any of a number of hoofed mammals superficially similar but not necessarily closely related taxonomically having or resembling hoofs; "horses and other hoofed animals
The term ungulate is generally used to describe all hoofed mammals It is broadly used as a practical, descriptive name that groups together six taxonomic orders - Tubulidentata, Hyracoidea, Proboscidea, Sirenia, Perissodactyla, and Artiodactyla Hyracoidea, Proboscidea and Sirenia are often grouped together as paenungulates ("almost ungulates") as their feet have nail-hoofs instead of true hoofs Ungulates have developed hoofs - specialized claws or toenails - as an adaptation for running They are one of the most successful and diverse groups of mammals, having colonized nearly every habitat on all continents except Antarctica and Australia Since the beginning of the 20th century, more new ungulate species have been discovered than any other type of large mammal
Any hoofed, herbivorous, quadruped, placental mammal in three or four orders: Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates (including pigs, camels, deer, and bovines); Perissodactyla, the odd-toed ungulates (including horses, tapirs, and rhinoceroses); Proboscidea (elephants); and, by some authorities, Hyracoidea (see hyrax). There are ten orders of extinct ungulates. The hoof is dermal tissue, comparable to the human fingernail, that extends over the end of a broadened terminal digit. See also ruminant