Pachyderms

Pachyderms is a familiar name for large mammals such as elephants, rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses, traditionally grouped for their thick skin and heavy bodies. They differ substantially in their teeth, feet, feeding habits and use of water, despite their imposing appearance. Elephants gather food with a trunk, rhinoceroses crop grass or browse with their lips, and hippos spend much of the day in water before grazing on land. The name remains useful in everyday language but does not identify a single modern scientific group.