Anoplotherium was an extinct genus of the Ungulata or Hoofed Quadrupeds, forming the type of a distinct family, which were in many respects intermediate between the swine and the true ruminants. These animals were pig-like in form, but possessed long tails, and had a cleft hoof, with two rudimentary toes. Some of them were as small as a guinea-pig, others as large as an ass. Six incisors, two canines, eight pre-molars, and six molars existed in each jaw, the series being continuous, no interval existing in the jaw. Research Anoplotherium
Camelidae is the camels, llamas, alpacas, vicugnas and guanacos family of animals of the order Artiodactyla. Camelids are all large, the South American forms ranging in weight from 35 kg to almost 100 kg. Old World camels, however, are much larger, weighing between 450 kg and 650 kg. Camelids vary in body shape from slender to stocky, but all have long, gracile necks; a small head; and long, slender legs. The upper lip is deeply and distinctively cleft. Their toes are splayed, and Camelids are the only plantigrade or fully digitigrade ungulates. The skulls of Camelids have an elongated rostrum, a well developed sagittal crest, and a complete postorbital bar. They lack horns or antlers. The cheek teeth are selenodont. Upper incisors are present; young have three on each side, but adults have only one, which is canine-like. The spatulate lower incisorsproject forward. The canines, which are present in both upper and lower jaws, are medium- sized and hooked. A wide diastema separates incisors and cheek teeth. Research Camelidae
Carnivora is a term applicable to any creatures that feed on flesh or animal substances, but is now applied specially to an order of mammals which prey upon other animals. The head is small, the jaws powerful, and the skin is well covered with hair. Two sets of teeth, deciduous or milk and permanent, are always developed in succession, and in both sets incisors, canines, and molars are distinguishable. The stomach is simple and the alimentarycanal short, thus making the body as light and slender as possible for the purpose of hunting and springing on its prey.
The muscular activity of the Carnivora is very great, their respiration and circulation very active, and their demand for food is consequently constant. Carnivora are often divided into Plantigrada, comprising the bears, badgers, raccoons, etc; Digitigrada, comprising lions, tigers, cats, dogs; and Pinnipedia or Pinnigrada, comprising the seals and walruses. The two former divisions are also classed together as Fissipedia. The typical Plantigrada are distinguished by their putting the whole sole of the foot to the ground in walking, while the Digitigrada walk on the tips of their toes. The Plantigrada are also less decidedly carnivorous, and feed much on roots, honey, and fruits. In the Pinnigrada the body is long and of a fish shape, the fore and hind limbs are short and form broad webbed swimming-paddles. The hind-feet are placed far back, and more or less tied down. to the tail by the integuments. Research Carnivora
The Dog (Canis vulgaris) is a digitigrade, carnivorousanimal, forming the type of the genus Canis, which includes also the wolf, the jackal, and, as a sub-genus, the fox. The origin of the dog is a much-debated question, some considering the breed derived from the wolf, an opinion which is based on resemblances of structure, the susceptibility which the wolf shows of being domesticated, the fact of the two animals breeding together and producing fertile young, and the equality in the period of gestation. But all those points are subject to exceptions and reservations which make the matter doubtful. It is generally agreed that no trace of the dog is to be found in a primitive state, the dhole of India, and dingo of Australia being believed to be wild descendants from domesticated ancestors.
Several attempts to make a systematic classification of the varieties of dogs have been made but without much success, it being difficult in many cases to determine what are to be regarded as types, and what as merely mongrels and cross-breeds. Colonel Hamilton Smith divided dogs into six groups as follows: (1) Wolf-dogs, including the Newfoundland, Esquimaux, St Bernard, shepherd's dog, etc; (2) Watchdogs and Cattle-dogs, including the German boar-hound, the Danish dog, the matin dog, etc; (3) Greyhounds, the lurcher, Irish hound, etc; (4) Hounds, the bloodhound, staghound, foxhound, setter, pointer, spaniel, cocker, poodle, etc; (5) Cur-dogs, including the terrier and its allies; (6) Mastiffs, including the different kinds of mastiffs, bull-dog, pug-dog, etc.
