Ungulates. Class Mammals. Even-toed ungulates, Even-toed ungulates Family Artiodactyla

Artiodactyls ( Artiodactyla) are the most diverse, large, terrestrial living today. It is the fifth largest, consisting of 10 families, 80 genera and approximately 210 species. Although most artiodactyls live in relatively open environments, they can be found in a wide variety of environments and on every continent except Antarctica, Australia and Oceania. As you would expect in such a diverse group, there are animals with a wide range of body shapes and weights. Body weight ranges from 1 kg (Asian deer) to 4000 kg (). The height of the animals varies from 23 cm (Asian deer) to 5 m ().

Classification

Artiodactyls are divided into 3 suborders:

• Non-ruminant or porcine ( Suina) includes 3 living families: peccaries, hippopotamuses and pigs, as well as two extinct ones - anthracotheriums and entelodonts. These animals are distinguished by a simple digestive system and weak specialization. They have rounded teeth and tusk-like fangs.
• (Ruminantia) include the families of deer, deer, giraffidae, pronghorn, musk deer and bovids, as well as a number of extinct families. Unlike non-ruminant animals, representatives of this order have a complex digestive system. They lack upper incisors, but ruminants have a dense callosum.
• Callosefoot ( Tylopoda) contain one living family of camelids. Modern callosopods have a 3-chambered stomach. They have two-fingered limbs, with blunt, curved claws. The feet of these animals have soft, calloused growths, thanks to which representatives of this order got their name.

Note: if we classify artiodactyls from the point of view of phylogeny, then they should be considered along with. These two orders form the superorder Cetaceans. (Cetartiodactyla).

Evolution

Like many mammals, artiodactyls first appeared during the early. By appearance they were more like today's deer: small, short-legged animals that ate leaves and soft parts of plants. By the late Eocene, the ancestors of three modern suborders had already appeared. However, at that time, artiodactyls were far from being modern, but were much more successful and numerous. Artiodactyls occupied minor ecological niches, and it appears that at this time they began to develop their complex digestive systems, which allowed them to survive by digesting low-quality food.

The appearance of grass during the Eocene and its subsequent spread during the Eocene marked major changes: grass was very difficult to eat, and artiodactyls with well-developed stomachs were better adapted to this roughage and soon replaced equids, the dominant terrestrial herbivores.

It was discovered that cetaceans evolved from artiodactyls, and an early whale from 47 million Eocene sediments had a double ankle joint. Some taxonomies place cetaceans and artiodactyls in the superorder Cetartiodactyla as sister orders, although DNA analysis has shown that cetaceans are from artiodactyls.

The most recent theory in the origins of hippopotamuses suggests that hippos and whales share a common semi-aquatic ancestor that diverged from other artiodactyls about 60 million years ago. The group of hypothetical ancestors probably split into two branches about 54 million years ago. One branch evolved into cetaceans, possibly starting with the proto-whale Pakicetus from 52 million years ago and other ancestors of early whales known as archaeocetes, which eventually underwent aquatic adaptation and became fully aquatic cetaceans.

Description

All artiodactyls have an even number of developed toes on each foot (although there is conflicting information about the number of toes on hind legs several species from the peccary family). The symmetry of the foot runs between the middle two toes and the weight of the animal is transferred most of all to them. The other toes are reduced in size, vestigial, or absent.

Another important characteristic is the shape of the astragalus. The astragalus is the ankle bone in the hind limb. It has deep arched grooves, and connects to the limb bones on both sides. These grooves give the leg greater flexibility and further increase the elasticity of the lower part of the hind limb.

Artiodactyls vary greatly in appearance: some have very long necks, while others have short ones; some have elongated muzzles, while others have short muzzles, etc. Female artiodactyls have two to four teats, but members of the pig family have six to twelve teats.

Almost all species have some kind of weapon, be it branched horns, forked horns or well-developed fangs or tusks. They are usually large in males and small or absent in females. The tail consists of longer, stronger guard hairs and shorter undercoat.

