Ruminant

Ruminant, even-toed animal that regurgitates and masticates its food after swallowing. The majority of ruminants have four nipples; they usually have sweat glands only on the muzzle and between the toes. Most species bear horns that may be permanent or may be shed periodically. The division includes three subdivisions: Tragulina, containing the chevrotains and characterized by a stomach with three chambers; Tylopoda, consisting of the camel, dromedary, llama, alpaca, guanaco, and vicuña, and characterized by a stomach with three distinct chambers; and Pecora, containing all sheep, goats, antelope, deer, gazelles, giraffes, and domestic cattle, and characterized by the presence of a distinct four-chambered stomach. Pecoran animals are known as true ruminants. Between the oesophagus and the intestine, the stomach chambers of a true ruminant are the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum, or rennet bag.

Scientific classification: Ruminants make up the suborder Ruminantia of the order Artiodactyla.