus within Mustelidae?