What is the order of Artiodactyla?
What is the order of Artiodactyla?
Therapsid
Boreoeutheria
Even-toed ungulates/Order
What are characteristics of Artiodactyla?
Diversity
- Artiodactyls are the most diverse, large, terrestrial mammals alive today.
- Artiodactyls are paraxonic, that is, the plane of symmetry of each foot passes between the third and fourth digits.
- Artiodactyls are divided into 3 suborders.
What is the closest related order to Artiodactyla?
Introduction. Cetaceans belong to the order Cetartiodactyla, along with their closest terrestrial relatives, the Artiodactyla (hippos, pigs, cows, deer, antelopes etc.). Cetaceans are divided into two major groups: the odontocetes, or toothed whales, and the mysticetes, or baleen whales.
What families are in Artiodactyla?
Families
- Bovidae (antelopes, goats, sheep)
- Camelidae (camels, llamas)
- Cervidae (deer, elk, moose)
What family in Artiodactyla comprises the closest relatives to cetaceans?
Hippopotamids are stout, naked-skinned, and semiaquatic artiodactyl mammals, possessing three-chambered stomachs and walking on four toes on each foot. While they resemble pigs physiologically, their closest living relatives are the cetaceans. Hippopotamids constitute the family Hippopotamidae.
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.
Why is a dolphin an ungulate?
Dolphins are considered ungulates because they are closely related to artiodactyls (even-toed ungulates). Cetaceans evolved from an even-toed ungulate ancestor. Cetaceans are actually more closely related to even-toed ungulates than odd-toes ungulates (horses, rhinos, zebras) are.
How many families are there in the Artiodactyla?
Since the order Cetartiodactyle is not yet accepted, the Artiodactyla is considered to be divided into three suborders with 10 families. The suborder Suina contains three families: the Suidae (pigs), Tayassuidae (peccaries and javelinas), and Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses).
Which is the most primitive family of artiodactyls?
Based primarily on morphological data, extant artiodactyls are divided into three suborders; Suiformes, Tylopoda, and Ruminantia. Suiformes is considered the most primitive suborder and includes the families Suidae (pigs and warthogs), Tayassuidae (peccaries), and Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses). Tylopoda contains the lone family Camelidae.
Where does the name Artiodactyla come from?
The name Artiodactyla comes from the Greek words artios, meaning entire or even numbered, and dactylos for finger or toe. Artiodactyls are a highly successful order and the most abundant large land mammals living today with more than 220 species worldwide.
Are there any new species of artiodactyls being discovered?
Although many artiodactyl species are relatively large and well known, scientists are still discovering new species. Since 1992, five new species of artiodactyls have been described, including one ( Pseudoryx ), and possibly another ( Megamuntiacus ), making two new genera.