Digestive system

Artiodactyls have one or more digestive chambers located in front of the glandular stomach (abomasum). Most members of the suborder Ruminants ( Ruminantia) have a four-chamber stomach, consisting of such sections as: rumen, mesh, book and abomasum. This suborder includes ruminant mammals such as cattle, goats, sheep, giraffes, American bison, European bison, yaks, Asiatic buffalo, deer, etc.

Nevertheless, deer (family Tragulidae) within the suborder Ruminantia Ruminantia have a three-chamber stomach. Likewise, members of the suborder Callosopods Tylopoda(camels, alpacas, llamas) have a three-chambered stomach.

Note: all of these animals are still considered "ruminants", although camels are not included in the suborder Ruminantia. This is because the term ruminant simply means any artiodactyl that digests food in two stages, first softening it in the first stomach, known as the rumen, then regurgitating the semi-digested mass, now known as the cud, and chewing it again. Therefore, the term "ruminant" is not synonymous Ruminantia.

Pigs and peccaries have only one small chamber in front of the abomasum, while hippopotamuses have two. While hippos have a three-chambered stomach, they do not “chew the cud.” Hippos consume grass during the night and during this time they eat about 68 kg. They depend on microorganisms that process rough fiber in their stomach.

Most species of pigs have a simple two-chambered stomach that allows for an omnivorous diet; babirussa, however, is a herbivore. They have extra teeth to ensure proper chewing of plant material. Most fermentation occurs in the cecum with the help of cellulolytic microorganisms.

Habitat

Since artiodactyls are a fairly diverse order, they are distributed throughout the world. Consequently, these animals live in a wide range of habitats and can be found where sufficient food exists. Although these animals are common from to and to, the preferred ones are:

• open: they provide artiodactyls with an abundant amount of food, and also allow them to spot predators at a long distance.
• pastures or meadows near steep cliffs: provide food for animals and provide relatively safe shelter in rocks and steep terrain.
• and shrubs: contain an abundance of food and offer cover from potential predators in dense vegetation.
• ecotone: is an area between open areas and forests. While open areas provide abundant food, adjacent forests provide good cover from potential predators.

Preference for particular habitats is often related to the body size and taxonomy of artiodactyls. For example, most species of goats and sheep ( Caprinae) are found in open habitats adjacent to rocky cliffs, where they have adapted to move around uneven terrain.

Reproduction

Most artiodactyls have a polygynous reproductive system, although some species are seasonally monogamous (for example, the blue duiker). Artiodactyls usually breed only once a year, although some of them can breed several times. The gestation period varies from 4 to 15.5 months. In addition to pigs, which can give birth to up to 12 young at a time, other artiodactyls give birth to up to two young, once a year. The weight of artiodactyls at birth can vary from 0.5 to 80 kg. Puberty occurs between 6 and 60 months of age. The cubs of all artiodactyls are able to walk independently within a few hours after birth, and some are already running after 2-3 hours. Females care for their offspring and feed them with their milk for 2-12 months after birth.

Lifespan

The lifespan of artiodactyls varies between 8-40 years. A large number of studies have shown that the survival rate of adult males is lower than that of females. These rates are thought to be the result of increased polygyny, which leads to increased competition between males. Research also shows that aging-related mortality begins before about age eight for some species of artiodactyls, regardless of sex.

Behavior

The social behavior of artiodactyls varies depending on the species. Although some artiodactyls are solitary, most are quite social. It is believed that even-toed ungulates that live in large groups eat more vegetation because they do not have to constantly scan the area and watch for approaching predators. However, if the group size increases sufficiently, competition within the same species may occur.

Species living in groups often have a hierarchy among both males and females. Some species also live in harem groups, with one male, several females and their shared offspring. In other species, females and young remain together while males are solitary or live in bachelor groups, seeking females only during mating season.

Many artiodactyls are territorial and mark their territory, for example, with specialized glands, feces or urine. There are species that migrate seasonally, while others remain in the same habitat throughout the year. Artiodactyls can be diurnal, crepuscular, or nocturnal. In some species, the period of wakefulness varies depending on the season or habitat.

