Musteloidea

Musteloidea is a superfamily within Caniformia, a clade of carnivorans that also includes dogs, bears, and seals. It comprises four living families: Mustelidae (weasels, badgers, otters, martens, wolverines and relatives), Mephitidae (skunks), Ailuridae (the red panda), and Procyonidae (raccoons, coatis, kinkajous, and olingos). Some classifications historically placed Mephitidae as a subfamily of Mustelidae (Mephitinae); contemporary treatments typically recognize Mephitidae as a distinct family.

Distribution and diversity within Musteloidea are broad. Members occupy forests, mountains, grasslands, freshwater habitats, and even marine environments. The group includes small, weasel-like species, arboreal and terrestrial omnivores, semiaquatic otters, and the bamboo-specialist red panda. Notable traits include elongated bodies in many lineages, and in the red panda a specialized wrist bone forming a pseudo-thumb used to grasp bamboo shoots. Skunks possess prominent anal scent glands and a characteristic omnivorous diet. The Procyonidae family contains adaptable omnivores such as raccoons and coatis, many of which are nocturnal and highly versatile climbers.

Evolutionary history: Musteloidea forms a monophyletic group within Caniformia. The fossil record for musteloids extends into the Cenozoic, with diversification of the living families mainly occurring in the Miocene and later. Modern species exhibit a wide range of ecological roles, from carnivorous predators to herbivorous specialists.

Conservation: Several musteloids face threats from habitat loss, hunting, and climate change, with some species, such as the red panda, listed as endangered.