A253 Ungulates
    Ungulates are hoofed animals. Most use the tips of their toes to sustain their entire body weight while moving. Under the Linnaeus classification system, all were originally classified into one order, Ungulata. This was later split into two orders: (1) The Perissodactyla, or odd-toed ungulates, which includes horses, tapirs, zebras, and rhinoceriioses. There are 15 species. (2) The Artiodactyla, or even-toed ungulates, with 220 species, includes pigs, camels, hippopotamuses, chevrotains, deer, giraffes, sheep, goats, cattle, and America’s unique pronghorn antelope, the sole species in its family.
   There is controversy regarding classification. Some scientists maintain that ungulates are a cladistic (evolution-based) group. Others argue that they are a phenetic group, which means they are similar, but not necessarily related), because not all ungulates appear as closely related as once believed. Whatever classification system eventually prevails, it will almost surely contain these same species.
This poster is divided into two sections, one for each of the two orders. Within them, all of the families are explored.