Dogs have in the upper jaw six incisors, two strong curved canines, and six molars on each side, the first three, which are small and have cutting edges, being called false molars; in the lower jaw are six incisors, two canines, and on each side seven molars. The fore-feet have five toes, the hind-feet four or five; the claws are strong, blunt, and formed for digging, and are not retractile. The tail is generally long, and is curled upwards. The female has six to ten mammae; she goes with young nine weeks as a rule. The young are born blind, their eyes opening in ten to twelve days; their growth ceases at two years of age. The dog commonly lives about ten or twelve years, at the most twenty. Research Dog
Hippopotamus (also known as Behemoth) is the popular name of the two remaining species of herbivorous ungulate mammal of the family Hippopotamidae now only found in Africa, but formally found across Britain, Europe and Asia.
The common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) is a large, semi-aquatic herbivorous mammal found in tropical Africa that spends most of its time in rivers. It has a thick and square head, a very large muzzle, small eyes and ears, thick and heavy body, short legs terminated by four toes, a short tail, two ventral teats, skin about five centimeters thick on the back and sides, and without hair, except at the extremity of the tail. The incisors and canines of the lower jaw are of great strength and size, the canines or tusks being long and curved forward. These tusks sometimes reach the length of 60 cm and more, and weigh upwards of 3 kg. The animal has longe been hunted by the natives partly as food, but also on account of the tusks and teeth, their hardness being superior to that of ivory, and less liable to turn yellow. The hippopotamus has been found of the length of five meters, and stands about 1.5 meters high. It delights in water, living in lakes, rivers, and estuaries, and feeding on water-plants or on the herbage growing near the water. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and can remain under water a considerable time. The behemoth of Job is considered by commentators to be the hippopotamus, as the description of his size, manners, food, and haunts is not unlike those of the latter animal. Among the ancient Egyptians it was revered as a divinity, as it is among the natives in some localities.
The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is smaller, about the size of a domestic pig, and is found only in lowland forests in west Africa. The Pygmy Hippopotamus is more terrestrial than the Common Hippopotamus, but spends a lot of time in swamps. While the Common Hippopotamus is a social animal, the Pygmy Hippopotamus is solitary, feeding at night on aquatic plants, grass, algae and bushes. Research Hippopotamus More pictures of Hippopotamus
Tragulidae is the mousedeer family of animals of the order Artiodactyla. Usually solitary and nocturnal, tragulids live in dense vegetation on the forest floor where they feed principally on grasses, leaves, and some fruit, but they also eat invertebrates, small mammals, and sometimes carrion. Limbs, are long and slender and end in hoofs. The carpals are cuboidal and highly specialized; the lateral digits are present although not strongly developed, and they are sometimes digitigrade. The hind feet have a cannon bone; the third and fourth metacarpals of the forefeet are either unfused (as in the African species) or only partially fused (as in the Asian species). An ossified plate to which the sacral vertebrae attach is present. Antlers and horns are absent. A postorbital bar is present. There is no sagittal crest, and the mandibular condyle is long. A full set of lower incisors is present, but the uppers are replaced by a horny pad. Canines are present, large and curved in males, extending below the lower lip, smaller in females. Research Tragulidae
The walrus or morse (Trichechus rosmarus) is a large pinniped marine carnivore similar to the seal but constituting a special family, the Trichechidae or Odobenidae. It is confined to the Arctic regions and occurs in two varieties, a Pacific and an Atlantic form. It is a clumsy animal reaching a length of 3.5 metres and a weight of 1400 kg. As in the eared seals, the hind limbs are capable of being turned forwards to support the weight of the body, and the first and fifth toes are larger than the three median ones. The toes of the hind feet have, further, large lobes projecting beyond the ends of the bones. External ears are totally absent, and the canines of the upper jaw are greatly enlarged to form conspicuous projecting tusks. The muzzle is divided into two parts by a groove between the nostrils, and the upper lip is furnished at each side with a number of conspicuous bristles. The tail is small, the fore limbs nearly as large s the hind, and there are five small claws on both fore and hind feet. Walruses are usually found in the vicinity of land or floating ice. They are markedly social and except during the breeding season or when attacked are gentle and inoffensive. Research Walrus
The canines or dog-teeth are teeth that flank the incisors in the front corners of the mouth. The canines are predominantly conical, raising to a sharper point above the level of the other teeth. This structure makes the canines well suited to piercing and tearing pieces of food to be processed by the other teeth. The roots of canines have single root stems, like the incisors and the premolars. Research Canines
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Anoplotherium
