Ungulates. Order Artiodactila (Atriodactila) Ruminant mammal artiodactyl animal

Ungulates with the number of fingers, both on the front and hind limbs, are two or four. The third and fourth fingers are more developed than others. The axis of symmetry of the limb runs between them, and these two fingers bear the main weight of the animal’s body. The second and fifth fingers are to one degree or another underdeveloped, sometimes completely absent. Homologous phalanges of functioning fingers have a mirror similarity (as if a reflection of one another). The third phalanx is laterally compressed and has an asymmetrical triangular shape. The third trochanter (trochanter tertius) is absent on the thigh. The femoral neck in artiodactyls clearly separates the articular head from the body of the bone. The intertrochanteric ridge runs from the greater to the lesser trochanter and borders the trochanteric fossa on the lateral and distal sides. The talus has two articular blocks: proximal for articulation with the bones of the lower leg and distal. The calcaneus of artiodactyls, in addition to the talus, always articulates with the fibula or its rudiment.

The sum of the number of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae is 19 - 20, sacral - typically 4.

The skull of artiodactyls is characterized by the absence of a basisphenoid at the bases of the pterygoid processes. The anterior margin of the choanae rarely extends forward further than the second posterior tooth. The articular fossa for the articulation of the lower jaw, compared to equids, is less elongated in the transverse direction, wider (in camelids it is even round); the postarticular process is low or completely absent; therefore, the lower jaw can make movements not only lateral, but sometimes also in the anteroposterior direction. Tympanicum has the shape of a more or less elongated and swollen bladder (bulla), forms not only the outer, but also most of the inner wall of the tympanic cavity. Characterized by the small size of the stony part (petrosum), which, like in equids, does not fuse with other bones. The sagittal crest is present only in the skull of Tylopoda and Tragulidae. The nasal bones are rarely very widened in the posterior half. If the orbit has a closed ring, then its posterior edge is formed only by the frontal process of the zygomatic and the zygomatic process of the frontal bone. The squamosal bone does not participate in the formation of the posterior edge of the orbit.

The molars of artiodactyls are of the selenodont or bunodont type; in some cases, they do not form a closed row. Permanent anterior roots (premolars), even the last of them, never take the form of posterior roots (molars) and are much simpler in structure. The last primary premolar, as well as the last molar of the mandible, always consists of three lobes. In some cases, four premolars are preserved in a series of permanent teeth. In these cases, the diastema may be absent. The incisors and canines in the upper jaw are often severely reduced or completely absent. The canines of the lower jaw are often shaped like the adjacent incisors.

The lips of artiodactyls are of various shapes. The front part of the head then takes on the character of a short trunk. The stomach of all modern forms is more or less complicated and consists of 2-4 chambers separated from each other to varying degrees. The mucous membrane with squamous stratified epithelium, devoid of digestive glands, lines a significant, usually most part of the stomach. The cecum and colon are less voluminous than in equids; isolated taenia and pocket-like protrusions on them are present only in non-ruminants. The colon forms a spiral in the form of a cone or disk. Gallbladder, with the exception of fam. Cervidae, available. Nasal drums and retropharyngeal air sacs are not developed in artiodactyls. The mammary glands are two- or four-lobed, inguinal; less often (in non-ruminants) multiple, located on the ventral side of the abdomen. The placenta is diffuse or cotyledonous. There can be several cubs in one litter (in domestic pigs up to 23).

Habitat and distribution of the order Artiodactyls

The mainland and adjacent islands of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Acclimatized in New Zealand. At home, they are distributed throughout the globe.

Evolution of artiodactyls

Like other branches of ungulates, artiodactyls originate from primitive Paleocene forms of one of the groups of primitive ungulates, Condylarthra. Some representatives of the latter (for example, the genus Hyopsodus Leidy) are almost no different in the structure of teeth and fingers from early artiodactyls. Almost simultaneously, in the lower and middle Eocene of Europe and America, the genera Diacodexis Soret, Homacodon .Marsh and Dichobune Cuvier appear, the shape of the talus with a double articular block leaves no doubt about their belonging to the order Artiodactyls. These were small animals, on low legs with four functioning toes, and on the forelimbs some apparently retained a small first toe. The low, elongated skull did not have a closed ring of the eye socket. The mastoid part of the petrous bone extended onto the facial surface of the skull. The teeth formed a continuous row without a diastema. The structure of the teeth indicates that these animals were not purely herbivorous, but ate a mixed diet. The molars of some forms of them also had a three-tubercle structure with blunted tops of the tubercles. This group (infraorder Palaeodonta) should be considered the source for all subsequent branches, including modern ones, Artiodactyla. Already by the Upper Eocene and Lower Oligocene, the number of groups of artiodactyls increased (giant two-hoofed entelodons, anoploteria, anthracotherium, early tragulids, camels and others), most of which became extinct, leaving no descendants in the modern fauna. Representatives of modern pigs, giraffes, deer and bovids appear only in the Upper Oligocene - Lower Miocene.

