Comparative views of leopard (Panthera), wolf (Canis), and Hyena (Crocuta)

The caniform skull is relatively long, with well-developed post-canines including two well-formed molars for bone-breaking. In the feliform skulls, the first premolar and single molar are greatly reduced, in the cat for slicing flesh and in the hyena for bone-smashing.


Text material © 2002 by Steven M. Carr; drawing by Turner & Anton 1997