Cetartiodactyla

The Cetartiodactyla are the clade in which whales (including dolphins) and even-toed ungulates have currently been placed. The term was coined by merging the name for the two orders, Cetacea and Artiodactyla, into a single word. The term Cetartiodactyla reflects the idea that whales evolved within the artiodactyls. Under this definition, their closest living land relative is thought to be the hippopotamus. The clade formed by uniting whales and hippos is called Whippomorpha. Alternatively, the term 'Cetartiodactyla' is used to denote a clade where Cetacea evolved alongside Artiodactyla and not within it. Under this definition, all artiodactyls, including hippos, are more closely related to one another than any are to the whales.