Literally, “ungulate” refers to any animal with hooves – a hoof being an enlarged toenail. However, in practice, the use of the name “ungulate” has been inconsistent. While it was originally used to refer to the orders Artiodactyla (even-toed) and Perissodactyla (odd-toed) – the “true” ungulates – over time the term expanded to seven different extant Mammalian orders . . . some of which have no hooves whatsoever!
This broadening of the definition was based on presumed family relationships – relationships that recent advances have shown to be artificial. As a result, ungulate is now understood to have no taxonomic significance, and its definition has returned to its original descriptive roots: a mammal with hooves.
GET TO KNOW YOUR UNGULATES!
Pic 1 – Rhino feet – Odd-toed ungulate
Ungulates are a diverse group of large mammals that includes horses, cattle, giraffes, camels, deer, hippopotamuses, whales and dolphins – Yes Dolphins too.
Most of them use the tips of their toes, usually hoofed, to sustain their whole body weight while moving. The term means, roughly, “being hoofed” or “hoofed animal”. As a descriptive term, “ungulate” normally excludes cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises), as they do not possess most of the typical morphological (body) characteristics of ungulates, but recent discoveries indicate that they are descended from early artiodactyls.
Ungulates are typically herbivorous (though some species are omnivorous, such as pigs), and many employ specialized gut bacteria to allow them to digest cellulose, as in the ruminants. They inhabit a wide range of habitats, from jungles to plains to rivers.
Pic 2 – Giraffe feet – Ungulate
A Rhinoceros must never be referred to as “just an ungulate” as they are not. If one looks closely you’ll actually see “odd looking toes” hence the anatomy terminology (odd toe ungulate).
An odd-toed ungulate is a mammal with hooves that feature an odd number of toes on the rear feet. Odd-toed ungulates comprise the order Perissodactyla – perissós, “uneven”, and, dáktylos, “finger/toe”). The middle toe on each hind hoof is usually larger than its neighbors.
Odd-toed ungulates are relatively large grazers and, unlike the ruminant even-toed ungulates (artiodactyls), they have relatively simple stomachs because they are hindgut fermenters, digesting plant cellulose in their intestines rather than in one or more stomach chambers. Odd-toed ungulates include the horse, tapirs, and rhinoceroses.
Pic 3 – Proghorn feet – Even toed ungulate
Re-cap on Even toed-Ungulates
The even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla) are ungulates (hoofed animals) whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls), such as horses.
Artiodactyla comes from (Greek: ἄρτιος (ártios), “even”, and δάκτυλος (dáktylos), “finger/toe”), so the name “even-toed” is a translation of the description. This group includes pigs, peccaries, hippopotamuses, camels, llamas, chevrotains (mouse deer), deer, giraffes, pronghorn, antelopes, sheep, goats, and cattle.
The group excludes whales (Cetacea) even though DNA sequence data indicate that they share a common ancestor, making the group paraphyletic. The phylogenetically accurate group is Cetartiodactyla (from Cetacea + Artiodactyla).
So what are Elephants?
Elephants together with hyraxes, dugongs, and manatees are classified as ‘paenungulates’ (‘almost ungulates’). Although formerly known as ‘sub-ungulates’, they are now recognised as representing the evolutionary intermediate between hooves and claw-like nails. With new discoveries suggesting the fact that the paenungulates were even more specialized than the ‘true’ ungulate group, they are now firmly established within the constantly expanding taxonomy of the ungulate infraorder. Therefore elephants ARE ungulates.
So there you have it!
Pic 4 – Elephant foot – Although classified as “almost ungulates” (they are actually no different really to that of a Rhinoceros) however have some different representations which can be classed as “almost ungulate”.
Almost ungulate is not really a term used in Zoology.
There is no intent to minimize the loss of human life but the animals have no voice unless humans speak up for them.
~HELPING ANIMALS IN GAZA~
“During times of conflict, the suffering of animals is often overlooked as the world focuses on human casualties. We – at Occupy for Animals – do not. We CAN not! We care for people AND animals, as both are mutually inclusive in a functioning Gazan society.
FIRST OFF: We make no judgement.
In this article, we have sought to avoid any political or religious conclusions. Our concern is for the people and animals which are mutually inclusive in a functioning Gazan society.
Both sides have their respective rationales for maintaining conflict. We make no judgement. What is unavoidable, however, is not to evidence the gross dis-proportionality in civilian casualties.
As a concern for the forced erosion of Gazan society and as a ‘sealed’ country, the opportunity to restore this infrastructure, we express concern about the loss of animals which are essential to the maintenance and therefore the normalization of a Gazan society.