In the process of evolution, artiodactyls largely developed in parallel with equids. As in equids, the general direction of evolution is adaptation to rapid forward movements and nutrition plant foods. Related to this is varying degrees pronounced reduction of the ulna and fibula, reduction and decrease in the number of lateral rays of the hand and foot, lengthening of the metapodia and phalanges of the fingers, transition from plantigrade to digital and phalangeal walking, complication of the chewing surface of molars, development of hypsodontism. Of the modern forms, pigs and hippopotamuses are closest to the original state. Callopods (Tylopoda), with complete reduction of the lateral rays, retained incomplete digital walking (resting on the second and third phalanges) and a claw instead of a hoof on the last phalanges.

The peculiar direction of the phylogenetic branch of artiodactyls is expressed, first of all, in the fact that among the most early representatives limb units, even with the preservation of the first finger, have a “paraxonic” character, i.e., the axis of the limb passes between the third and fourth fingers. In this regard, not one, but two named rays (III and IV) receive increased functional load and enhanced development. Hippopotamuses also have a third toe that is slightly longer than the fourth. For the rest they are already the same. The phalanges of the fingers of these rays acquire a mirror-like resemblance, and the metapodia tend to stick together and form a functionally single bone - the tarsus. The lateral rays (II and V) undergo reduction, and their fingers, as the central ones lengthen, cease to touch the soil. In extreme cases, they disappear completely or remain in the form of rudiments, devoid of a bone base. The process of strengthening the central and reducing the lateral rays occurred most quickly and found the greatest expression in forms adapted to fast running and to living on solid ground. The forelimbs in this regard were somewhat behind the hind limbs. The fusion of central metapodia and the disappearance of lateral digits in the phylogeny of all groups of artiodactyls occurred primarily in the foot, and not in the hand.

Second specific feature artiodactyls from their earliest history is the formation of a double articular block on the talus (astragalus). In the process of evolution, the direction of the axis of the joint between the astragalus and the calcaneus (calcaneus) changed from oblique to perpendicular to the axis of the limb and parallel to the axis of the ankle joint. The resulting triple joint with parallel axes contributed to an increase in the range of flexor-extensor movements (flexion and extension), but almost completely excluded rotational ones (pronation and supination). In camels, for example, when the limb is flexed at the ankle joint while lying down, the shin and metatarsus acquire an almost parallel position to each other. The distal articular block of the astragalus probably contributed to jumping, one of the common modes of locomotion of some primitive modern (small antelopes), as well as early representatives of artiodactyls.

The original three-cusped type of molars in the process of evolution turns into four-, five- and even six-cusped. The tubercles are either rounded, turning the tooth into a bunodont one (pigs, hippos), or stretched into longitudinal curved semilunar ridges, which determine the characteristics of selenodont (lunate) type teeth in ruminants and camels. Teeth of the first type are adapted for omnivorous feeding or feeding on soft, succulent parts of plants. Selenodonty is associated with adaptation to chewing tough herbaceous foods. Some of the extinct groups (for example, Anthracotherium, Anoplotherium) had teeth of a mixed, bunoselenodont type. A wide articular surface for articulation with the lower jaw, allowing lateral movements of the latter, creates favorable conditions for more advanced function of the masticatory apparatus.

Adaptation to feeding on herbaceous foods in the evolution of artiodactyls was accompanied by a more complex stomach. In pigs and hippopotamuses, a not yet sharply isolated left-sided protrusion of the stomach wall is visible; The peccary's stomach already consists of three sections. It reaches its greatest complexity in the group of ruminants.

