50-644: Budorcas is a genus of bovid that contains a single living species, the takin (Budorcas taxicolor) . Two extinct species are known from the Pliocene , B. teilhardi from China and B. churcheri from Ethiopia. The presence of the genus in Africa indicates that it was far more widespread in the past. Budorcas comes from Ancient Greek : βοῦς , romanized : bous , lit. 'ox, cow' and δορκάς , dorkas , 'gazelle'. Bovid Alternate taxonomy: The Bovidae comprise
100-414: A different shape. The horns of female bovids are believed to have evolved for defence against predators or to express territoriality, as nonterritorial females, which are able to use crypsis for predator defence, often do not have horns. Females possess horns only in half of the bovid genera, and females in these genera are heavier than those in the rest. Females use horns mainly for stabbing. In bovids,
150-667: A few such as the buffalo, bushbuck, reedbuck, and grysbok are exceptions. Social activity and feeding usually peak during dawn and dusk. The bovids usually rest before dawn, during midday, and after dark. Grooming is usually by licking with the tongue. Rarely do antelopes roll in mud or dust. Wildebeest and buffalo usually wallow in mud, whereas the hartebeest and topi rub their heads and horns in mud and then smear it over their bodies. Bovids use different forms of vocal, olfactory, and tangible communication. These involve varied postures of neck, head, horns, hair, legs, and ears to convey sexual excitement, emotional state, or alarm. One such expression
200-509: A level muzzle. Fighting techniques differ amongst the bovid families and also depend on their build. While the hartebeest fight on knees, others usually fight on all fours. Gazelles of various sizes use different methods of combat. Gazelles usually box, and in serious fights may clash and fence, consisting of hard blows from short range. Ibex, goat and sheep males stand upright and clash into each other downwards. Wildebeest use powerful head butting in aggressive clashes. If horns become entangled,
250-470: A pale white (as in the Arabian oryx ) to black (as in the black wildebeest ). However, only the intermediate shades, such as brown and reddish brown (as in the reedbuck ), are commonly observed. In several species, females and juveniles exhibit a light-coloured coat, while those of males darken with age. As in the wildebeest , the coat may be marked with prominent or faint stripes. In some species such as
300-487: A permanent sheath of keratin . Most bovids bear 30 to 32 teeth. Most bovids are diurnal . Social activity and feeding usually peak during dawn and dusk. Bovids typically rest before dawn, during midday, and after dark. They have various methods of social organisation and social behaviour , which are classified into solitary and gregarious behaviour. Bovids use different forms of vocal, olfactory, and tangible communication. Most species alternately feed and ruminate throughout
350-829: A permanent sheath of keratin. Although horns occur in a single pair on almost all bovid species, there are exceptions such as the four-horned antelope and the Jacob sheep . The unique horn structure is the only unambiguous morphological feature of bovids that distinguishes them from other pecorans . A high correlation exists between horn morphology and fighting behaviour of the individual. For instance, long horns are intended for wrestling and fencing, whereas curved horns are used in ramming. Males with horns directed inwards are monogamous and solitary, while those with horns directed outwards tend to be polygynous . These results were independent of body size. Male horn development has been linked to sexual selection , Horns are small spikes in
400-484: A result, Micromeryx , Hispanomeryx , and Moschus are the only undisputed moschid members, making them known from at least 18 Ma. The group was abundant across Eurasia and North America during the Miocene , but afterwards declined to only the extant genus Moschus by the early Pleistocene . Until the early 21st century, it was believed that the musk deer (family Moschidae) were an adjacent, sister -group to
450-464: A tribe of Caprinae, in Africa date back to the late Miocene. The earliest Hippotragine fossils date back to the late Miocene, and were excavated from sites such as Lothagam and Awash Valley . The first African fossils of Reduncinae date back to 6-7 Mya. Reduncinae and Peleinae probably diverged in the mid-Miocene. All bovids have the similar basic form - a snout with a blunt end, one or more pairs of horns (generally present on males) immediately after
