Mesocarnivore

Mesocarnivores, as a part of the mammalian carnivore family, play a large role in the ecosystem, due to their prey-drive effects and impact on its functionality and structure. They are an important part of the ecological function, as their small to medium size allows them to disperse seeds that hypercarnivores cannot. Mesocarnivores' habitats are rapidly changing due to urbanisation, habitat fragmentation and deforestation, which is a threat to survival for these animals, due to habitat loss and can cause a decrease in species. == Characteristics ==

Behaviour and activity In some mesocarnivores, including the masked palm civet and hog badger, activity patterns peak during the night. Mesocarnivores activity levels change within different seasons and climates. Different temperatures and the rate of plant growth may affect the activity patterns in mesocarnivores. Masked palm civets in China do not appear often in the winter months (December to February) and are not as active. Feeding behaviours Mesocarnivores are found to be nocturnal and are hunting for prey when they are most active during the nighttime. Some other examples of mesocarnivores' prey are the blacktailed jackrabbit and the desert cottontail. As mesocarnivores are scavengers, they will eat any food that is accessible to them. For example, the yellow-throated marten and Siberian weasel change their feeding behaviours in winter when limited fruits are available and convert to small mammal prey. Dentition Mesocarnivore cheek teeth are heterodont and their different shapes reflect distinct functions. Incisors and canines are used to apprehend food and kill prey, pointed premolars pierce and hold prey, and molars are involved in both slicing and crushing functions. The slicing function of the molars is produced by occlusion between the carnassials, the lower first molar, and the upper fourth premolar. Mesocarnivores are first represented by the Miacidae. They are best represented by Prohesperocyon, with three incisors, one canine tooth, four premolars above. The jaw has three molars below, and two molars above on each side. == Taxonomy ==

There are many animals in the wild that are considered as mesocarnivores, such as species of lynx, bobcat, American marten, fisher, river otter, American mink, coyote, red fox, gray fox, raccoon, striped skunk, weasels. Coyotes' diet mostly consists of mammals, fruits, birds, grass and insects. They are also hunters and will eat anything of readily available prey including rabbits, fish, lamb. The coyotes in the wild enjoy intense smells of adventure and prey, as well as having an excellent sense of vision. They are pack animals and hunt prey and food in a pack, especially in the fall and winter. River otter (Lontra canadensis) The river otter is one of North America's native animals. They have an average lifespan of 8 to 9 years, with a body length ranging from 56–80 cm (22–32 inch) head to body and weigh 5–13 kg (11–30 pounds). The river otter's habitat is in water and on land. They create a burrow near the water as their den and easily adapt to other aquatic habitats. Raccoons weight varies from 10–20 kg (22–44 pounds) and have a furry coat that resembles black, grey and brown shades. Dwarf mongoose have a tail approximately 15–20 cm (6–8 inch) long, and larger mongooses have a longer tail up to 40 cm (19 inch) long. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) The red fox is a species part of the fox family, which is located in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Its body length is usually approximately 90–105 cm (35–41 inch) long, 30–40 cm (12–16 inch) of its body length being its tail, and is a height of 40 cm (16 inch). Many adult red foxes weigh 5–7 kg (11–15 pounds) and can reach up to 14 kg (31 pounds). Striped skunks weigh between 200g–6 kg (7 ounces–14 pounds) and have an average lifespan of 3 years. They are easily adaptable animals that live in forests, woodlands and grasslands. These mesocarnivores can be easily recognized by their black fur with a thin white stripe from their nose to their forehead. There are two thick white stripes that run along the sides of their back and continue to their furry, bushy tail with grey shades. Striped skunks are known for their predatory skunk spray, where oily liquid is released by its glands, resulting in a foul odor to their predators. Their body length ranges from 35–65 cm (14–26 inch), with a long tail of 3–7 cm (9–18 inch), depending on the species and weigh 1–2kg (2–4 pounds). Some species of the marten include American marten, pine marten, stone marten, yellow-throated marten, and nilgiri marten. File:California Death Valley Coyote.jpg|Coyote (Canis latrans) File:River Otter (Lontra canadensis).jpg|River otter (Lontra canadensis) File:Waschbär Procyon lotor Racoon.ogv|Raccoon (Procyon lotor) File:Banded mongoose (Mungos mungo).jpg|Mongoose (Herpestidae) File:Red fox image.jpg|Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) File:Striped Skunk (cropped).jpg|Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) File:Beech marten(js)01.jpg|Stone marten (Martes foina) ==See also==