Pachyderms

According to Merriam-Webster.com a pachyderm is any of various nonruminant mammals (as an elephant,http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pachyderm)

a rhinoceros,

or a hippopotamus

) of a former group (Pachydermata) that have hooves or nails resembling hooves and usually thick skin; especially ELEPHANT (

I've always heard it used in reference to elephants, so the inclusion of rhinoceros and hippopotamus was a nice touch. But it made me wonder, what other animals are included in this group?

Well mammoths

and mastodons

were but like the group Pachydermata, they are extinct. (By that, I mean that the group name Pachydermata is no longer an accepted group name among scientists.)

But tapirs might be?

And of course pygmy hippos are another question entirely.

I mean, the original classification was supposed to be for the larger animals.

Now days we know that the closest relatives to elephants are actually the manatee

and the hyrax.

So now I'm thoroughly confused.

Anyway, elephants are still considered to be sacred animals in Hindu culture (for example) and their god Ganesh is an elephant headed god. So here's a depiction of Ganesh:

I also found some beautifully done embroidery of an elephant on a quilt:

As well as some lovely artwork:

Such beautiful creatures!