Meaning for humans

Artiodactyls have great historical and current economic and cultural value. They served as large game for early hunters. The Cro-Magnons relied heavily on deer for food, hide, tools and weapons. About 12,500 years ago, deer remains made up 94% of the bones and teeth discovered in a cave above the Seu River in France.

Today, many artiodactyl species are still hunted for food and sport (deer, antelope, African buffalo, wild sheep, etc.). In addition, the most important domestic animals are artiodactyls, including cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and camels. Sheep and goats were probably the first animals to be domesticated since dogs, perhaps 8,000 to 9,000 years ago. Livestock farming is now the backbone of a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. Artiodactyls, both wild and domesticated, are used by people for meat, fur, milk, fertilizers, medicines, bones, etc.

Artiodactyls are a family of mammals. There are 242 species of them.

Due to the fact that these animals have hooves, they are called the artiodactyl order. Such animals usually have two or four fingers.

The artiodactyl order is herbivorous. A detachment of artiodactyls lives in families. Due to natural changes, some artiodactyls carry out seasonal migrations.

The order of artiodactyls can be hunted by animals such as cats and dogs. People are also enemies of artiodactyls. They kill them for meat and skin.

The order Artiodactyls is divided into calloseds, ruminants and non-ruminants. Let's take a closer look at the class of ruminant artiodactyls.

This order of ruminant artiodactyls includes:

Giraffidae family

The giraffe family includes two species: giraffes and okapi. Let's look briefly at each type.

Giraffes.

The giraffe is the tallest animal that lives in the savannas of Africa.

Giraffes grow up to six meters tall and weigh a ton. Its legs are long, and its front legs are longer than its hind legs. The tail is long, reaching one meter. There are bony horns on the head. The eyes are large and the tongue is very long - 45 centimeters.

They lie down very rarely. Giraffes even sleep standing up. These animals move very quickly. Their speed can reach sixty kilometers per hour.

Giraffes live in herds of up to twenty individuals. Life expectancy is fifteen years.

Okapi.

Okapi resemble a horse, but are related to the giraffe. They have another name - forest giraffe. They live in the mountains and plains of the Republic of Congo.

This animal has a very interesting coloring: the legs are like a zebra's, that is, with black and white stripes. The muzzle is black with white spots, on top there are horns like a giraffe. Females do not have such horns.

The body is dark brown. The tail is long - forty centimeters. The animal reaches two meters in length. And the height is almost two meters. They weigh on average 250 kilograms. The tongue is long and blue, its length is thirty centimeters. The ears are large and sensitive.

Due to the decrease in the number of okapi, they are listed in the Red Book.

Deer family.

The deer family includes two genera of deer:

• Asian deer;
• Water deer.

Asian deer- These are the smallest ruminant ungulates. They live in the forests of Asia. Their body length reaches seventy centimeters. And the weight does not exceed eight kilograms. Deer have no antlers. The fur color of Asian deer is brown. They are only nocturnal.

Water deer- larger than Asiatic deer. Their body length reaches one hundred centimeters. Body weight reaches fifteen kilograms. And these deer don’t grow antlers either, but the males have long upper canines. They are nocturnal, like Asiatic deer. Coat color is brown.

Musk deer family

The musk deer family includes only one genus - musk deer.

Musk deer- This is an unusual animal that has fangs. They are located on the upper jaw.

These animals live in the mountains in northern Russia, as well as in China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Nepal, and Korea.

The length of these animals is small - one meter, and the height is eighty centimeters. The weight of musk deer does not exceed eighteen kilograms.

This amazing animal eats lichens, epiphytes, blueberry leaves, pine needles and ferns.

The life expectancy of these animals is very short - five years. And only in captivity they can live no more than twelve years.

Deer family

Deer family- belongs to the order of ruminant artiodactyls that live in America, Europe, and Africa.

The entire deer family has branched and long antlers, which they shed in winter. Females do not grow such horns. The horns of males are very heavy, approximately thirty kilograms. And their length can reach two meters.

The size of deer can vary. Some are as tall as a dog, while others are as tall as a bull.

Deer feed on leaves, shoots of bushes and trees.

