North American Wildlife Hoofed Mammals North American Wildlife

Hoofed Mammals Have hooves AKA Ungulates Full hoof vs cloven hoof Includes… Deer Wild horses Sheep Goats Javelinas

Ruminants Four stomach compartments Can digest food with a lot of fiber Convert nutrients in grasses, plants, brush into meat Prey for large carnivores and humans Includes Sheep, Goats, Cattle

The four compartments Rumen- largest, can hold up to 25 gallons of material, fermentation vat, contains lots of bacteria that actually do the digestion of the cellulose material. (Symbiosis) Reticulum- A small compartment that is used to bring food from the rumen back to the mouth to be re-chewed (Chewing their cud)

The four compartments Omasum- Where food goes after it is re-chewed, no enzymes, reduces particle size, absorb water, “manyplies” Abomasum- True stomach, secretes enzymes, similar to the stomach of non-ruminant organisms.

The Deer Family Includes deer, moose, elk, and caribou Popular game species Cloven hoofs Males have scent glands and antlers- shed annually Moose/Elk- Males- bulls, Females- cows, and babies- calf Deer- Males- bucks, Females- does, and babies- fawns

Moose Largest member of deer family 8 feet tall at shoulder 1800 pounds Bulls battle each other for breeding rights

Elk Almost hunted to extinction Migratory animals Fast runners, strong swimmers 5 feet at shoulder 800 pounds

Caribou Closely related to reindeer Adapted to very cold temperatures Migratory Travel in herds 4.5 feet at shoulder 375 pounds Endangered Main predator- wolf

White Tailed Deer Many predators- bear, wolf, mountain lion, lynx, bobcats, and foxes Game species Velvet- skin and hair that cover new antlers Most common deer species 4 feet at shoulder Up to 300 pounds

Horns vs. Antlers Horns are not shed like antlers Antlers are shed each year and replaced with velvet and then new bone In caribou both male and female develop antlers Horns are found on buffalo, bighorn sheep and mountain goats.

Bison AKA Buffalo Protected now- almost wiped out by excess hunting One of the largest big game mammals 6 feet at shoulders 2000 pounds

Musk Ox Well adapted to very cold weather Sharp horns to fight off predators Herds Huddle together for warmth 5 feet at shoulders 900 pounds Shaggy hair

Wild Sheep Males-rams, females- ewes, babies- lambs Males are polygamous 3.5 feet at shoulder 300 pounds Curled horns Charge and hit horns Age can be determined by counting rings on horns

Peccary AKA Musk hog or javelina Looks like a pig but is not one!!! 20 inches tall 65 pounds Males- boars Females- sows Omnivores

Wild Horses AKA Mustangs Protected Population managed by the government