Mammalogy 4764 Fall 2009

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Perissodactylaand

Artiodactyla

The modern

ungulates

Pig Deer CamelPronghorn

TapirRhinocerous

Horse

Cursorial specialization

Feeding specialization

Evolutionary origin

Condylarthra -- Extinct OrderGave rise to:ArtiodactylaPerissodactylaCetaceaTubulidentataHyracoideaProboscideaSirenia

Chalicotheriidae

4 to 40 mya –Large forelimbs, short hind limbsStanding, feeding on trees

Perissodactyls50 mya in North America13 of 14 families9 extinct by 2 mya

45 MYAPerissodactyla -- Odd-toed Ungulates

3 families, 6 genera, 17 speciesOriginated in North AmericaNow Asia, South America

Indricotherium transouralicum

Classic example in biology textsIncrease in sizeReduction in digitsLonger skullTooth complexity

From 50 mya to today

Fig. 19.4

Perissodactyla -- Equidae

Single genus, 7 species250 to 400 kg in wild species

Perissodactyla -- Tapiridae

Single genus, 4 speciesUp to 300 kg

Originate North AmericaNow South America, Asia20 mya for current genus

Little change since then

Nocturnal, All but 1 near water

Solitary

Gestation over 1 year, single offspring

Declining in number, distribution – E or T

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Perissodactyla -- Rhinoceratidae

4 genera, 5 speciesUp to 2,000 kg

10-25 mya for generaOriginated in North America (probably)Africa, Asia (split 26 mya)

Generally solitary

Gestation 8 or 16 monthsSingle offspring

Adults invulnerable to predationEndangered

Sumatran rhinocerosDicerorhinus sumatrensis

Indian rhinocerosRhinoceros unicornis

White rhinocerosCeratotherium simum

50 million+ year historyFirst artiodactyl rabbit-sized, 50 mya36 families, 10 still present3rd and 4th foot bones weight-bearing Diacodexis

Suiformes -- pigs, peccaries, hippopotamus

Tylopoda -- camels

Ruminantia -- ruminants -- cow, sheep, deer,

Each suborder has reprentativesfrom Eocene (50 mya)

Artiodactyla -- Even-toed Ungulates

ArtiodactylaRhinocerousIn Perissodactyla!

GiraffeDeer Pronghorn Cow

Artiodactyla--SuiformesSuiformes -- Pigs -- Suidae5 genera, 16 species

OmnivorousUp to 275 kg (similar to tapir)Typically forested

or brushy areasTayassuidae

100 to 175 day gestation1 - 12 offspring / gestation

Artiodactyla--Suiformes

Hippopotamidae - 2 genera, 2 species

Hippopotamus – 4.5 m, up to 4,500 kgHexaprotodon – 2 m, up to 250 kg

240 and 200 day gestation1 young / gestation

Artiodactyla--Tylopoda - Camelidae

Camels -- 1 genus, 2 speciesllamas -- 1 genus, 3 species

Camels--reversal to digitigradeDry, sandy conditions

60 to 650 kg

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Artiodactyla--Ruminantia - Tragulidae

Mouse deer3 genera, 4 species2.3 to 4.6 kgAfrica and Asia

No antlers, upper canines tusk-like

Solitary, nocturnal

Ruminants

Artiodactyla--Ruminantia - Giraffidae

Giraffe, Okapi2 genera, 2 species

1,800 kg and 250 kg5.5 m and 2+ m

About 450 day gestation

Africa

Artiodactyla--Ruminantia - Moschidae

Musk deerHas been in Cervidae

1 genus, 4 species

Up to 18 kg

No antlers -- note canines

Threatened or vulnerable“Musk” used in perfumes

Artiodactyla--Ruminantia - Cervidae

Deer family

16 genera, 43 species

Antlers (all but 1 species)

Many species:Solitary / Gregarious 8 to 800 kg170 to 240 day gestation1 to 3 young

Artiodactyla--Ruminantia - Antilocapridae

Pronghorn antelope1 genus, 1 species36 to 70 kg

Open grassland / semidesert

Pronghorn (M/F like caribou)

Fastest New World mammal86 km / h

Artiodactyla--Ruminantia - Bovidae

African and Asian antelopeBison, Sheep, Goats, and Cattle

45 genera, 137 species

Many species:Solitary / Gregarious 25 to 1,000 kg