500-546: Is a family of pecoran even-toed ungulates , containing the musk deer ( Moschus ) and its extinct relatives. They are characterized by long 'saber teeth' instead of horns, antlers or ossicones , modest size ( Moschus only reaches 37 lb (17 kg); other taxa were even smaller) and a lack of facial glands. While various Oligocene and Miocene pecorans were previously assigned to this family, recent studies find that most should be assigned to their own clades, although further research would need to confirm these traits. As
550-593: Is believed to have come into being in the Pliocene, but became extinct in the middle Pleistocene . Several genera of Hippotraginae are known since the Pliocene and Pleistocene. This subfamily appears to have diverged from the Alcelaphinae in the latter part of early Miocene. The Bovinae are believed to have diverged from the rest of the Bovidae in the early Miocene . The Boselaphini became extinct in Africa in
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#1732772603502600-708: Is disputed, with suggestions of as many as ten and as few as two subfamilies. However, molecular, morphological and fossil evidence indicates the existence of eight distinct subfamilies: Aepycerotinae (consisting of just the impala), Alcelaphinae (bontebok, hartebeest, wildebeest and relatives), Antilopinae (several antelopes, gazelles, and relatives), Bovinae (cattle, buffaloes, bison and other antelopes), Caprinae (goats, sheep, ibex, serows and relatives), Cephalophinae (duikers), Hippotraginae (addax, oryx and relatives) and Reduncinae (reedbuck and kob antelopes). In addition, three extinct subfamilies are known: Hypsodontinae (mid- Miocene ), Oiocerinae ( Turolian ) and
650-491: Is in the savannas of Eastern Africa . Other bovid species also occur in Europe, Asia, and North America. Bovidae includes a number of domesticated species, including three whose use has spread worldwide, namely cattle , sheep , and goats . Dairy products , such as milk , butter , and cheese , are manufactured largely from domestic cattle. Bovids are also raised for their leather , meat , and wool . The name "Bovidae"
700-402: Is the flehmen response . Bovids usually stand motionless, with the head high and an intent stare, when they sense danger. Some like the impala, kudu, and eland can even leap to heights of a few feet. Bovids may roar or grunt to caution others and warn off predators. Bovids such as gazelles stot or pronk in response to predators, making high leaps on stiff legs, indicating honestly both that
750-718: Is the only bovid that is both solitary and not territorial. This antelope hardly displays aggression, and tends to isolate itself or form loose herds, though in a favourable habitat, several bushbuck may be found quite close to one another. Excluding the cephalophines (duikers), tragelaphines (spiral-horned antelopes) and the neotragines, most African bovids are gregarious and territorial. Males are forced to disperse on attaining sexual maturity, and must form their own territories, while females are not required to do so. Males that do not hold territories form bachelor herds. Competition takes place among males to acquire dominance, and fights tend to be more rigorous in limited rutting seasons . With
800-1124: The Antilopinae , was later placed in its own subfamily, Pantholopinae . However, molecular and morphological analysis supports the inclusion of Pantholops in Caprinae . Below is a cladogram based on Yang et al . , 2013 and Calamari, 2021: Bovini (bison, buffalo, cattle, etc.) [REDACTED] Boselaphini (nilgai and four-horned antelope) [REDACTED] Tragelaphini (kudus, nyalas etc.) [REDACTED] Aepycerotinae (impala) [REDACTED] Nesotraginae (suni and bates's antelope) Antilopinae (gazelles, springbok, dik-dik, royal antelope, saiga, etc.) [REDACTED] Cephalophinae (duikers etc.) [REDACTED] Oreotraginae (klipspringer) Reduncinae (kobs, reedbucks, waterbucks etc.) [REDACTED] Caprinae (chamois, sheep, ibexes, goats, muskox, etc.) [REDACTED] Alcelaphinae (hartebeest, topi, wildebeest etc.) [REDACTED] Hippotraginae (sable antelopes, oryxes etc.) [REDACTED] Alternatively, all members of
850-491: The addax , the coat colour can vary by the season. Scent glands and sebaceous glands are often present. Some species, such as the gemsbok , sable antelope , and Grant's gazelle , are camouflaged with strongly disruptive facial markings that conceal the highly recognisable eye. Many species, such as gazelles, may be made to look flat, and hence to blend into the background, by countershading . The outlines of many bovids are broken up with bold disruptive colouration,
900-410: The biological family of cloven-hoofed , ruminant mammals that includes cattle , bison , buffalo , antelopes (including goat-antelopes ), sheep and goats . A member of this family is called a bovid . With 143 extant species and 300 known extinct species , the family Bovidae consists of 11 (or two) major subfamilies and thirteen major tribes. The family evolved 20 million years ago, in
