Species in Artiodactyla

Incisors present in upper jaw

Artiodactyla

Suidae

Sus scrofa

Pig

Antlers palmate on most of the main beam; bulbous nose; pendulous skin growth on throat; greatest length of skull more than 500 mm; premaxillary bone elongated; nasals much shorter than elongated premaxillae; no canines present; rare

Artiodactyla

Cervidae

Alces alces

Moose

Antlers not palmate; greatest length of skull less than 500 mm; nasals are long relative to the short premaxillae; canines present but reduced to a small peg

Artiodactyla

Cervidae

Cervus elaphus

Elk

Antlers typically with one main beam extending forward from which arise a series of simple tines; tail broad, brown above, white below, and often held vertically as a flag when running; lacrimal pit shallow

Artiodactyla

Cervidae

Odocoileus virginianus

White-tailed deer

Antlers dichotomously branching, with each branching point forming a “Y;” tail white and narrow, tipped with black and not held high when running; lacrimal pit deep

Artiodactyla

Cervidae

Odocoileus hemionus

Mule deer

Horns scimitar or corkscrew in shape, generally directed posteriorly over back; distinctive V or U shaped groove on forehead between horns; infraorbital foramen is large and does not have a well-defined rim anteriorly; premaxilla extends back as a wedge between the nasal and maxilla; because of domestication size and coloration highly variable

Artiodactyla

Bovidae

Capra Hircus

Domestic goat

Rim of orbits enlarged, distinctly raised above the level of the surrounding cranial bones; bones of braincase enlarged, heavy; pelage grayish brown; rump, backs of legs, and muzzle white

Artiodactyla

Bovidae

Ovis Canadensis

Bighorn sheep

Rims of the orbits slightly enlarged and slightly raised above the level of the surrounding cranial bones; bones of braincase not enlarged or heavy; because of domestication size and coloration highly variable

Artiodactyla

Bovidae

Ovis aries

domestic sheep

Large dark brown mammal with hump on shoulders; shaggy front quarters; bearded; smooth, glossy black horns curving upward and inward; premaxillary bone not extending to nasals; massive head subtriangular, with frontal bone greatly expanded and hiding zygomatic arches from dorsal view; no prominent ridge between horns or horn bases; maxillary toothrow long, over 110 mm; not a free-ranging species in Nebraska

Artiodactyla

Bovidae

Bison bison

American bison

Pelage and coloration variable; not shaggy or bearded; horns if present often facing anteriorly; premaxillary extending to nasal; head elongate, less massive and frontal bone not covering zygomatic arches in dorsal view; prominent ridge at top of skull between horns or horn bases; maxillary toothrow shorter, usually under 110 mm; because of domestication size variable

Artiodactyla

Bovidae

Bos taurus

Cow

Horns oval in cross-section and forked, their external sheaths are lost from the horn core annually; two lacrimal foramina in rim of orbit; ethmoid vacuity separates lacrimal from nasal bones; dorsal pelage chestnut with two broad white stripes across throat

Artiodactyla

Antilocapridae

Antilocapra americana

pronghorn