Are Elephants Ungulates? Ancient Fossil Evidence Has This to Say.

As with all life forms, elephants have evolved over time from ungulates to near ungulates or subungulates as they are called today. Their unusually shaped feet are quite similar to that of ungulates, and fossil evidence suggests that there once existed a larger diversity of elephant species whose body structure puts them in the ungulate category.

Modern-day elephants have, however, evolved with less similar ungulate traits. Today, we’ll provide the answer to the question: are elephants ungulates?

What Is an Ungulate?

The term ungulate is used to classify mammals who have hoofed feet. A hoof is a strong, horn-shaped layer that covers the toes of animals in this category. It serves as a tough skin covering that protects the tissue and bones inside the feet of ungulates. It also provides support for their overall body weight while in motion. As you may already recall, horses, cattle, goats, oxen and rhinoceroses are hoofed animals; they are ungulate species. 

Ungulates are further sub-divided into Perissodactyla and Artiodactyla, which means odd-toed and even-toed ungulates respectively. Contrary to their names, Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla are not called odd or even-toed animals because of the number of toes they possess. Rather, odd-toed ungulates are known to rest all their body weight in three toes, or just the center toe. Even-toed ungulates on the other hand, rest their weight on their third and fourth toes. Hence the name odd-toed (rests on three or one toe) and even-toed (rests on two toes).

Examples of Perissodactyla include horses, donkeys, rhinoceroses, and zebras. Deer, camels, pigs, goats, sheep, giraffes, antelopes, and wildebeests are examples of Artiodactyla.

Other Ungulate Characteristics

Despite their varying sizes and choice of habitats, ungulates share a number of characteristics. Excluding pigs and boars, they are herbivorous animals. As a result, you may find that they are largely ruminant animals who have adapted to plant-based diets. They are also prey animals.

In general, ungulates evolved with agile legs and feet for quick flights in the face of danger. This is evident in horses, antelopes, and deer. Altogether, they play a tangible role in our ecosystem: providing milk and meat and continuing seed dispersal.

You may be wondering how elephants fit into this family. Evolutionary transitions in extinct groups of ungulates suggest that elephants who belonged to the order Proboscidea had hoofed feet. However, there exists some controversy amongst paleontologists about tangible links between fossil evidence of extinct species and modern-day elephant species. This calls to question their status as true ungulates.

Why Are Elephants Not Ungulates?

Elephants do not have hooves, therefore they do not fall under the broad class of odd or even-toed ungulates. And although they are herbivores, they still do not belong to the Ungulata family since they do not possess hoofed feet.

Ungulates are distinguished by the structure of their feet and how they walk. The hoof is made of an outer layer of keratin called unguis. Instead of horn-shaped feet, elephants have wide stump-like feet with fat pads underneath. They also tend to have more toes compared to the average ungulate.

When walking or standing, ungulates use their hooves to touch the ground. For elephants, movement is done with the tip of their toes. Not only does this style of movement help to keep their toes trimmed- it also puts their weight on the heels, which are covered by a fat pad. The pad gives a cushion effect and keeps excess weight off the bones in readiness for long walks in search of food.