Download Order Perissodactyla odd-toed ungulates

John F. Corbett,III
Bio.335-Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Keystone College
Feb. 2, 2010
 Some of the most specialized and spectacular
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mammals- horse, rhinoceros and tapirs.
The most abundant ungulates- having hoofs or being
odd toed, occurred 33.9 mya.
Common largely in southern areas- Africa, parts of
southern and central Asia and tropical parts of
southern North America and northern South America.
Ungulates are typically herbivorous.
Have exceptional running ability.
Equus zebra zebra
Mountain zebra
Horse front foot
Tapirus terrestris
Brazilian tapir
Tapir front foot
Certotherium simum
White rhinoceros
Rhino front foot
Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum- Chordata
Class- Vertebrata
Order- Perissodactyla
Family- Equidae
Tapiridae
Rhinocerotidae
The surviving perissodactylan fauna consists of 6 genera
and 17 species.
 Ability to synchronize their breathing with their stride
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cycles.
Phenomenon known as pneumatic stabilizationinvolves moving air from side to side between lungs to
control inhalation and exhalation.
Pressurized lungs help stabilize the large shoulder
and chest as the forelimb strikes the ground.
Elongated limbs, elongated metatarsals and
metacarpals.
Movable scapula and well developed flexors and
extensors in the vertical column for exceptional
movement.
Human examples of extensors
and flexors.
Human examples of metacarpals
and metatarsals.
 Herbivorous diet has favored the development of
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cheek teeth with large surfaces that finely break
down plant material which aids in digestion.
Herbivore must break down rigid cell wall which is
formed largely of cellulose.
Mammals lack enzymes that digest cellulose.
Microbial fermentation- digestive process involving
specialized fermentation chambers which aid in the
digestion of cellulose.
Must seek sites that support the greatest quantity and
most nutritious of vegetation.
Their range is correspondingly restricted.
 Evolved in Asia from herbivorous condylarths of the
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family Pheacodontidae.
Appeared in North America 55.5 mya and underwent
rapid diversification.
Teeth and cranial morphology developed in response
to herbivorous feeding habits.
Living perissodactyls have elongated skulls to
accommodate large set of cheek teeth, some have a
complete complement of 44 teeth.
Front foot has 1, 3 or sometimes 4 digits and the hind
foot has 3 digits.
Feet are mesaxonic- plane of symmetry of the foot
passes through the third digit.
 Most highly adapted running and graceful
perissodactyls.
 Feral populations of domestic horses and burros live
in various places, there is 1 genus and 8 living
species.
 Equids are first represented by Hyracutherium, 55.5
mya in Europe and North America.
 Major evolutionary trends…
-increase in size
-lengthening of legs and feet
-reduction in size of lateral toes and emphasis on the middle toe
-increase in height of cheek teeth crowns
-lengthening of facial part of skull to accommodate large cheek teeth
 Equids are polygynous animals- 1 male controls
access to more than 1 breeding female.
 Form large herds consisting of extended family groups
or “clans”.
 Social hierarchy exists, usually led by a stallion.
 Status within group is maintained by complex
behavioral and vocal communication.
Wild mustangs of Nevada
 Occupy tropical parts of the New World and the
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Malayan area- south east Asia.
Family includes 1 living genus and 4 species.
Ancestral types occurred 55.5 mya in North America.
Stocky build and short limbs.
Front feet have 4 digits and hind feet have 3 digits.
Short proboscis-snout and reduced nasals.
Primitive feet serve well on soft soil of tropical areas.
Rapid swimmers.
Take refuge from predators in water.
Solitary and nocturnal.
 Represented by 4 genera and 5 species which are
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restricted to parts of tropical and subtropical Africa
and south east Asia.
Surviving members from 33.9 mya, which are a
declining group.
Stout-bodied herbivores with short, column-like
limbs.
Front foot has 3 or 4 digits and hind foot has 3 digits.
Nasal bones are thickened and enlarged which
supports a horn that lacks a bony core.
 Inhabit grasslands, semi-deserts, savannas, brush
land, forests and marshes.
 Some species usually solitary, where others occur in
family groups or assemblages of up to 24 animals.
 Territorial and practice scent marking by establishing
dung hills along trail.
 Adults are nearly invulnerable to predation but the
young are occasionally killed by lions.
 Asian and African black rhinoceros are facing
extinction.
 Have been hunted for at least 1,000 yrs. for their horn
which possesses medicinal properties.
 Indian rhinoceros populations have recovered from
less than 200 to over 2,000 today.
 All 5 species of rhinoceros are listed as
endangered.
 Vaughan, T.A., Ryan, J.M., Czaplewski, N.J.,
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Mammalogy, 4th Edition, 2000, Thomson Learning.
Inc., pp. 260-271.
Willis, D.W., Scalet, C.G., Flake, L.D., Introduction to
Wildlife and Fisheries-An Integrated Approach,
2nd Edition,2009, W.H. Freeman and Co.
www.tapirback.com -The Tapir Gallery
www.talkorigins.org –Horse evolution site
www.rhinos-irf.org –International Rhino Foundation
Thank You