Literature:

1. I.I. Sokolov "Fauna of the USSR, Hoofed Animals" Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1959.

Artiodactyls
Some mammals have very hard claws. They are called hooves. They are big enough to walk on. Hence the name of these animals - ungulates. There are artiodactyls and odd-toed ungulates. Everyone is interested in one question: which animals are artiodactyls? As a rule, these are called placental mammals. Placental mammals have two or three fingers. They are further divided into ruminant and non-ruminant. Ruminant artiodactyls include deer, antelope, cattle, camel, llama, giraffe and okapi. and hippos.
Even-toed ungulates have four toes, short legs, molars and canines. Ruminants have longer legs with two toes, have chewing teeth, and a more developed digestive system than non-ruminants. Mammals that fall into this group chew the cud. Now we will look at the list of artiodactyl animals.

Hippos
Hippos live only in Central, Western and South Africa. They live partly in water and partly on land. There are two types of hippopotamuses - ordinary and dwarf. The common hippopotamus, or hippopotamus, weighs up to 3,200 kg and is one of the largest land animals. Many artiodactyl animals spend most of the day in shallow bodies of water and emerge only at night. But pygmy hippos prefer to be near water, and they enter a reservoir only in case of danger. The hippopotamus' skin is hairless. Majority common hippopotamuses are gray-brown in color, while pygmy hippos are black-brown. The gland secretion of the common hippopotamus is reddish in color and is often mistaken for blood. This secret makes the animal's skin shiny. It protects it from drying out in the sun. Pygmy hippopotamuses secrete the same secretion, only colorless, and it has the same purpose. Hippopotamuses' eyes are slightly bulging and located on the top of the head. Therefore, when swimming, these artiodactyl animals are above the water. Hippopotamuses' nostrils also point upward and can close tightly when diving.
Camels and llamas
Camels and llamas are ruminants. Even-toed ungulates of the llama genus are characterized by upper lips that are divided into two parts and are capable of moving separately from each other. There are two types of camels and four types of llamas. Camels are divided into two-humped (Bactrian) and one-humped (dromedary), or Arabian camels. Contrary to popular belief, camels do not store water in their humps. His humps contain a large number of fat and serve as reserves nutrients, which are spent during times of famine. Both artiodactyls are common in the deserts of Asia and North Africa.

Key facts
The black-footed antelope can jump over a fence 3 m high. In addition, the artiodactyl animal is able to cover a distance of 10 m in one jump.
The king antelope, which is only 25 cm tall, is the smallest antelope, while the kappa antelope, which can weigh up to 900 kg, is the largest species.
Giraffes can run at a speed of 56 km per hour, but it turns out that these artiodactyl animals cannot walk quickly - they have long legs.
Pygmy hippos are the most small view hippos. Their height is only 75 cm, and their weight is about 160-270 kg.
Antelope and deer
Antelope is a ruminant with a pair of pointed, hollow horns. Most antelopes live in open grasslands, but some small even-toed ungulates prefer to live near forested areas so that in case of danger they can hide in dense foliage from predators. Those who live in open areas rely only on the speed of their feet and flee from their enemies. Unlike antelopes, deer have branched antlers, which they shed every year. Deer antlers are hard and bony. In deer, only males have antlers; in antelope, both males and females have antlers.
Giraffe
The giraffe is a cloven-hoofed animal. It is the tallest animal on Earth. An adult male can reach a height of 6 m. Giraffes live in savannas and forests. The giraffe's body is shorter than that of other artiodactyls. Its front legs are longer than its hind legs. Adult giraffes have very large hooves. The length of the animal’s neck reaches 1.5 m and consists of only a few vertebrae. These vertebrae are very long and separated from each other by movable joints. The long neck and unusually tall stature help the animals reach leaves where others cannot reach them. Giraffes have a very long tongue - they can stick it out 45 cm. Their tongue and lips are covered with hard growths, which allows them to eat leaves even from thorny trees. Both males and females have small horns covered with skin. Tufts of black fur grow at the tips of these horns.
Born for the desert
The Arabian camel is well adapted to life in the desert. It has wide pads and calluses on its soles - these calloused, two-toed protrusions on its feet prevent them from becoming hot while standing on the hot desert sand. The Arabian camel's nostrils close to prevent sand from entering the nose. The eyelashes of artiodactyl animals are very long - they protect the eyes from heat and sand.
All the species that we have considered are artiodactyl animals of Africa. There are individuals that live outside the “Dark Continent”. Of course, there are species that are mistakenly considered representatives of this order.
According to many people, a horse is a cloven-hoofed animal. But in reality this is not the case; to be convinced, you just have to look at the structure of this species. There is only one developed toe on each leg and it is covered with a hoof.
Even-toed ungulates of the bovid family include several species. This order includes approximately 140 species. Among the most famous are bulls, gazelles, antelopes, buffaloes and bison. Here the main difference is only in one component - the horn. As a rule, there are two of them, the maximum length is 1.5 m. Some females do not have these outgrowths. No artiodactyl animal of the bovid family is characterized by branched horns. As a rule, such species live on open areas. The largest representative is the gaur, its height is 2.2 m. The minimum dimensions are observed in the royal antelope. She is no more tall than a domestic cat.

