What does the hoof of a Goat look like?

The Goat is a hoofed mammal. It is an ungulate like all hoofed animals.

Some hoofed animals have one toe, and others have two toes (even-toed), or a split hoof. A split hoof is called a cloven hoof. 

The Goat, such as the Rocky Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus) and the African Pygmy Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), is an even-toed ungulate mammal in the Bovidae family. It has a split hoof, a cloven hoof.

It is a sure-footed climber, even on cliffs and ice. It has inner pads and cloven hooves that spread apart, enabling it to ‘stick’ to rocky slopes and cliffs. The tips of its feet have sharp dewclaws that stop the feet from slipping. It can also balance itself very well as it climbs.

The hooves grow. A wild Goat keeps its hooves trimmed by walking on hard ground. 

Location of photographs: Paris Zoo, France

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM