Hooved Mammals

What are they?

There is a sub group under mammals known as Artiodactyla ( strange name ), for a very simple group - hooved mammals ( Now this name is better ). Hooved mammals are common - the cow, goat, bull, giraffes, deer's, antelopes, pigs, camels.

How do they live?

They are very helpful to man, for their hair meat, skin, or just for about.

Their sizes vary, from the size of a rabbit ( mouse deer ) to a giraffe ( Wonder what it does if it gets a sore throat ). As far as weight goes, we can't forget the hippopotamus. As far as their habitats are concerned, the range from common farms, to open grasslands, to deserts.While some live apart, some live in colonies.

The forms of defence found in these animals are varied. Some use their horns ( cows, bulls, goats ). These also help in selection of a mate.

Characters The animals of this group have evolved greatly to adapt themselves to the kind of area's they live. They live in the deserts, they live under water, they live in forests, they have been made into domestic animals.

A great many living artiodactyls have evolved features that are adaptive for life on open grasslands, teeth to suit their form of food, ability to run away from predators. In fact, to lengthen the legs, they walk on the edges of the hooves. They have two enlarged toes forming a cloven hoof ( like a ' V ' ). In cows and goats. Some have only one toe. Some have more. Omnivorous animals like pigs have canines, incisors, teeth with rounded cusps. They can grind as well as bite. They help in their omnivorous diet. The have three or for chambers in their stomachs ( this feature is found in cow's ). The hooved mammals have landed into these categories :

The group Palaeodonta includes very primitive ( and often extinct ) species.

The group Suina includes pigs and warthogs and also hippopotami, and some extinct species.

The group Tylopoda including camel's, and it's relatives and cousins like lama, etc. and a few extinct animals

The group Tragulina including the smallest of the hooved mammals like the mouse deer.

The group Pecora including most of the living animals like giraffe's, deer, cow, goats, bulls antelope. They have four chambered stomachs, and often paired horn's.

From where did they evolve and when?

See our page on mammal evolution