The domestic cat (Felis catus) shows remarkable sensitivity to the adverse effects of phenolic drugs, including acetaminophen and aspirin, as well as structurally-related toxicants found in the diet and environment. This idiosyncrasy results from pseudogenization of the gene encoding UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A6, the major species-conserved phenol detoxification enzyme. Here, we establ...

Lifetime reproductive success of males is often dependent upon the ability to physically compete for mates. However, species variation in social structure leads to differences in the relative importance of intraspecific aggression. Here, we present a large comparative dataset on sexual dimorphism in skeletal shape in Carnivora to test the hypotheses that carnivorans exhibit sexual dimorphism in...

Amblyomma scalpturatum Neumann has been reported in Brazil in the northern (States of Amazonas, Pará and Rondônia) and mid-western regions (States of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul). It has been found in association with large and medium sized mammals, as Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Xenarthra and Carnivora. In this paper, this tick species is reported for the first time in the Brazilian s...

Populations of a number of species of the orders Carnivora and Chiroptera maintain independent rabies epidemics in different parts of the world. However, in large parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, rabid dogs outnumber diagnosed wildlife cases. Rabies virus variants circulating in different host populations can be distinguished by the use of monoclonal antibodies and by genomic analysis....

The binturong (Arctictis binturong) is a large, arboreal viverrid (subfamily Paradoxurinae) with a coat of long coarse hair and a prehensile tail that inhabits the dense forests of Southeast Asia, Palawan, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. This species, as with most Carnivora, possesses paired glands that open on both sides of the anus (Story, 1945). These anal glands are used by both sexes to scent-m...

Evolutionary change in encephalization within and across mammalian clades is well-studied, yet relatively few comparative analyses attempt to quantify the impact of evolutionary change in relative brain size on cranial morphology. Because of the proximity of the braincase to the orbits, and the inter-relationships among ecology, sensory systems and neuroanatomy, a relationship has been hypothes...

Interspecific killing is a key determinant of the abundances and distributions of carnivores, their prey, and nonprey community members. Similarity of body size has been proposed to lead competitors to seek similar prey, which increases the likelihood of interference encounters, including lethal ones. We explored the influence of body size, diet, predatory habits, and taxonomic relatedness on i...