The deer family consists of three subfamilies, nineteen genera and fifty-one species. The most interesting are the following:

• Red deer are the largest deer. Their weight can reach three hundred kilograms.
• The white type of deer is the rarest deer with a white coat.
• The American species is the white-tailed deer. They live in North America.
• Siberian breed. It includes the following breeds: Even, Chukchi, Evenki, Nenets.
• Pudu is the smallest species of deer. His height does not exceed forty centimeters, and his weight does not exceed ten kilograms.

Bovid family

The bovid family includes:

• Buffaloes;
• Bison;
• Bulls;
• Rams;
• Goats;
• Antelopes;
• Gazelles.

Let's look briefly at each type.

Buffaloes.

The buffalo is a very dangerous animal, especially for humans. Statistics show that more than two hundred people die from this animal every year.

The weight of the buffalo reaches a ton, its height is two meters, and its length is more than three meters.

These animals feed exclusively on grass. Every day they eat twenty kilograms of fresh grass.

Buffaloes have huge horns that curl inward.

Bison.

The bison is a very powerful and strong animal. It is often confused with the bison. They reach three meters in length and two meters in height. Weight ranges from 700 to 1 thousand kilograms.

Bison live in western and northern Missouri. These animals live in herds. Their number consists of twenty thousand individuals. The bison eats only grass. He eats up to twenty-five kilograms of fresh grass a day.

The life expectancy of a bison does not exceed twenty-five years.

Bulls.

The bull is a cloven-hoofed ruminant mammal. Exist the following types bulls:

• Wild bull - lives in nature, is the predecessor of the domestic bull.
• Domestic bull - bred by humans for milk, meat and leather.
• The musk ox is the only representative of the musk oxen.
• Tibetan bull. Another name for this animal is Yak. It differs from other bulls in its hair, which hangs from the sides and covers the legs.

Rams.

A ram is a mammal. Its length can reach 180 centimeters, height 130 centimeters, and weight from 25 to 220 kilograms. A distinctive feature of these animals is their horns. They are very large, massive and twisted.

Rams are divided into the following types:

Goats.

A goat is a ruminant animal. They are domestic and wild. Most goats have a beard. The coat, depending on the breed, can be short or long. The horns are long and curved back.

The lifespan of goats does not exceed ten years.

Antelope.

Antelopes are a subfamily of bovids. Their body length ranges from twenty centimeters to two meters.

Gazelles.

The gazelle is a small animal that belongs to the antelope subfamily. The length of the gazelle does not exceed 170 centimeters, height - 110 centimeters, and weight - no more than 85 kilograms.

The gazelle's horns are long and lyre-shaped. Their length can reach eighty centimeters.

Basically, these animals live in Africa. Gazelle live in herds consisting of thousands of individuals.

Artiodactyls and odd-toed ungulates are two orders of the class Mammals. Due to the similar sound and relative similarity of both groups of animals, identifying the differences between them poses a certain difficulty for schoolchildren.

Odd-toed ungulates- one of the orders of Mammals.

Comparison

Artiodactyls are an order of Mammals. It includes 3 suborders:

• ruminants - deer, giraffes, bulls, pronghorns, sheep, bison and antelopes;
• calloused - camels;
• non-ruminants - hippopotamuses, pigs and peccaries.

Artiodactyls are animals whose developed ends of the third and fourth classes are covered with a special case - the hoof. At the same time, their first finger is reduced, and the second and fifth are underdeveloped.

Artiodactyls are large and medium-sized animals. They have a characteristic elongated muzzle, and ruminants also have the obligatory decoration in the form of horns.

Artiodactyls are common on all continents except Antarctica. Initially, they were not only in Australia, but man “corrected” this oversight of Nature. Most of them live in open spaces (savannas, deserts, tundra, steppes). A minority of the squad chose the forest to live.

Deer. Order Artiodactyls

Odd-toed ungulates are a group of Mammals. Today, only 3 families of the once numerous taxon remain on Earth:

• the Equine family - horses, zebras and donkeys;
• Tapirov family;
• Rhino family.

Odd-toed ungulates are animals whose hoofs “cover” an odd number of toes.

