Fissipedia is a former biological suborder comprising the largely land-based families of the order Carnivora. By and large, members of this suborder are meat-eaters, with the giant panda and red panda (each exclusively herbivorous) being the most notable exceptions. In some former taxonomic classifications, Pinnipedia is treated as an order in its own right rather than as a suborder within the Carnivora. In these classifications, Fissipedia is the sole suborder of Carnivora, and is thus omitted on the grounds of redundancy. Classification Order Carnivora Suborder Fissipedia (now defunct) Family Canidae: dogs and allies; 35 species in 10 genera Family Procyonidae: raccoons and allies; 19 species in 7 genera Family Ursidae: bears; 8 species in 5 genera Family Mustelidae weasels, ferrets, badgers, and otters; 55 species in 24 genera Family Mephitidae skunks; 10 species in 3 genera Family Felidae: cats; 37 species in 4 genera Family Viverridae: civets and allies; 35 species in 20 genera Family Herpestidae: mongooses and allies; 35 species in 17 genera Family Hyaenidae: hyenas and aardwolf; 4 species in 3 genera Suborder Pinnipedia (formerly a separate order, now used only informally) Family Odobenidae (walruses) Family Otariidae (fur seals and sea lions) Family Phocidae (true seals) References Carnivorans Mammal suborders Obsolete mammal taxa