We studied the multivariate morphospace of a sample of 216 extant carnivoran species. Emphasis was placed on statistical patterns below the family level in the five largest families. Canidae and Felidae had small morphospaces, indicating low functional richness. Their species are highly non-randomly located in morphospace, hence low functional evenness. Clades at the subfamily level showed no patterning. Mustelidae had the greatest functional richness and were non-randomly distributed. There was partial subfamily patterning, with Lutrinae standing out as distinct. Herpestidae and Viverridae had intermediate functional richness and were randomly distributed in morphospace, showing high functional evenness. Subfamilial clades showed distinct patterning, especially in Viverridae, where the four subfamilies occupy distinct parts of morphospace.