What does the word “ungulate” mean?

With help from LOREENA NIEUWENHOUT - and the NATURE NUT!

Ungulate is a word people use when they’re talking about big, grazing mammals that have hooves. The word “ungulate” comes from an old Latin word meaning “hoof.” In Alberta, we have many species of ungulates, including bighorn sheep, caribou, moose, bison (the largest land animal in North America), and mountain goats. Mountain goats’ hooves are uniquely adapted to allow them to climb extremely steep mountain surfaces. Their two toes have rough pads on the bottom to grip rocky surfaces better. Their hooves also spread apart to help them hold onto the steepest mountain faces. To learn more about ungulates in Alberta, watch Episode 15 of Acorn the Nature Nut, “Undaloofs, the Hoof-ed Ones” (bit.ly/acorn-nature-nut-ungulates).