Even-Toed Ungulates:

This order includes some extremely fast mammals such as the antelopes and pronghorns.  It also contains some of the larger and slower moving mammals such as hippos and pigs.

The order contains 10 families and about 220 species.  

Classification - Families include:

  • Family Antilocapridae (Pronghorn ~ 1 species)
  • Family Bovidae (Cattle, Bison, Goats, Sheep ~ 135 species)
  • Family Camelidae (Camels and Llamas ~ 6 species)
  • Family Cervidae (Deer, Moose, Elk ~ 49 species)
  • Family Giraffidae (Giraffe, Okapi ~ 2 species)
  • Family Hippopotamidae (Hippos ~ 2 species)
  • Family Moschidae (Musk Deer ~ 4 species)
  • Family Suidae (Pigs ~ 19 species)
  • Family Tayassuidae (Peccaries ~ 4 species)
  • Family Tragulidae (Chevrotains, Mouse-deer ~ 6 species)

Whats in a name: Artiodactyla

The name for this order comes from the Greek ἄρτιος - ártios means, "even", and δάκτυλος, dáktylos meaning "finger/toe".  Thus, the translation of the artiodactyl is "even toed". Members of this family walk on either 2 or 4 toes.  Species like the deer, elk, moose, camels and cows walk on two toes.  Species like the pigs and peccaries walk on 4 toes.

Cite this Page: Nelson, R. 2009. "Even-Toed Ungulates" (OnLine) UntamedScience. Accessed Jul 29, 2010 at http://www.untamedscience.com/biodiversity/animals/chordates/mammals/even-toed-ungulates
Nelson, R.
Rob Nelson (author)
Montana State University
Created on: Jan 31st, 2009
Last updated: Feb 26th, 2010

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