The artiodactyl animal of the deer family includes more than 50 species. Most of them live in Eurasia and America, and have recently been found in Australia (introduced). Sizes vary. The smallest representatives are as tall as a hare, and the largest are akin to horses. The horns are branched and are characteristic exclusively of males. Every artiodactyl of the bovid family loses its horns every year, but after 12 months they grow back. The beast begins its origins in the Oligocene.
Artiodactyl domestic animals.
This order includes those species that over many years have been able to find themselves among people. The latter keep such animals for food. Such animals reproduce without problems, passing on all their skills sexually. Humans have a huge influence on these animals. Most often, horses, goats, cows and sheep are found in the courtyards of villages and cities. Perhaps without these animals we could not exist at all.
- Far Eastern artiodactyl animal. By appearance it resembles an ordinary pig that we are used to seeing in our yard. But this species is distinguished by well-developed fangs. As a rule, the length of such an animal is 205 cm and the height is 120 cm. Weight Limit reaches 320 kg. Unlike a pig, a boar's rear end is very low. That's why the animal sometimes seems poor and helpless. So, now you understand which animals are artiodactyls.

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 representatives of certain families can be found in the wild only in Africa, South and Central America, in South-East 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 are more common than equids.
3. Artiodactyls have a more complex structure digestive system and a multi-chambered stomach is present.

Most animals from the order Artiodactyla are characterized by quite large sizes bodies.

They have equally well developed only two fingers (3rd and 4th), dressed in horny shoes (hooves), and the remaining fingers are underdeveloped (in some species they are even absent). In those species in which the 2nd and 5th fingers are developed, these fingers hang at the back and are also dressed in horny shoes. Artiodactyls do not have clavicles. Animals of this order feed mainly on grass, so their molars have a large rubbing surface, which leads to a significant elongation of the head. The digestive apparatus of most artiodactyls is adapted to digest and assimilate voluminous, low-nutrient plant foods.

The order Artiodactyla is divided into the suborders Ruminant, Callosed and non-ruminant.

Suborder Ruminants (Ruminantia) . Ruminants have a complex stomach, consisting of a glandular stomach (abomasum) and two or three forestomachs; There are no upper incisors. In the forestomach (rumen and mesh), the food ferments, then lumps of fermented food, along with the excess gases formed, are regurgitated, chewed again (chewing gum) and enter first into the book, and from there into the abomasum.

Ruminants live in herds and move relatively slowly (a lot of time is spent grazing, chewing cud, and sleeping). These features, as well as tasty meat and relatively large body sizes (especially in bulls), were the main reasons why so many species have been domesticated from this order.

The ruminant suborder includes the bovid, cervid and giraffid families. Only animals from the bovid and cervid families have been domesticated.

Bovid family (Bovidae) . Largest number species domesticated from the bovid family. In animals of this family (it includes up to 200 species), the horns are hollow sheaths sitting on the bony outgrowths of the frontal bones. Modern bovids are divided into six subfamilies (goat antelope, gazelle, crested antelope, horse antelope, cow antelope and bull antelope). Domestic animals are obtained only from the bovine and goat subfamily.

Goat subfamily (Capridae) . Animals from the goat subfamily have narrow incisors; from the hooks to the fangs, the incisors become narrower and narrower. Their body size is significantly smaller than that of bulls. The udder of females is bicotyledonous. I.I. Sokolov divides this subfamily into six tribes (gorals, chamois, goats, orongos, saigas and musk oxen). The goat tribe includes the genera of rams, goats, tars, nakhurs and maned rams.

The development of representatives of the genus of wild sheep (Ovis) occurred on flat foothill areas. This explains the greater adaptability of rams to fast running than to jumping. Wild sheep- animals are tall-legged, slender, of medium size, with large triangular horns twisted along a horizontal axis. They have lacrimal fossae, which house the preorbital glands, and interhoof glands. Pregnancy lasts about 5 months. One or two cubs are born.

