Paenungulata

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Paenungulata is a taxon that groups some remarkable mammals, including three orders that are extant: Proboscidea (including elephants), Sirenia (sea cows, including dugongs and manatees), and Hyracoidea (hyraxes, such as the African Rock Hyrax, Procavia habessinica). At least two more orders are known only as fossils, namely Embrithopoda and Desmostylia. Both of these extinct orders were as unique in their ways as the surviving orders. Embrithopods were rhinoceros-like herbivorous mammals with plantigrade feet, and desmostylians were hippopotamus-like amphibious creatures, the walking posture and diet of which have been the subject of speculation.