Even-toed ungulates were once common on all continents except Antarctica and Australia. But in the wild, representatives of certain families can only be found in Africa, South and Central America, and Southeast Asia.

In addition to the number of phalanges forming the limbs, another characteristic difference between the two orders of these animals, which formed the basis of the taxonomy, is the structure of the digestive system. The fact is that in equids the main digestion of food occurs in the large intestine, and in artiodactyls - in the stomach. Therefore, in equids the stomach is single-chambered, while in artiodactyls it consists of four sections - the rumen, the mesh, the book, and the abomasum.

Conclusions website

1. In artiodactyls, a pair of toes form the hoof; in equids, the hoof “covers” an odd number of toes.
2. Artiodactyls in the wild have greater distribution than equids.
3. Artiodactyls have a more complex structure digestive system and a multi-chambered stomach is present.

Ungulates

The group of ungulates is quite numerous, including six modern orders: sirenians, hyraxes, proboscis, equids, calloseds and artiodactyls. Some zoologists distinguish an even larger number of orders, others consider, for example, calloseds as a suborder of artiodactyls. All ungulates descended from ancient condylathrae, known from Paleogene deposits; The ancestors of condylathras were most likely predatory creodonts. Let us consider in order all orders of ungulates.

Hyraxes (zhiryaks) are primitive herbivorous animals up to 60 cm long. They are similar to hares, but also belong to ungulates. The incisors are constantly growing, there are no fangs. The country of Spain owes its name to the Arabic name for hyraxes. About 10 species.

The heyday of proboscideans occurred in the Neogene: mastodons, deinotheriums and other extinct animals lived at that time. To date, only 2-3 species of animals of the elephant family remain in the forests and savannas of Southeast Asia and Africa (sub-Saharan Africa). These are large animals up to 3.5 m high with a massive body. Thick skin covered with sparse hair. The upper lip and nose are fused together and form a trunk, which simultaneously serves as a grasping organ, an organ of smell, and touch. A pair of highly developed incisors turned into tusks.

Elephants eat plant matter, which they collect with their trunk. Water is drawn into the trunk and then poured into the mouth. They live in herds.

Elephants have been largely exterminated by humans and are protected. Tusks (“ivory”) are used to make various products and jewelry. Elephants are easily tamed and trainable.

Odd-toed ungulates– large animals (length of rhinoceroses up to 4 m, weight – up to 3.5 tons) with an odd number of fingers on their limbs. The third finger is better developed than the others and bears the main weight of the body. The stomach is simple. Some (modern rhinoceroses) have a horn on their heads.

Odd-toed ungulates (Hipparions, Indricotherium) are typical representatives of the Neogene fauna; the order is currently represented by three families: equidae, rhinoceros and tapir, with about 20 species in Africa, South Asia and America.

The wild horse (tarpan), now exterminated, is the probable ancestor of domestic horse breeds. The wild African ass is the ancestor of the domestic donkey. Hybrids between donkeys and horses are mules and hinnies. All these animals are widely used by humans in agriculture (as draft power, as well as for the production of milk and meat), as transport, and for equestrian sports.

Wild equids have been largely exterminated and are protected.

The order Callospods is often classified as artiodactyls. These are large two-toed, high-legged animals up to 2 m high. The soles of the feet are covered with calloused thickenings. The camelid family includes 4 species in Mongolia and South America. Camels and llamas were domesticated and spread throughout the Front and Central Asia, North Africa and mountainous regions South America, provide meat, wool and milk, and are used as draft power. Camels are still the basis of life for the peoples of the Sahara.

Artiodactyls are the most species-rich order of modern ungulates. They are distinguished by an even number of toes covered with hooves. There are no collarbones. These animals, like equids, are herbivores. The suborder of non-ruminants includes hippopotamuses, porciniids and peccaries. Ruminant artiodactyls are distinguished by a complex stomach structure; most of them have horns on their heads. The suborder includes the families of deer, deer (tight-horned), pronghorn, bovid and giraffidae - more than 200 species.

Artiodactyls include most farm animals: cows, buffalos, yaks, sheep, goats, pigs. Many wild artiodactyls are hunted. The number of artiodactyls is noticeably declining; some of them are protected.