There are only two species in the genus of sheep: bighorns and sheep themselves (Ovis ammon). The ancestor of domestic sheep is the second species, very rich in geographical races and varieties (up to 24). From these races and varieties, European rams - mouflons and Asian rams - arcals (or arkara) and argali (or argali) were domesticated.

Wild goats (genus Capra), close in size to rams, are distinguished by a deeper chest, relatively low legs, and an elongated loin. Wild goats, as inhabitants of steep mountain slopes, are adapted more for giant jumps than for long and fast running. They have a short, broad-browed head, a thick neck, and a short tail. Horns without edges, spirally twisted along the vertical axis. There is a beard under the lower jaw. There are no preorbital and interungulate glands. Males have special skin glands at the base of the tail that secrete a specific unpleasant odor. Pregnancy also lasts about five months. Cubs are usually born in twos.

Of the five species of this genus, the aurochs and the ibex are not among the ancestors of domestic goats. The ancestors of domestic goats are considered to be the bezoar goat (Capra aegagrus), the horned goat (Capra falconer) and the already extinct species of prisca (Capra prisca).

Subfamily bovine (Bovinae) . Animals of this subfamily are much larger than goats. They have a heavy and wide head on a short thick neck, often with a hanging fold of skin (dewlap), a massive body, and short thick legs. Above the upper lip there is a wide bare “nasal mirror”. The udder of most bovine species is four-lobed. The duration of pregnancy is 9-11 months. Cubs are usually born one at a time. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced.

In addition to the genera of bulls themselves, bison, yaks, big-headed bulls, Asian and African buffaloes, I. I. Sokolov also includes related genera to the bovine subfamily - the eland and the nilgai antelope. Domestic animals are obtained from the genera proper of bulls, bullheaded bulls and Asiatic buffaloes.

Buffaloes are large animals that differ from bulls proper in that they have only two udder lobes with two teats. They have a rounded frontoparietal part of the skull; massive triangular horns with transverse projections begin near the eye sockets. The skin is almost devoid of sweat glands and covered with sparse hair.

There are two genera of buffalo: African buffalo (Synceros) and Asian buffalo (Bubalus). African buffalos were not domesticated. The genus of Asian buffalo includes three species: 1) Arni (Indian), 2) Anoa (Celebes) and 3) Tamaroa (Philippine).

The ancestor of domestic buffaloes is the wild arnie (Bubalus bubalis), reaching 180 cm in height at the withers. It has massive horns that go backwards and curve into a crescent shape. The skin color is dark, the fur is dark gray and black. Pregnancy lasts 10 months. Arni live in swampy places.

The ancestor of numerous breeds of modern cattle was an already extinct representative of the genus of bulls proper - the huge (height at the withers up to 180 cm) wild aurochs (Bos taurus, Bos primigenius) and various sized European, Asian and African varieties of this species. The European aurochs (extinct 300 years ago) was characterized by large smooth horns, a low, wide nape, an almost flat back, slightly sloping back, a greater length of the humerus compared to the radius bones, long metacarpal bones, and relatively short, even hair. The large growth and tasty meat of wild aurochs were the reasons for the domestication of these dangerous wild animals.

Yaks (Poephagus grunniens) are also a species from the tribe of bulls proper. The wild yak is a high-mountain animal. It is characterized by a very strong development of the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae. Because of this, the height at the withers of yaks, like bison, is much higher than the height of the rump. The large head of a yak with long smooth horns going sideways, forward and upward, sits on a short neck. The ears are small, the fur is thick and long with fringe that extends from the sides and hips below the belly. The fur is dark brown and black in color, on the muzzle and the narrow strip along the back (belt) is gray. The yak's tail resembles more a horse's than a cow's. The brush starts from the tip and goes down to the ground.

In addition to the advantages inherent in the tur, the reason for the domestication of the yak in mountainous countries was its good adaptability to the unique high-mountain conditions.

Bison and related bison were not domesticated.

The genus of frontal bulls (Bibos) is from South Asia. The animals are large, coarsely massive in build, they have a longer and wider forehead compared to representatives of other genera of the bovine subfamily. The horns are very thick, their lower edges are located above the level of the upper edge of the occipital crest. The height at the withers exceeds the height at the rump. The dewlap is bifurcated. The color is characterized by whiteness lower parts limbs. Among the modern wild representatives of this genus, bantengs and gaurs are known.

