Key to families of Carnivora in Korea

1 Limbs not modified; various tail lengths; carnassial well developed.............................................. 2

- Limbs modified to flippers; tail short; carnassials absent....................................................... 5

2 Tail longer than hind foot (except Lynx); last upper molar not the longest; shearing ridge or cusps present............... 3

- Tail shorter than 50% of hind foot length; last upper molar elongated anteroposteriorly (longest tooth); sharp shearing ridge or cusps absent on molars............................................................................ Ursidae

3 Front foot 5 toes; hind foot 4 toes......................................................................... 4

- All feet with 5 toes............................................................................ Mustelidae

4 Claws retractable................................................................................. Felidae

- Claws not retractable………………………………………………………..………………........ Canidae

5 Hind limbs rotated forward; pinnae small; postorbital process well developed……….............. Otariidae

- Hind limbs always point posteriorly; pinnae absent; postorbital process absent…..…………… Phocidae