Odd-toed ungulates are a group of terrestrial placental mammals belonging to the phylum chordates. Together with the order, artiodactyls are true ungulates. This order includes animals of large and very large sizes with an odd number of fingers on their limbs (one or three) forming the hooves. The artiodactyl order unites three families: rhinoceroses, equines, and tapirs. Currently, 17 species of animals belonging to this order are known.

The earliest finds of fossil remains of equids date back to the beginning of the Eocene period. Before the beginning of the Miocene period, there was a flourishing of equids. Scientists associate the decline and extinction of some species of artiodactyls with the wide distribution in the middle Miocene period of artiodactyls, which occupied the same ecological niches, but had the advantage of a more developed digestive system.

Wild equids are currently found in the steppes, deserts, forest-steppes of Central and South America, South and East Africa, Central, Southeast and South Asia. Reduced living space and hunting led to a decline in numbers wild species equids. Many of these animals are domesticated. Thus, domestic horses and donkeys are widespread throughout the globe; they were also brought to Australia by humans.

Representatives various types lead different lifestyles, often determined by their habitat. The activity of these animals is crepuscular or nocturnal. Equines form herds and inhabit open spaces - steppes, savannas, and semi-deserts. Rhinoceroses lead a solitary lifestyle. They can be seen in African savannas and swampy, forested areas of Asia. Tapirs live alone and are found mainly in tropical forests. All animals from the order of equids are herbivores. They eat herbaceous plants, leaves and other parts of bushes and trees.

All equids have common features structures, mainly relating to the structure of the limbs and teeth. The sizes of these animals are medium or large. The body length can reach 5 m, and the height at the withers is 2 m. Rhinoceroses are the second largest after elephants among terrestrial small-feeders. The severity of hair varies from person to person different types. Thus, in rhinoceroses it is rare; the epidermis is thickened. Horses and tapirs have short and thick hair, its color is gray or brown. Zebras are characterized by vertical black and white stripes. Baby tapirs have horizontal stripes on their bodies.

Due to the fact that in equids the greatest load falls on the center of the limb, the third finger is better developed, the rest have atrophied in varying degrees. Only tapirs, due to the soft soils in their habitat, have four toes on their forelimbs and three on their hind limbs. Horses have only one toe per limb, and the hoof covers it completely. Tapirs and rhinoceroses have only the front hoof.

In equids, the number and structure of teeth differs depending on the type of food. Fangs and incisors are small or absent altogether, like those of African rhinoceroses. The head of these animals is oblong in shape, the upper jaw is elongated. Therefore, between the front and lateral teeth of the upper jaw there is free space - diastema. The size and height of the molars are different and depend on whether the animal eats hard or soft plant food. In those species that eat mainly grass, the jaws are massive, the jaw joint is set deep, and the jaw is relatively large. Rhinoceroses have one or two horns made of keratin, not bone tissue, like artiodactyls.

The structure of the digestive tract of equids is very different from that of artiodactyls. They have a single-chamber simple stomach, and food is digested for a long time in the large intestine, like in rodents. The intestines of these animals are long, in horses - up to 26 m.

Females have a bicornuate uterus. The gestation period is long (from 330 to 500 days), the offspring are few. In most cases, the female gives birth to one baby. Newborns are able to move after their mother within a few hours. Only among tapirs do babies spend the first few days after birth in a secluded place. During the year, the female feeds the cubs with milk; sexual maturity occurs between the ages of two and eight years. The life expectancy of equids reaches 50 years.

In the history of mankind, the domesticated horse and donkey from the order of equids played an important role as vehicles, as well as during agricultural work. These species of equids were domesticated several thousand years ago BC. Currently, due to the development of science and technology, these animals are not used in developed countries. They are bred for sports and as a hobby. But in developing countries, equids are still common among domestic animals. Today, some species of the equid order are close to extinction. These are the Przewalski's horse, Sumatran rhinoceros, African donkey, black rhinoceros, Javan rhinoceros, mountain zebra, mountain tapir, Grévy's zebra, Indian rhinoceros.