Hoof
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CarsracBot
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robot Adding: [[simple:Hoof]]
{{Unreferenced|date=February 2007}}
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[[Image:Capreolus capreolus cloven hoof.jpg|right|thumbnail|300px|Cloven hooves of roe deer (''[[Capreolus capreolus]]''), with dew claws]]
[[Image:Masai Giraffe right-rear foot.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Rear foot of a giraffe (no dew claws)]][[Image:HoofRearHooves.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Rear hooves of a horse]]
A '''hoof''' is the tip of a [[toe]] of an [[ungulate]] [[mammal]], strengthened by a thick horny ([[keratin]]) covering. The hoof consists of a hard or rubbery sole, and a hard wall formed by a thick [[Nail (anatomy)|nail]] rolled around the tip of the toe. The weight of the animal is normally borne by both the sole and the edge of the hoof wall. Hooves grow continuously, and are constantly worn down by use. "Hoof" is {{PronEng|huːf}} or {{IPA|/hʊf/}}; the plural is either ''hooves'' ({{PronEng|huːvz}} or {{IPA|/hʊvz/}}), or ''hoofs'' ({{IPA|/hʊfs/}}).
Most [[even-toed ungulate]]s (such as [[sheep]], [[goat]]s, [[deer]], [[cattle]], [[bison]], and [[pig]]s) have two main hooves on each foot, together called a [[cloven hoof]]. Most cloven-hoofed animals also have two smaller hoofs called ''[[dew-claw]]s'' a little further up the leg – these are not normally used for walking, but in some species with larger dew-claws (such as deer and pigs) they may touch the ground when running or jumping, or if the ground is soft. Other cloven-hoofed animals (such as [[giraffe]]s and [[pronghorn]]s) have no dew claws. In some so-called "cloven-hoofed" animals such as [[camel]]s, there are no hooves proper – the toe is softer, and the hoof itself is reduced to little more than a nail.
Some [[odd-toed ungulate]]s ([[equid]]s) have one hoof on each foot; others (including [[rhinoceros]]es, [[tapir]]s and many [[extinct]] species) have (or had) three hoofed or heavily nailed toes, or one hoof and two dew-claws. The tapir is a special case, with three toes on each hind foot and four toes on each front foot.
The number of toes is considered in determining the [[kosher]] status of the animal's flesh.
==See also==
*[[Horse hoof]]
*[[Claw]]
*[[Nail (anatomy)|Nail]]
[[Category:Horse anatomy]]
[[Category:Mammal anatomy]]
{{Veterinary-med-stub}}
[[ar:حافر]]
[[ca:Peülla]]
[[cs:Kopyto]]
[[de:Huf]]
[[es:Pezuña]]
[[eo:Hufo]]
[[fr:Sabot (ongle)]]
[[id:Cakar]]
[[nl:Hoef (dier)]]
[[ja:蹄]]
[[nrm:Chavette]]
[[pl:Kopyto (zoologia)]]
[[ru:Копыто]]
[[simple:Hoof]]
[[sr:Копито]]
[[te:గిట్ట]]
[[zh:蹄]]