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Ferae is a clade consisting of the orders Pholidota and Carnivora. At first sight, these orders of mammals do not seem to have very much in common. In fact, the Pholidotes where once thought to be the closest relatives of the Xenarthra. The close relationship to the Carnivores is a result of recent DNA research. The Ferae also includes the Creodonta, extinct primitive carnivore-like mammals. Several extinct orders, relatives of the Pholidota, are members of the Ferae as well. These orders are sometimes united with the Pholidota in one, large order: Cimolesta. The closest relatives of the Ferae are, somewhat surprisingly, the Perissodactyla, and more distantly, the Artiodactyla, whales Cetacea and bats Chiroptera. All of these groups together form the Laurasiatheria.de:Ferae
