Ungulate

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Ungulate[edit | edit source]

Ungulates are a diverse group of large mammals that are primarily characterized by having hooves. They are members of the clade Ungulata, which includes both Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates) and Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates). Ungulates are found in a variety of habitats across the world and include some of the most well-known animals such as horses, cattle, deer, elephants, and whales.

Classification[edit | edit source]

Ungulates are divided into two main orders:

Artiodactyla[edit | edit source]

Artiodactyla, or even-toed ungulates, are characterized by having an even number of toes on each foot. This order includes animals such as cattle, pigs, giraffes, camels, and hippopotamuses. The order also includes the Cetacea, which comprises whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Perissodactyla[edit | edit source]

Perissodactyla, or odd-toed ungulates, have an odd number of toes. This order includes animals such as horses, rhinoceroses, and tapirs.

Evolution[edit | edit source]

Ungulates have a long evolutionary history, with their origins tracing back to the early Cenozoic era. The earliest ungulates were small, generalized mammals that gradually evolved into the diverse forms we see today. The evolution of ungulates is closely tied to the development of grasslands and open habitats, which provided new ecological niches.

Adaptations[edit | edit source]

Ungulates have developed a range of adaptations that allow them to thrive in various environments. These include specialized teeth for grazing or browsing, complex digestive systems for processing plant material, and strong limbs for running and escaping predators.

Importance[edit | edit source]

Ungulates play a crucial role in ecosystems as herbivores, influencing vegetation patterns and serving as prey for large predators. They are also economically important to humans, providing meat, milk, leather, and other products.

Related pages[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  • Prothero, D. R., & Schoch, R. M. (2002). The Evolution of Artiodactyls. Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • MacFadden, B. J. (1992). Fossil Horses: Systematics, Paleobiology, and Evolution of the Family Equidae. Cambridge University Press.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Diagram of the clade Ungulata

  • Zebras in Ngorongoro Crater

  • Black rhinoceros

  • Elaphurus davidianus 001.jpg

  • Hippopotamus

  • Blue whale

  • Common dolphin

  • Plains zebra

  • Tapir

  • Rhinoceros

  • Cladogram of Cetacea within Artiodactyla

  • Collared peccary

  • Lesser mouse-deer

  • Pronghorn

  • Giraffe

  • Kashmir stag

  • Himalayan musk deer

  • Illustration of ungulates

  • Historical illustration

  • Bowhead whale

  • Pygmy right whale

  • Humpback whale

  • Sperm whale

  • Dwarf sperm whale

  • Ganges river dolphin

  • Cuvier's beaked whale

  • Baiji

  • La Plata dolphin

  • Amazon river dolphin

  • Orca

  • Vaquita

  • Beluga whale

  • Protungulatum

  • Cladogram of Cetacea

  • Eurohippus

  • Rhinoceros skin

  • Arctocyon

  • Anoplotherium

  • Ambulocetus

  • Mesonyx

  • Horse anatomy

  • Cloven hoof of a roe deer

  • White-sided dolphin

  • Red deer stag

  • Ungulate

  • Ungulate

  • Ungulate

  • Ungulate

  • Ungulate

  • Ungulate

  • Ungulate

  • Ungulate

  • Ungulate

  • Ungulate

  • Ungulate

  • Ungulate

Ungulate[edit | edit source]

  • Ungulate

  • Zebras in Ngorongoro Crater

  • Diceros bicornis

  • Elaphurus davidianus

  • Hippopotamus

  • Blue whale

  • Common dolphin

  • Equus quagga

  • Tapir

  • Rhino

  • Cladogram of Cetacea within Artiodactyla

  • Pecari tajacu

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD