Artiodactyla

Artiodactyla is an order of herbivorous mammals comprising around 220 living species placed within 10 families, and characterized by an even-number of toes on each foot, with the center pair in most species formed into a cloven hoof. They are native to all continents except Australia (where they have been introduced by man) and Antarctica. The majority live in relatively open habitats, such as plains and savannas, but others dwell in forests, and one group is semiaquatic. Within the order can be found some of the fastest-running mammals and most nimble animals such as deer, but the Artiodactyla also includes relatively slow and cumbersome species such as pigs and hippos.^[1]

Families[edit]

• Suborder Ruminantia
  • Antilocapridae: pronghorn
  • Bovidae; antelopes, goats, sheep, wild and domestic cattle; 140 species
  • Cervidae; deer; 55 species
  • Giraffidae: giraffe and okapi
  • Moschidae: musk deer; 7 species
  • Tragulidae: mouse deer; 4 species
• Suborder Suina
  • Hippopotamidae: hippopotamuses; 2 species
  • Suidae: wild and domestic pigs, boars, warthogs; 16 species
  • Tayassuidae: peccaries; 3 species
• Suborder Tylopoda
  • Camelidae; camels, llamas; 6 species

References[edit]

1. ↑ Myers, P. Artiodactyla Animal Diversity Web Accessed July 8, 2007