Sexual dimorphism, characteristic of the bovid subfamily, is most pronounced in bantengs (Bibos banteng), especially in the structure of the skull. The color of different races of bantengs ranges from black to brown and red, but always with a white “mirror” at the back. They are considered the most beautiful animals in the subfamily. Bantengs live in Indochina and Indonesia near salt water. The domesticated form of banteng is the Balinese cattle.

Gaurs (Bibos gaurus) are found in the jungles of India and Indochina. These are very large thick-horned animals (the height at the withers of bulls is 186-213 cm) with a powerful front. The coat is short, smooth, brown-black in color. From the Gaurs came the domesticated Gayals.

American deer (Neocervidae) are small and medium-sized animals (height at withers from 34 to 134 cm) - divided into four genera (mazama, nudu, pampas and reindeer). Old world reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) have both males and females antlered. Males shed their antlers after the rut, females after giving birth. There are fangs on both the upper and lower jaws. Reindeer live in Siberia, in the European part of the USSR, north of 49-50° N. sh.; very well adapted to the conditions of the Far North. This adaptability is evidenced by the uniqueness of their coat and the structure of their limbs. The wool consists of very fine down and a long, coarse spine with a highly developed non-heat-conducting core layer. The front hooves are wide and flat, and the rear hooves are so long that they touch the ground. During the stroke, the hooves and hooves move apart so that they form a very wide area of ​​​​support. This helps deer when moving through snowy areas. Reindeer are extremely unpretentious to food and are able to feed on lichen obtained from under the snow. These features of reindeer and the absence of other large herbivorous herd animals in their distribution zone contributed to the domestication of these animals in the north.

The suborder Tylopoda is represented by only one family of camelids (Camel idae). Animals of this family have a complex stomach, like ruminants. The rumen contains special cellular capsules to retain moisture. The animals are large, lean, on very high legs, with a very long neck. The two front toes have short hooves; on the feet there are cushion-shaped callous formations. There are no horns. In addition to the fangs, the upper jaw has two outer incisors. The upper lip is forked. Red blood cells are oval shaped.

There are two genera in the camelid family: camels and llamas.

Both species of wild camels (genus Camelus) are inhabitants of the harsh deserts of Asia (the Gobi Desert). They are better adapted to life in these conditions than other herbivores. At favorable times, reserve fat accumulates in the hump. In unfavorable times, in the absence of water and food, the decomposition of fat into simpler organic compounds and water covers the water deficit, provides nutrition to body cells and education in the body required quantity energy. Camel meat and milk are valuable food products. Their wool is valued as a material for making warm clothing. Both species of wild camels - Bactrians and dromedaries - have been domesticated.

Bactrians (Camelus bactrianus) are two-humped animals. Wild Bactrians have much less developed humps than domestic ones, which accumulate up to 100 kg of fat in their humps. The coat is light brown, longer under the neck and on the shoulders. The height at the withers of domestic Bactrian camels is on average 175 cm. The height from the ground to the hump reaches 3 m. Weight is 500-800 kg.

Dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) are single-humped animals with shorter and darker hair. These qualities are also inherent in the dromedary camels that descended from them.

Llamas (Lama) are a genus of South American humpless camels. They differ from humpback camels only in their smaller size and adaptability to mountain conditions. There are two known species of wild representatives of this genus - guanaco and vicuna (or vigon).

Guanacos (Lama huanachus) are medium-height, high-legged, lean herd animals (height about 1 cm, weight on average 75 kg) with thick brown fur, turning light on the belly. Domestic llamas and alpacas descended from guanacos. Domestic llamas (Lama glama) have an average height at the withers of 115 cm and a weight of 80-100 kg. They were used by the Incas since ancient times as meat, wool and beasts of burden.

Alpacas (Lama pacos) are smaller than llamas, their height is 90 cm, their weight is about 80 kg. They are distinguished by their thick long hair(coat length 10-30 and even 60 cm) white or black. There is an assumption that the crossing of guanacos with vicunas played a certain role in the origin of alpacas. Crossing alpacas with vicunas produces fertile hybrids.

Suborder of non-ruminants (Nonruminantia). Non-ruminants have a simple stomach and small size cecum. They are low-legged animals with heavy skin covered with stiff bristles or no hair. This suborder includes two families: pigs and hippos. Domestication occurred only in the pig family.

