Largest Artiodactyls facts for kids

Even-toed ungulates are a group of amazing mammals. They get their name because they have an even number of toes on each foot. This includes animals like hippos, deer, camels, and many more. This article will tell you about some of the biggest even-toed ungulates on Earth!

Amazing Even-Toed Ungulates

• The hippopotamus is the heaviest even-toed ungulate. These huge animals live in the rivers of sub-Saharan Africa. An adult hippo can weigh up to 4,500 kg (9,900 lb). That's like a small car! They can also be 5.5 meters (18 ft) long. Long ago, some hippos like H. gorgops were even bigger than today's hippos.

• The gaur is the largest type of wild cattle. Male gaur can weigh up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). They can grow to be 4.5 meters (15 ft) long. They also stand tall at 2.2 meters (7.2 ft) at the shoulder.

• The giant eland is the biggest antelope in the world. It lives in Africa. These antelopes are usually between 220 and 290 cm (7.2 and 9.5 ft) long. They can weigh from 400 to 1,000 kg (880 to 2,200 lb).

• The bongo is the largest antelope in its group, Tragelaphus. Bongos live in Africa. They can grow to be 2.15 to 3.15 meters (7.1 to 10.3 ft) long. Female bongos weigh around 150–235 kg (331–518 lb). Males are heavier, weighing about 220–405 kg (485–893 lb).

• The waterbuck is the largest species in the kobus group. It also lives in Africa. Male waterbucks can be 127 cm (50 in) tall at the shoulder. Females are a bit smaller, at 119 cm (47 in). Males usually weigh 198–262 kg (437–578 lb). Females weigh 161–214 kg (355–472 lb).

• The gemsbok is the largest animal in the Oryx group. It lives in Africa. Gemsboks can grow to be 190 to 240 cm (75 to 94 in) long. Males can weigh between 180 and 240 kg (400 and 530 lb). Females weigh 100–210 kg (220–460 lb).

• The giant muntjac is the largest type of muntjac deer. It lives in Asia.

• The blue wildebeest is the largest type of wildebeest. It lives in Africa. Blue wildebeest are usually 170–240 cm (67–94 in) long. Males can weigh up to 290 kg (640 lb). Females can weigh up to 260 kg (570 lb).

• The giant forest hog is the largest species in the pig family. It lives in the African rainforests. These hogs can weigh up to 275 kg (606 lb). They can grow to be 2.55 meters (8.4 ft) long. They stand 1.1 meters (3.6 ft) tall at the shoulder. The biggest wild pig ever was Kubanochoerus gigas. It weighed up to 550 kg (1,210 lb) and was over 1.3 meters (4.3 ft) tall.

• The moose is the largest living deer. It can weigh up to 820 kg (1,810 lb). It is 3.5 meters (11 ft) long. It stands 2.4 meters (7.9 ft) tall at the shoulder. The biggest deer of all time was the broad-fronted moose (Cervalces latifrons).

• The Javan rusa is the largest deer in the Rusa group. It lives in Indonesia. These deer grow up to 142 to 185 cm (4.66 to 6.07 ft) long. Males weigh 152–160 kg. Females weigh about 74 kg.

• The bactrian camel is the largest living camel. It can weigh up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). It can grow to be 4 meters (13 ft) long. It stands 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) tall at the shoulder. Many giant camels are known from fossils. The largest were Gigantocamelus and Titanotylopus from North America. Both may have reached 2,485.6 kg (5,480 lb). They could also stand over 3.4 meters (11 ft) tall at the shoulder.