This is a highly contentious subject and we are aware that this article will invite passionate response from both sides. OFA simply tries to help the people – the veterinarians, conservationists and rescuers – who are trying to help the animals of Gaza upon which their owners depend for livelihood, existence and survival.
The following article is available on a dedicated website, along with the complete list of references, as well as many pictures and videos, and we would suggest that you read the original article to have access to all the many linked information, at:
The Gaza–Israel conflict, taking place in the region of the Gaza Strip and southern Israel, is a part of the long-term Israeli–Palestinian conflict which began in the summer of 2006 when Israel launched Operation “Summer Rains” in the Gaza Strip.
The air, sea and land strikes by Israel have so far killed at least 1,712 people and injured over 9,080 others, according to figures released on 3rd of August, 2014 by Palestinian sources. Israel has suffered 66 casualties – 63 Israeli soldiers and 3 Israeli civilians.
As the conflict in the Gaza Strip and Israel moved into its third week, the impact of the fighting on Palestinian children has become a heart-breaking signature of the conflict. Reports from Gaza relay stories of shells destroying civilian homes, killing children sheltering within; of tank fire killing a 5-month-old baby; of a strike on a beach killing four young boys who had been kicking around a soccer ball. In Israel, parents hear the first wail of air-raid sirens, grab their frightened children and run for bomb shelters.
~ANIMALS – THE FORGOTTEN VICTIMS~
During times of conflict, the suffering of animals is often overlooked as the world focuses on human casualties. War, as practiced by humans, is unknown among other animals, but we drag them into all our wars regardless, either actively as conscripts, or just by destroying them and their homes with barely a passing thought. During times of war, animals are either neglected, injured, killed, left behind, or used as commodities to facilitate the war effort.
Historically, horses, dogs, donkeys, cats, and pigeons have been used to carry soldiers, sniff out bombs, and bring messages across the war zone. Around 8 million horses and donkeys died in World War I and despite technological advances, animal participation is still common in modern day warfare. And more recently, in the Iraq war, bottle nose dolphins were used to find underwater mines, and often got slaughtered by enemy forces in the process.
As the Israeli-Gaza conflicts escalates, it has extracted a grave human toll. However, you won’t see much reporting about the effects of collateral damage. In addition to the innocent lives of women and children taken, there’s very little news surfacing about how animals in the region are being affected.
A reporter wrote:
“The bile-inducing, overpowering smell was the first sign that something was very wrong. Then came the truly distressing sight: dozens of dead cows, some with open infested wounds, strewn across the grounds of a partially devastated farm yard. Most of the animals died as a result of the bombardment of the Sha’af neighborhood, on the eastern edge of Shejaiya, one of the areas to have borne the brunt of Israel’s ground offensive that began on July 17.
With more than 1,700 Palestinians dead – including many women and children – human suffering has been the inevitable focus of Gaza’s more than three weeks of war. Yet the deaths of cattle and livestock – while heart-rending and cruel in itself – points to another cost of the conflict: economic.
Working horses, donkeys and mules are invaluable for cultivating land and transporting goods and people, and in Gaza, like in many places in the world, entire families are dependent on horses and donkeys for their livelihood. The welfare of these animals is therefore crucially important, not only for the health and survival of those animals, but also for the livelihoods of those people dependent on them.”
~WE HAVE ALL SEEN IT~
… and we have wept the tears of a frustrated humanity. Tears of anger and outrage, as we – helplessly – witness the decimation of society, the annihilation of a people.
Most in distant lands have no cognizance, or interest, in the politics of far off places. What is taking place now is a human disaster of enormous proportions. Suffice to say that the world’s fifth biggest military machine is engaged in a targeted destruction of a population of some 1.8 million people – 800,000 of which are children – on a strip of land some 25 miles long and 4 to 7 miles wide. A population which is contained within its sealed borders. They cannot leave; they cannot bring in resources. This has been called ‘the biggest open air prison in the world’. They are now being attacked from land, air and sea.
We are at the very edge – the place where ‘humanity meets inhumanity’.
Israel has suffered 66 casualties – 63 Israeli soldiers and 3 Israeli civilians – whereas the death toll on Palestine’s side is of 1,712 people, with over 9,080 others being injured, according to tallies from the respective sides.
The conflict is grossly and obscenely disproportionate. The analogy here is an elephant claiming it defends itself against a mouse. The mouse can only bite the feet of the elephant, whereas the elephant simply has to raise its foot and bring it violently back to earth. Such is the disproportionate nature of events in Gaza.
This is a basic land where animals form an essential function for transport and agriculture. This is the peoples’ future and whereas all concern is focused on the human dimension, without securing the health and safety of the animals, the future economic infrastructure has no floor on which to walk.”
It Is What It Is 