Cloven hoof

A cloven hoof, also called a cleft hoof, divided hoof, or split hoof, is a special kind of hoof that is split into two toes. Animals with this type of hoof belong to a group of mammals called Artiodactyla. This includes animals like pigs, cattle, deer, antelopes, gazelles, goats, and sheep.

The two parts of a cloven hoof are similar to the third and fourth fingers of a human hand. These parts are called claws and have names based on their place on the foot: the outer claw and the inner claw. The space between these two claws is called the interdigital cleft, and the skin in that area is called interdigital skin. The hard outer part of the hoof is known as the hoof wall or horn, which is tough, much like a human fingernail.

Cloven-hooved animals, such as mountain goats and wild sheep, have a special ability. Their almost finger-like flexibility, along with a hard outer shell and soft, flexible inner pads, gives them excellent grip in the tricky places where they live. This helps them move carefully and safely in their challenging environments.

Evolution

Scientists think that during a time called the Eocene period, animals that lived in marshes mainly rested their weight on two middle toes. These toes grew to be the same size and became what we now call Artiodactyla, or even-toed animals. By the end of this period, the smaller side toes of some animals had almost disappeared, and the bases of the two main toes joined together, creating what looks like a split hoof.

Animals with split hooves are even-toed ungulates, part of the Artiodactyla group, unlike odd-toed ungulates such as the horse or the rhinoceros, which have one or three toes. The ancestors of these animals from the early Eocene had five toes and showed signs that they could evolve into both odd-toed and even-toed animals. Even Phenacodus, an early mammal, had a foot where the middle toe was a bit larger than the others, placing it closer to odd-toed animals.

Jewish dietary laws

The difference between hooves that are split and those that are not is very important in Judaism for food rules called kashrut. These rules come from the Torah and the Talmud. Animals that both chew their cud (this means they bring up food from their stomach to chew again) and have true split hooves are allowed to be eaten by Jewish people. These animals are called kosher, meaning "fit."

Animals that do not chew their cud, do not have split hooves, or only have one of these traits, are not allowed. For example, the camel chews its cud but does not have true hooves, and the pig has split hooves but does not chew its cud. Because of this, they are considered not clean for Jewish eating. Other animals like horses, dogs, and cats also do not meet these rules and are not allowed to be eaten.