950-399: The dental pad , that provides a surface to grip grasses and foliage. They are hypsodont and selenodont , since the molars and premolars are low- crowned and crescent-shaped cusps . The lower incisors and canines project forward. The incisors are followed by a long toothless gap, known as the diastema . The general dental formula for bovids is 0.0.2-3.3 3.1.3.3 . Most members of
1000-475: The 'true' deer of the family Cervidae ( caribou , moose , elk , and roughly 40–50 other species); however, a 2003 phylogenetic study by Alexandre Hassanin (of the National Museum of Natural History, France ) and co., based on mitochondrial and nuclear analyses, revealed that Moschidae and Bovidae ( antelope , cattle , goats , sheep ), together, form a sister- clade to Cervidae. According to
1050-530: The Aegodontia, can be classified within the subfamily Antilopinae, with the individual subfamilies being tribes in this treatment. In the early Miocene, bovids began diverging from the cervids (deer) and giraffids . The earliest bovids, whose presence in Africa and Eurasia in the latter part of early Miocene (20 Mya ) has been ascertained, were small animals, somewhat similar to modern gazelles , and probably lived in woodland environments. Eotragus ,
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#17327726035021100-440: The Bovidae, where for example Bos , Ovis , bontebok and gemsbok have white stockings. Again, communication is the likely function. Excepting some domesticated forms, all male bovids have horns, and in many species, females, too, possess horns. The size and shape of the horns vary greatly, but the basic structure is a pair of simple bony protrusions without branches, often having a spiral, twisted, or fluted form, each covered in
1150-560: The Bovidae-Moschidae clade 27 to 28 million years ago. The following cladogram is based on the 2003 study. Tragulidae [REDACTED] Antilocapridae [REDACTED] Giraffidae [REDACTED] Cervidae [REDACTED] Moschidae [REDACTED] Bovidae [REDACTED] Molecular studies have supported monophyly in the family Bovidae (a group of organisms comprises an ancestral species and all their descendants). The number of subfamilies in Bovidae
1200-410: The Pliocene. By the late Miocene, around 10 Mya, the bovids rapidly diversified , leading to the creation of 70 new genera. This late Miocene radiation was partly because many bovids became adapted to more open, grassland habitats. The Aepycerotinae first appeared in the late Miocene, and no significant difference in the sizes of the primitive and modern impala has been noted. Fossils of ovibovines,
1250-440: The afternoon. Temperature is regulated through sweating in cattle, whereas goats use panting for the same. The right lung , consisting of four to five lobes , is around 1.5 times larger than the left, which has three lobes. Most bovids bear 30 to 32 teeth. While the upper incisors are absent, the upper canines are either reduced or absent. Instead of the upper incisors, bovids have a thick and tough layer of tissue, called
1300-417: The beginning of the 21st century it was understood that the family Moschidae (musk deer) was sister to Cervidae . However, a 2003 phylogenetic study by Alexandre Hassanin (of National Museum of Natural History, France ) and colleagues, based on mitochondrial and nuclear analyses, revealed that Moschidae and Bovidae form a clade sister to Cervidae . According to the study, Cervidae diverged from
1350-409: The complex cellulose into simpler fatty acids , which are then absorbed through the rumen wall. Bovids have a long small intestine ; the length of the small intestine in cattle is 29–49 m (95–161 ft). Body temperature fluctuates through the day; for instance, in goats the temperature can change slightly from nearly 37 °C (99 °F) in the early morning to 40 °C (104 °F) in
1400-596: The day. While small bovids forage in dense and closed habitat, larger species feed on high-fiber vegetation in open grasslands. Most bovids are polygynous . Mature bovids mate at least once a year and smaller species may even mate twice. In some species, neonate bovids remain hidden for a week to two months, regularly nursed by their mothers; in other species, neonates are followers, accompanying their dams, rather than tending to remain hidden. The greatest diversities of bovids occur in Africa . The maximum concentration of species
1450-506: The duiker browse for a few hours during day or night. Feeding habits are related to body size; while small bovids forage in dense and closed habitat, larger species feed upon high-fiber vegetation in open grasslands. Subfamilies exhibit different feeding strategies. While Bovinae species graze extensively on fresh grass and diffused forage, Cephalophinae species (with the exception of Sylvicapra ) primarily consume fruits. Reduncinae and Hippotraginae species depend on unstable food sources, but
