Basic Characteristics of All members of the Order

    *  Stand on an even number of toes

    * weight is borne by the third and fourth toes

    * highly-developed stomachs

    * browsing and grazing animals

    * shape of the astragalus has double-pulley structure

    * foot extremely flexible

    * larger stomachs and longer intestines than other animals 

    * found on every continent except Antarctica

    *  more economic and cultural benefit

    * do not inhabitant oceanic islands

    * hoofed mammals

    * coats have two layers

    * glands used for communication

    * needs abundant vegetation to survive

    * social and live in groups

    * equipped with horns or antlers

Facts on Ancestors and Facts of Earliest Ancestors

Artiodactyla had many ancestors and some of the earliest ancestors has characteristics similar to modern day animals. The first ancestors appeared about 54 million years ago. They were small, short-legged creatures that were herbivores. 8 million years later after they were once introduced about three suborders has already been developed. These suborders where the Suina, Tylopoda, and the Ruminantia. Around the time the suborders started developing, its believed that Artiodactylas started forming their complex digestive systems which allow them to survive on lower - grade food. About 20 million years ago Artiodactyla seemed to adapt their low - nutrition diet. Artiodactyla ungulates are found on every continent except Antarctica. 

Description of the animals in the order

In the Artiodactyla  group there are a number of animals in the order. The animals in the order are the pigs, peccaries, hippopotamuses, camels, chevrotains , deer, giraffes, pronghorn, antelopes, sheep, goats, and cattle.

Pigs : This animals belongs to the Suidae family. All animals belonging to the Suidae family are from Asia, Europe, or Africa. These animals have four toes on each foot and when fully grown are about 58 to 66 cm in length and 6 - 9 kg in weight. Pigs are omnivores meaning that they eat plants and animals. 


Peccaries : These animals belong to the Suidae  family. Peccaries are located in southwestern area of North America and are also found throughout Central and South America.  Peccaries are about 90 -130 cm long and weight about 44 - 88 lb. Peccaries are medium sized animals who look very similar to pigs. Just like pigs, Peccaries are also omnivores.

Hippopotamuses :  These animals belong to the  Hippopotamidae family. The hippopotamus is the largest land mammal after the elephant. These animals are semi-aquatic meaning they  inhabit land as well as the water. Hippos can run at an average of 19 mph. Hippos animals weigh 1 - 3 tonnes. 


Camels : These animals belong to the family Camelidae .The average life age for a camel is between 40 - 50 yrs. A full grown camel is 6 ft and 1 inches and can run 40 mph.Camels are known for their ability to withstand intense heat and live without water for long periods of time.


Chevrotains : These animals are also known as mice deers are from the family Tragulidae. These animals are found in Southeast Asia. These animals weight about 1.5 and 18 lb. 

Deers : These animals belong to the family Cervidae. Deers weight 70 - 600 lb. Deers are great runners and swimmers. 

Giraffes :These animals belong to the family Giraffidae are the tallest of all extant land-living animal species. The Average mass for an adult male girafee is about 2,600 lb and for a female is 1,800 lb. Giraffes are approximately 17 ft tall but some can grow up to 20 ft. 

Pronghorns : These animals closely resemble an antelope. These animals belong to the family Antilocapridae. Pronghorns weight about 41-50 kg. 

Antelopes : These animals belong the the family Antilocapridae . Antelopes are found mainly in Asia, African, and most of North America. Many species of this animal are going extinct.

Sheep's : Sheep's belong to the family  Bovidae. Sheep's have a variety of color and it depends on their breed and environment.  Sheep's are strictly herbivorous mammals. 

Goats : These animals belong to the family Bovidae. Goats are from Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. Goats are very closely related to the sheep. Most goats have two horns, and 4 legs. Goats life for about 15 - 18 yrs. Goats produce 2 % of the world's milk supply.

Cattle's : These animals belong to the family Bovidae. Cattles have one stomach with four compartments. Cattle are very closely related to cows.                

       



    

Researching Your Animal Order

Resource one :

Website/Book Title : Even - toed ungulate

URL/ Author : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artiodactyla   

Brief Summary : The website explains briefly the classifications, suborder, anatomy, physiology, morphology, behavior, diet, habitat distribution, and relationships with humans. The website explains in great detail the characteristics of the Artiodactyla's and the origin of the name.

Resource two : 

Website/Book Title : Even- toed Ungulates – Order Artiodactyla 

URL/ Author :http://animals.about.com/od/hoofedmammals/p/eventoedungulat.html

Brief Summary :   This website basically explains the members of the family and briefly describes some characteristics of Artiodactyls.


Resource three : 

Website/Book Title :  Mammals of the worlds : The even – toed ungulates 

URL/ Author :   http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/etungulates.html 

Brief Summary : This website shows a bunch of animals that are part of the family and briefly explains about them.  



Resource four : 

Website/Book Title :  Even touged ungulates 

URL/ Author :   http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Even-toed_ungulate    

Brief Summary :   This website describes characteristics of the family and shpws a good map of where there all located.    


Resource five : 

Website/Book Title :  Even – toed ungulate  

URL/ Author :       http://even-toed-ungulate.co.tv/    

Brief Summary :  This website is a very food resource because it shoes the meaning of the names of the animals of the family. It also has a wide variety of resources about the animals such as classification.