Artiodactyls are mostly plant eaters. Since leaves and grasses are hard to digest, animals that eat them often evolve superior digestive systems. Among mammals, artiodactyls are the champion plant processors. Hippopotamus stomachs are divided into three chambers. In addition, these animals ruminate.
Ruminants generally eat quickly, swallow their meal into a large stomach chamber called the rumen.
They then retire to a quiet place to rest. Members of the deer family have antlers. The fourth thing that distinguishes artiodactyls is their great success. Elephants and rhinoceroses were disappearing even before people began hunting them. Today, just two species of elephants and five rhinos survive.