Order: Ruminantia (ruminants)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class: Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia (terrestrial vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota > Synapsida (mammal-like reptiles) > Therapsida > Theriodontia >  Cynodontia > Mammalia (mammals) > Placentalia (placental mammals) > Laurasiatheria > Ferungulata > Cetartiodactyla (even-toed ungulates and cetaceans)

Families indigenous to southern Africa

Giraffidae (Giraffe) Contains a single extant species, the Giraffa camelopardalis (Giraffe). Giraffes are the tallest living animals and are easily recognized by their distinct elongated body shape, with a very long neck and legs and a relatively short body. Giraffes are pure browsers and feed almost exclusively on trees and shrubs, up to a level of about 5m. The coat patterns are distinctive for each giraffe, rather like a human figure print.

Bovidae (antelopes and buffalo)