Artiodactyls are a diverse group of mammals characterised by an even number of toes, either two or four. They include pigs, camels, cattle, goats and sheep, as well as giraffes, hippopotamuses, deer and antelopes. Many species have special adaptations for digesting plant material, including complex, multi-chambered stomachs and, in many species, rumination. This allows them to make efficient use of tough, fibrous plant food.
…that horns and antlers are not the same thing? Horns consist of a bony core covered by a keratin sheath and usually remain throughout the animal’s life. Antlers, on the other hand, are made of bone and are shed and regrown every year.
…that most even-toed ungulates walk on specially adapted toes? Cattle and deer walk on hard hooves, while camels have broad, padded feet and hippopotamuses have four splayed toes, adaptations that help each species move efficiently in its particular habitat.
…that whales are closely related to even-toed ungulates? Genetic studies have shown that whales evolved from land-dwelling ancestors. Among living land mammals, their closest relatives are, surprisingly, hippopotamuses!