Animals from the pig family (Suidae) have an elongated muzzle with a bare, moist snout, highly developed fangs, stiff bristles, and several pairs of nipples located along the lower part of the belly. These animals are gregarious and omnivorous. The family is divided into three subfamilies (pigs, babirusas and peccaries). Of the five genera of the subfamily of pigs proper (Suinae), the ancestors of domestic pigs were two species (or two subspecies) from the genus of wild boars (Sus). Of these, the European wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a large, strong animal (height up to 100 cm, weight of old males reaches 300 kg). He has a long narrow muzzle, erect ears, a flat, deep body, and very hard brown stubble that stands on end on his neck and withers. There is an elongated lacrimal bone. Wild European boars live in forests and reed thickets, leading night look life. The duration of pregnancy is 117 days, 4-6 striped (livery) piglets are born. Multiple pregnancy and relatively fast development, as well as tasty high-calorie meat were the qualities due to which primitive began to domesticate the European wild boar. The East Asian wild boar (Sus vittatus, Sus stratosus) is smaller than the European one, with a slightly shorter muzzle and a more rounded body.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Among mammals, artiodactyls are one of the most specialized animals, often “decorated” with all sorts of fancy outgrowths on their heads - horns. In evolutionary terms, this is a very prosperous group, very diverse, most of its representatives inhabit Africa. This order includes hippopotamuses, pigs, deer, antelopes and bulls, and camels. All of them are classified into different families, of which four live in the wild in Russia. In addition to those given in this text, mention should be made of home bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), which can be found in the desert regions of the Caspian region: it belongs to a separate family of Camelidae.

The sizes of artiodactyls vary widely: this also includes tiny forest antelopes - duikers the size of a hare, and huge hippos weighing several tons. Most often they are lightly built, slender, high-legged animals adapted for fast running. Unlike equids, there are two supporting digits (hence the name), their terminal phalanges are also dressed in hooves. Most of them (except bulls) have a small tail. A remarkable feature of the structure of teeth, characteristic of most artiodactyls, is the absence of upper incisors. Because of this, they cannot pinch grass like horses or chew it like rodents do: they grab the greens with their tongue and lips, and then cut them with their lower chisel-shaped incisors.

In musk deer, deer and bovids, united in the suborder ruminants, the stomach is very complex, consisting of 4 sections. This allows them not only to more fully absorb low-nutrient feed, but also contributes to greater animal safety. Having quickly filled the first section of the stomach (rumen) with green mass in the pasture, the animal can retire to a secluded place and, in a calm environment, thoroughly chew the food, gradually regurgitating it.

The hair is almost always short (although there are exceptions - for example, one of the most shaggy animals in the world is the musk ox), the body coloring is most often protective. A feature of many artiodactyls is the presence of a wide light spot in the back of the body, the so-called “mirror”. Its purpose is to signal behind the running members of the herd, indicating the direction of movement. The hair of the “mirror” has special mobility: in a calm state, it is pressed and covered on top by darker hair on the sides of the body, and when alarmed, it suddenly stands on end, the “mirror” seems to open up, flashing like a kind of beacon. So when the herd begins to flee, the “mirror” of the leader serves as a kind of “guiding star” for the animals running behind. In the thickness of the skin, almost all artiodactyls have specific glands, with the secretion of which animals mark their territory: most often they are located on the muzzle in front of the eyes, between the hooves, and sometimes on the back of the head.

These terrestrial animals have almost no equal in the diversity of their habitats, second perhaps only to predators: they live in forests, dry deserts and swampy floodplains, highlands and the Arctic. Among them there are even almost semi-aquatic animals (the same hippopotamus), not only marine ones. However, according to the latest data, cetaceans originated from the same roots as artiodactyls.

They usually live in herds, do not build their own shelters and practically do not use shelters (with the exception of some wild pigs). Most are excellent runners, which is why evolution created both chiseled legs and tiny hooves. Artiodactyls are herbivores; most eat grass. Cubs (usually there are no more than 2-3, but there can be more than 10) of artiodactyls of the “brood” type are born fully developed and can already run a few hours after birth.

In human life, artiodactyls have exclusively important. They are the main “suppliers” of meat, leather, wool, milk and a wide variety of dairy products. Among them are the most important domestic animals - cows, sheep, goats, pigs.