Ungulate lab ID Flashcards
Common name, order, family, scientific name, ID features
American bison
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Bison bison
No upper incisors
massive head w/ wide frontals and curved horns
males and females both have horns
Common name, order, family, scientific name, ID features/dentition
Cattle
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Bos taurus
flattened head
selenodont dentition
Common name, order, family, ID features
Chinese water deer
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
similar cranial features/dentition to all cervids but w/ long rearward curving upper canines
Common name, order, family, scientific name, ID features/dentition
Elk (wapiti)
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Cervus canadensis
Upper incisors absent, primitive canines, selenodont cheek teeth
Common name, order, family, scientific name, ID features/dentition
Horse
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Equidae
Equus caballus
upper incisors present
hypsodont height dentition
orbits shifted upward and rearward
Common name, order, family, scientific name, ID features/dentition
Javelina/collared peccary
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Tayassuidae
Dicotyles tajacu
upper canines point downward and tightly slotted
flat 45° angled rostrum
bunodont dentition
Common name, order, family, scientific name, ID features/dentition
Moose
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Alces alces
very long rostrum relative to cranium
similar selenodont dentition to other cervids
Common name, order, family, ID features, range/habitat
Mountain goat
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
northwestern US, alpine/cold high elevation
keratinized horns
Common name, order, family, scientific name, ID features
Mule deer
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Odocoileus hemionus
mule-like ears (larger than white-tailed deer)
antlers repeatedly fork
Common name, order, family, scientific name, ID features/dentition
Wild or domestic pig
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Suidae
Sus scrofa
bunodont dentition
canines point more downward and wider spaced than javelina
concave face/skull vs. javelina
Common name, order, family, scientific name, ID features/dentition
white-tailed deer
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Odocoileus virginianus
antlered males, antlers branch off main beam
selenodont cheek teeth, lack upper incisors
anteorbital pits
