Hoofed Mammals

People often use the terms "bison" and "buffalo" interchangeably when referring to large, wooly animals in the Bovidae family. If you drive by one of the two in a national park you may even be inclined to say, "Buffalo, bison — they're basically the same, right?"

By Sascha Bos

If the differences between a lamb vs. a sheep has kept you awake at night, the answer to your musings is simple: A lamb is just a baby sheep.

By Sascha Bos

The name dik-dik comes from the repetitive 'dik' sound the tiny female dik-dik makes when she feels threatened.

By Patty Rasmussen

Are these strong and dependable animals all the same? If so, why the different names? If not, what makes them different?

By Stephanie Vermillion

The protection of these strange looking, ancient animals, and creatures like them, may be a key component in helping a planet in climate catastrophe.

By Jesslyn Shields

The okapi may look like a zebra-horse combo, but its closest relative is the giraffe. Here are nine fascinating facts about this curious creature.

By Wendy Bowman

While yaks share the bovine family tree with cows, they're a different species altogether. And, unlike cow dung, yak poop doesn't stink.

By Katie Carman

Known in some circles as a 'musk hog' or 'skunk pig,' the javelina's good looks may be in the eye of the beholder, but there's a lot more to this beauty than meets the eye.

By Wendy Bowman

Elk are some of the most majestic animals in the world, but also some of the most aggressive. Here's what you need to know about the territorial elk.

By Patty Rasmussen

Reindeer are, of course, best known for their main gig om Christmas Eve every year, but there's more to them than just their flying and sleigh pulling prowess.

By Laurie L. Dove

These impressive and intimidating animals have an illustrious past that helped them wend their way through America and settle in the heartland of the South.

By Mark Mancini

Clearing land with goats rather than machinery is eco-friendly, effective and adorable.

By Jesslyn Shields

Llamas and alpacas are very similar animals, but the differences in personality are striking.

By Jesslyn Shields

Your favorite cashmere sweater is super-soft and luxurious. It probably cost you an arm and leg, too. Here's why.

By Jamie Allen

The annual bison roundup in South Dakota's Custer State Park is a spectacle full of cowboys, horses and of course wild buffalo, all set against the backdrop of the rolling Black Hills. It's also about as Americana as you can get.

By John Donovan

A new study found that those spot patterns are not only inherited from mom, they help camouflage baby giraffes in the wild.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Rhino herds defecate in giant, shared dung piles called midden, then they stick their noses in the stuff. Here's why.

By Jesslyn Shields

The feral pig population in the U.S. is a growing issue in nearly 40 states. The USDA hopes to wipe out the billion-dollar problem within a decade.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Zookeepers in Europe feed their elephants surplus holiday foliage, giving the animals a treat they both eat and play with.

By Christopher Hassiotis

In research that showed intentional expressions of desire, horses have been added to the short list of animals that can use symbols to communicate with humans.

By Jesslyn Shields

Can you tell one species of giraffe from the next? We've got some pics to help you out.

By Kate Kershner

For some horses and ponies, Diet Coke can be a literal lifesaver.

By Kate Kershner

Talk about filthy lucre! Trace amounts of the precious metal turned up when scientists looked into bovine bathroom business.

By Christopher Hassiotis

Late-stage albinism? Disastrous paint spill? Marty McFly in giraffe form? Maybe the African mammal just has something in common with Michael Jackson.

By Laurie L. Dove

Groups of European bison make movement and grazing decisions by popular vote, choosing to follow or ignore potential leaders' suggestions.

By Laurie L. Dove