The similarities between mustelids (including ferrets and part of the dog branch of Carnivora) and viverrids (including mongooses and part of the cat branch of Carnivora) are often used as possibly the best example of Parallel Evolution in mammals. You will see many such similarities in the video here as well as differences: <http://www.care2.com/causes/squiggle-the-baby-mongoose-is-taking-over-the-house-and-cuddling-with-cats.html> Evolving to fit the same niche in vastly different locations meant that the same problems and needs had to be solved and met. Sukie (not a vet) Ferrets make the world a game. Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.miamiferret.org/ http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/ all ferret topics: http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html "All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow." (2010, Steve Crandall) A nation is as free as the least within it. [Posted in FML 7824]
