Notoungulata

views updated Jun 11 2018

Notoungulata (cohort Ferungulata, superorder Protoungulata) An extinct order of ungulates that, apart from one Lower Eocene representative from N. America and a well-established representative from the late Palaeocene of eastern Asia, are exclusively S. American. They flourished on that continent during the Oligocene and survived to the Pleistocene, evolving into many forms. Their dentition was complete and the tympanic bulla was large, the structure of the ear being different from all other mammals. They were mesaxonic, many of them possessing only three digits. Some had claws, but others appear to have possessed hoofs, though none achieved an unguligrade gait. Some later forms became large. Toxodon, which may have been the most common large ungulate during the S. American Pleistocene, was about 2.75 m long, had a massive head, and hind legs that were much longer than the forelegs. In life it may have looked like a very large guinea-pig. In addition there were the homalodotheres, which resembled the Chalicotheriidae (the so-called “clawed horses’), and a range of large and small rodent-like animals referred to as hypotheres.

ungulate

views updated Jun 11 2018

un·gu·late / ˈənggyələt; -ˌlāt/ • n. Zool. a hoofed mammal of the former order Ungulata, now divided into two unrelated orders (see Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla). See also even-toed ungulate, odd-toed ungulate.

ungulate

views updated May 23 2018

ungulate A herbivorous mammal with hoofed feet (see unguligrade). Ungulates are grouped into two orders: Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla.

ungulate

views updated May 23 2018

ungulate Mammal with hoofed feet. Most ungulates, including cattle, sheep, pigs and deer, are members of the order Artiodactyla (with an even number of toes). The order Perissodactyla (ungulates with an odd number of toes) consists of horses, tapirs, and rhinoceroses. The orders Proboscidea and Hyracoidea, collectively known as sub-ungulates, contain elephants and hyraxes.

ungulate

views updated Jun 11 2018

ungulate hoof-shaped, hoofed. XIX. — lateL. ungulātus, f. ungula claw, hoof, f. unguis NAIL; see -ULE, -ATE2.

ungulate

views updated May 08 2018

ungulate
1. Any hoofed, grazing mammal, which usually is also adapted for running. Hoofed mammals occur in several mammalian groups (Mammalia), and the term ‘ungulate’ no longer has any formal taxonomic use.

2. Hoof-shaped.

ungulate

views updated May 18 2018

ungulate
1. Any hoofed, grazing mammal, which is usually also adapted for running. Hoofed mammals occur in several mammalian groups, and the term ‘ungulate’ no longer has any formal taxonomic use.

2. Hoof-shaped.

ungulate

views updated May 14 2018

ungulate
1. Any hoofed, grazing mammal, which usually is also adapted for running. Hoofed mammals occur in several mammalian groups, and the term ‘ungulate’ no longer has any formal taxonomic use.

2. Hoof-shaped.