What does the word Artiodactyla mean?

What does the word Artiodactyla mean?

adjective. Zoology. having an even number of toes or digits on each foot. noun. a hoofed, even-toed mammal of the order Artiodactyla, comprising the pigs, hippopotamuses, camels, deer, giraffes, pronghorns, sheep, goats, antelope, and cattle.

How many families are in the order Artiodactyla?

There are about 220 species in this order in 10 families. The species in this order are herbivores and have an even number of toes. Most of the artiodactyla have four-chamber stomachs.

Why are pigs classified in the order Artiodactyla?

Morphological classification of Artiodactyla Suines (including pigs) and hippopotamuses have molars with well-developed roots and a simple stomach that digests food. Thus, they were grouped together as non-ruminants (Porcine).

What makes an animal an Artiodactyla?

Artiodactyls are one of the two living orders of terrestrial mammals that comprise the ungulates, or hoofed mammals. These orders are distinguished primarily by the animals’ feet: the Artiodactyla are known as the even-toed ungulates in contrast to the Perissodactyla, or odd-toed ungulates.

What is the difference between perissodactyla and Artiodactyla?

Perissodactyls are the ungulates that are odd-toed, as the number of toes is reduced. For e.g., from five down to one in horses and three, seen in rhinoceroses. The even-toed ungulates, Artiodactyla, have four toes as seen in hippopotamuses, camels, pigs or two as seen in cattle, sheep, deer, etc.

Are camels perissodactyla?

Perissodactyla is one of two groups of ungulates: mammals that walk on the tips of their toes (unguligrade locomotion). The Artiodactyla are even-toed ungulates, which have four toes (pigs, camels, hippopotamuses) or two (deer, sheep, cattle, and their allies).

Are whales even-toed ungulates?

Cetaceans such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises are also classified as even-toed ungulates, although they do not have hooves. Most terrestrial ungulates use the hoofed tips of their toes to support their body weight while standing or moving. The term means, roughly, “being hoofed” or “hoofed animal”.

What order are giraffes in?

Even-toed ungulates
Therapsid
Giraffe/Order

Are rhinos Artiodactyla?

Ungulate species are separated into two orders: Perissodactyla and Artiodactyla. The Perissodactyls are commonly known as the odd-toed ungulates and includes horses, rhinos and tapirs. The Artiodactyla consists of the even-toed ungulates and is a much larger order with around 220 different species.

What do all Artiodactyla have in common?

All species have a postorbital bar. Teeth are variable, but the upper incisors are always reduced or absent. Canines are usually small or not present at all, although in some species they are greatly enlarged into tusks.

Is a horse a Artiodactyla?

Modern hoofed mammals comprise three groups: Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates (swine, camels, deer, and bovines); Perissodactyla, the odd-toed ungulates (horses, tapirs, and rhinoceroses); and Uranotheria, which includes the orders Proboscidea (elephants), Hyracoidea (hyraxes), and Sirenia (manatees and dugongs).