1500-497: The earliest known bovid, weighed 18 kg (40 lb) and was nearly the same in size as the Thomson's gazelle . Early in their evolutionary history, the bovids split into two main clades: Boodontia (of Eurasian origin) and Aegodontia (of African origin). This early split between Boodontia and Aegodontia has been attributed to the continental divide between these land masses. When these continents were later rejoined, this barrier
1550-419: The early Miocene . The bovids show great variation in size and pelage colouration. Except some domesticated forms , all male bovids have two or more horns , and in many species, females possess horns, too. The size and shape of the horns vary greatly, but the basic structure is always one or more pairs of simple bony protrusions without branches, often having a spiral, twisted or fluted form, each covered in
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1600-520: The early Pliocene; their latest fossils were excavated in Langebaanweg (South Africa) and Lothagam (Kenya). The middle Miocene marked the spread of the bovids into China and the Indian subcontinent. According to Vrba, the radiation of the subfamily Alcelaphinae began in the latter part of middle Miocene. The Caprinae tribes probably diverged in the early middle Miocene. The Caprini emerged in
1650-723: The exception of migratory males, males generally hold the same territory throughout their lives. In the waterbuck, some male individuals, known as "satellite males", may be allowed into the territories of other males and have to wait till the owner grows old so they may acquire his territory. Lek mating , where males gather together and competitively display to potential mates, is known to exist among topis , kobs , and lechwes . The tragelaphines, cattle, sheep, and goats are gregarious and not territorial. In these species, males must gain absolute dominance over all other males, and fights are not confined to territories. Males, therefore, spend years in body growth. Most bovids are diurnal, although
1700-647: The family are herbivorous , but most duikers are omnivorous . Like other ruminants, bovids have four-chambered stomachs, which allow them to digest plant material, such as grass , that cannot be used by many other animals. Ruminants (and some others like kangaroos , rabbits , and termites ) are able to use micro-organisms living in their guts to break down cellulose by fermentation . The bovids have various methods of social organisation and social behaviour, which are classified into solitary and gregarious behaviour. Further, these types may each be divided into territorial and nonterritorial behaviour. Small bovids such as
1750-501: The ground. The bovids show great variation in size: the gaur can weigh more than 1,500 kg (3,300 lb), and stand 2.2 m (87 in) high at the shoulder. The royal antelope , in sharp contrast, is only 25 cm (9.8 in) tall and weighs at most 3 kg (6.6 lb). The klipspringer , another small antelope, stands 45–60 cm (18–24 in) at the shoulder and weighs just 10–20 kg (22–44 lb). Differences occur in pelage colouration, ranging from
1800-482: The klipspringer, oribi , and steenbok are generally solitary and territorial. They hold small territories into which other members of the species are not allowed to enter. These antelopes form monogamous pairs. Many species such as the dik-dik use pheromone secretions from the preorbital glands and sometimes dung, as well, to mark their territories. The offspring disperse at the time of adolescence, and males must acquire territories prior to mating. The bushbuck
1850-476: The latter are specially adapted to arid areas. Members of Caprinae, being flexible feeders, forage even in areas with low productivity. Tribes Alcelaphini, Hippotragini, and Reduncini have high proportions of monocots in their diets. On the contrary, Tragelaphini and Neotragini (with the exception of Ourebia ) feed extensively on dicots . No conspicuous relationship exists between body size and consumption of monocots. Moschidae See text Moschidae
1900-499: The middle Miocene, and seem to have been replaced by other bovids and cervids in Eurasia. The earliest fossils of the antilopines are from the middle Miocene, though studies show the existence of the subfamily from the early Miocene. Speciation occurred in the tribe Antilopini during the middle or upper Miocene, mainly in Eurasia. Tribe Neotragini seems to have appeared in Africa by the end of Miocene, and had become widespread by
1950-431: The monogamous duikers and other small antelopes, whereas in the polygynous, they are large and elaborately formed (for example in a spiral structure, as in the giant eland ). Thus, to some extent, horns depict the degree of competition among males in a species. However, the presence of horns in females is likely due to natural selection . The horns of females are usually smaller than those of males, and are sometimes of
