Ungulates - They Are All Around Us Quiz

Answer: An odd or even number of toes on each paw/hoof

The even-toed and odd-toed ungulates comprise the largest percentage of ungulates, and include most, but not all of the large land mammals on Earth.

Answer: horses

Horses are odd-toed ungulates in that their hooves are like a single toe.

There are many even-toed ungulates in the world. They can include animals such as pigs, hippos, camels, deer, giraffes, buffalo, the pronghorn (American antelope), true antelopes, sheep, goats, and cattle.

Answer: bison (American buffalo)

Bison are any of four species found in North America and Europe. They are commonly mistaken for and called buffaloes, but although related as fellow even-toed ungulates, they are not true buffalo.

Tapirs are a pig-like grazing animal native to Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. The have a short, prehensile snout that is useful in gathering foliage and other food.

Answer: elephant

The Elephantidae family contains three living species. The are the African Bush Elephant, African Forest Elephant, and Asian Elephant.

Answer: sea cows

Sirenias are also called sirens, as in the sirens of Greek mythology. They are the only marine mammal qualifying as herbivores. All four species are endangered. Hunting used to be the main reason for their population decline. Habitat loss from human development and other things such as collisions with boats and engine propellers are the major causes of the current decline in numbers.

Answer: hyrax

Hyrax are often called shrewmice. They somewhat resemble overfed rabbits or guinea pigs. The four species are: rock hyrax, yellow-spotted tree hyrax, western tree hyrax and southern tree hyrax. As the names indicate, most are good climbers.

Answer: bugbear

Aardvarks are solitary, nocturnal, burrowing animals. Despite the resemblances, they are not closely related to the anteaters of South America. Aardvarks live almost exclusively on ants and termites. The only fruit they eat is the aardvark cucumber, which is a plant whose fruit grows underground. They consume it mainly for its water content.

Answer: whales/cetaceans

Whale skeletons display the unusual existence of a hand-like bone structure in front flippers. All current scientific evidence indicates cetaceans existed on land millions of years ago before returning to the sea.

Answer: pronghorn (American antelope)

Members of both groups provide a major amount of the dietary needs of Earth's carnivores, and omnivores such as man and bears, etc. A pronghorn can reach speeds of 61 mph, second only to the modern day cheetah, which can hit 70 mph in short sprints. This may be due to competition in the past with the extinct North American cheetah. Since modern day cheetahs live only in Africa and Asia, and pronghorns are only in North America, they never compete.

Answer: All of these

Humans have been consuming ungulates since the days of the cave man. The milk of many ungulates is consumed as a drink, made into cheeses, yoghurt, etc. Humans also use the wools, furs and skins of ungulates to make a wide variety of clothing and other living items. Horses, buffalo and other ungulates are used as beast of burden, plow animals, etc.