2000-413: The opponent's head rather than its body. The S-shaped horns, such as those on the impala , have various sections that help in ramming, holding, and stabbing. Serious fights leading to injury are rare. Most bovids alternately feed and ruminate throughout the day. While those that feed on concentrate feed and digest in short intervals, the roughage feeders take longer intervals. Only small species such as
2050-429: The opponents move in a circular manner to unlock them. Muskoxen will ram into each other at high speeds. As a rule, only two bovids of equal build and level of defence engage in a fight, which is intended to determine the superior of the two. Individuals that are evidently inferior to others would rather flee than fight; for example, immature males do not fight with the mature bulls. Generally, bovids direct their attacks on
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2100-442: The oval or pointed ears, a distinct neck and limbs, and a tail varying in length and bushiness among the species. Most bovids exhibit sexual dimorphism , with males usually larger as well as heavier than females. Sexual dimorphism is more prominent in medium- to large-sized bovids. All bovids have four toes on each foot – they walk on the central two (the hooves ), while the outer two (the dewclaws ) are much smaller and rarely touch
2150-498: The predator has been seen, and that the stotting individual is strong and not worth chasing. In the mating season, rutting males bellow to make their presence known to females. Muskoxen roar during male-male fights, and male saigas force air through their noses, producing a roar to deter rival males and attract females. Mothers also use vocal communication to locate their calves if they get separated. During fights over dominance, males tend to display themselves in an erect posture with
2200-483: The recognition of Peleinae and Pantholopinae , comprising the genera Pelea and Pantholops respectively, as subfamilies . In 2000, American biologist George Schaller and palaeontologist Elisabeth Vrba suggested the inclusion of Pelea in Reduncinae , though the grey rhebok, the sole species of Pelea , is highly different from kobs and reduncines in morphology. Pantholops , earlier classified in
2250-470: The strongly contrasting patterns helping to delay recognition by predators. However, all the Hippotraginae (including the gemsbok) have pale bodies and faces with conspicuous markings. The zoologist Tim Caro describes this as difficult to explain, but given that the species are diurnal, he suggests that the markings may function in communication. Strongly contrasting leg colouration is common only in
2300-500: The study, the Cervidae diverged from the Bovidae-Moschidae clade roughly 27–28 million years ago. The following cladogram is based on this 2003 study: Tragulidae [REDACTED] Antilocapridae [REDACTED] Giraffidae [REDACTED] Cervidae [REDACTED] Bovidae [REDACTED] Moschidae [REDACTED] After Prothero (2007) Family Moschidae This article about an even-toed ungulate
2350-729: The subfamily Tethytraginae , which contains Tethytragus (mid- Miocene ). In 1992, Alan W . Gentry of the Natural History Museum, London divided the eight major subfamilies of Bovidae into two major clades on the basis of their evolutionary history: the Boodontia, which comprised only the Bovinae, and the Aegodontia, which consisted of the rest of the subfamilies. Boodonts have somewhat primitive teeth, resembling those of oxen , whereas aegodonts have more advanced teeth like those of goats. A controversy exists about
2400-405: The third and fourth metapodials are combined into the cannon bone . The ulna and fibula are reduced, and fused with the radius and tibia, respectively. Long scapulae are present, whereas the clavicles are absent. Being ruminants , the stomach is composed of four chambers: the rumen (80%), the omasum , the reticulum , and the abomasum . The ciliates and bacteria of the rumen ferment
2450-498: Was given by the British zoologist John Edward Gray in 1821. The word "Bovidae" is the combination of the prefix bov- (originating from Latin bos , "ox", through Late Latin bovinus ) and the suffix -idae . The family Bovidae is placed in the order Artiodactyla (which includes the even-toed ungulates ). It includes 143 extant species, accounting for nearly 55% of the ungulates , and 300 known extinct species. Until
2500-570: Was removed, and both groups expanded into the territory of the other. The tribes Bovini and Tragelaphini diverged in the early Miocene. Bovids are known to have reached the Americas in the Pleistocene by crossing the Bering land bridge . The present genera of Alcelaphinae appeared in the Pliocene . The extinct Alcelaphine genus Paramularius , which was the same in size as the hartebeest,
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