Bovid
Bovids
Fossil range: 20–0 Ma
Early Miocene - Recent |
Sable Antelope
|
Scientific classification |
|
Subfamilies |
Bovinae
Cephalophinae
Hippotraginae
Antilopinae
Caprinae
Reduncinae
Aepycerotinae
Peleinae
Alcelaphinae
Pantholopinae
|
A bovid is any of almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed mammals belonging to the family Bovidae. The family is widespread, being native to all continents except South America, Australia and Antarctica, and diverse: members include domestic cattle, bison, water buffalo, antelopes, gazelles, sheep, goats and the muskox.
Characteristics
The largest bovid, the Gaur, weighs well over a ton and stand 2.2 metres high at the shoulder; the smallest, the Royal Antelope, weighs about 3 kg and stands no taller than a large domestic cat. Some are thick-set and muscular, others lightly built with small frames and long legs. Many species congregate into large groups with complex social structures, but others are mostly solitary. Within their extensive range, they occupy a wide variety of habitat types, from desert to tundra and from thick tropical forest to high mountains.
Most members of the family are herbivorous, except most duikers, which are omnivorous. Like other ruminants, bovids have a four-chambered stomach which allows them to digest plant material such as grass that cannot be used by many other animals. Such plant material includes much cellulose, and no higher animal can digest this directly. However, ruminants (and some others like kangaroos, horses, rabbits and termites) are able to use micro-organisms living in their gut to break down cellulose by fermentation.
Because of the size and weight of their complex digestive systems, many bovids have a solid, stocky build – the more gracile species tend to have more selective diets, and be browsers rather than grazers. Their upper canine teeth and incisors are missing, and are replaced with a hard, horny pad, that the lower teeth grind against to cut grass or other foliage. The canines are either missing or modified to act as extra incisors. The cheek teeth are low-crowned and selenodont, and are separated from the forward teeth by a wide gap, or diastema. [1] The dental formula for bovids is similar to that of other ruminants:
All bovids have four toes on each foot – they walk on the central two (the hooves), while the outer two (the dew-claws) rarely touch the ground. All males and many females have horns (except in some domesticated breeds); the size and shape varies greatly but the basic structure is always a single bony protrusion without branches and covered in a permanent sheath of keratin.
Evolution
The bovid family is known through fossils from the early Miocene, around 20 million years ago. The earliest bovids, such as Eotragus, were small animals, somewhat similar to modern gazelles, and probably lived in woodland environments. The number of bovid species greatly expanded by the late Miocene, when many adapted to more open, grassland, habitat.[2]
The largest number of modern bovids is found in Africa, while substantial but less diverse populations are in Asia and North America. It is thought that many bovid species that evolved in Asia could not survive predation by humans arriving from Africa in the late Pleistocene. By contrast, African species had many thousands or a few million years to adapt to the gradual development of human hunting skills. Yet many of the commonly domesticated bovid species (goats, sheep, water buffalo and yak) originated in Asia. This may be because Asian bovids had less fear of humans and were more docile.
The small number of modern American bovids are relatively recent arrivals over the Bering Land Bridge, but they long predate human arrival.
Classification
- ORDER ARTIODACTYLA: even-toed ungulates
- Suborder Suina: pigs and allies
- Suborder Tylopoda: camels and llamas
- Suborder Ruminantia: ruminants
- Infraorder Tragulina
- Family Tragulidae: chevrotains, 9 species in 3 genera
- Infraorder Pecora
- Family Moschidae: musk deer, 4 species in one genus
- Family Antilocapridae: pronghorns, one species in one genus
- Family Giraffidae: giraffes and okapi, 2 species in 2 genera
- Family Cervidae: deer, 43 species in 16 genera
- Family Bovidae
- Subfamily Bovinae: cattle and spiral-horned antelopes, 27 species in 10 genera
- Subfamily Cephalophinae: duikers, 19 species in 2 genera
- Subfamily Hippotraginae: grazing antelopes, 7 species in 3 genera
- Subfamily Antilopinae: gazelles, dwarf antelopes and the saiga, 34 species in 13 genera
- Subfamily Caprinae: goat-antelopes: sheep, goats, muskox, takin etc, 33 species in 10 genera
- Subfamily Reduncinae: reedbucks, lechwe, 9 species in 2 genera
- Subfamily Aepycerotinae: impala, 1 species in 1 genus
- Subfamily Peleinae: rhebok, 1 species in 1 genus
- Subfamily Alcelaphinae: wildebeest, topi/tsessebe, 10 species in 4 genera
- Subfamily Pantholopinae: Chiru
References
- ↑ Janis, C. & Jarman, P. (1984). Macdonald, D.. ed.. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. pp. 498-499. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.
- ↑ Savage, RJG, & Long, MR (1986). Mammal Evolution: an illustrated guide. New York: Facts on File. pp. 232-235. ISBN 0-8160-1194-X.
Extant Artiodactyla species |
|
Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Mammalia · Infraclass: Eutheria · Superorder: Laurasiatheria |
|
Suborder Ruminantia |
|
Antilocapridae |
Antilocapra
|
Pronghorn (A. americana)
|
|
|
Giraffidae |
|
|
Moschidae |
Moschus
|
Himalayan Musk Deer (M. chrysogaster) · Siberian Musk Deer (M. moschiferus) · Dwarf Musk Deer (M. berezovskii) · Black Musk Deer (M. fuscus)
|
|
|
Tragulidae |
Hyemoschus
|
Water Chevrotain (H. aquaticus)
|
|
Moschiola
|
Indian Spotted Chevrotain (M. meminna) · M. kathygre
|
|
Tragulus
|
Java Mouse-deer (T. javanicus) · Lesser Mouse-deer (T. kanchil) · Greater Mouse-deer (T. napu) · Philippine Mouse-deer (T. nigricans) · Vietnam Mouse-deer (T. versicolor) · Williamson's Mouse-deer (T. williamsoni)
|
|
|
Cervidae |
Large family listed below
|
|
Bovidae |
Large family listed below
|
|
|
|
Family Cervidae |
|
Muntiacinae |
Muntiacus
|
Indian Muntjac (M. muntjak) · Reeves's Muntjac (M. reevesi) · Hairy-fronted Muntjac (M. crinifrons) · Fea's Muntjac (M. feae) · Bornean Yellow Muntjac (M. atherodes) · Roosevelt's muntjac (M. rooseveltorum) · Gongshan muntjac (M. gongshanensis) · Giant Muntjac (M. vuquangensis) · Truong Son Muntjac (M. truongsonensis) · Leaf muntjac (M. putaoensis)
|
|
Elaphodus
|
Tufted deer (E. cephalophus)
|
|
|
Cervinae |
Cervus
|
Red Deer (C. elaphus) · Elk (C. canadensis) · Thorold's deer ( C. albirostris) · Sika Deer ( C. nippon) · Barasingha ( C. duvaucelii) · Eld's Deer ( C. eldii) · Sambar Deer ( C. unicolor) · Rusa Deer ( C. timorensis) · Philippine Sambar ( C. mariannus) · Philippine Spotted Deer ( C. alfredi)
|
|
Axis
|
Chital (A. axis) · Hog deer (A. porcinus) · Calamian Deer (A. calamianensis) · Bawean Deer (A. kuhlii)
|
|
Elaphurus
|
Père David's Deer (E. davidianus)
|
|
Dama
|
Fallow Deer (D. dama) · Persian fallow deer (D. mesopotamica)
|
|
|
Hydropotinae |
Hydropotes
|
Water deer (H. inermis)
|
|
|
Odocoileinae |
Odocoileus
|
|
|
Blastocerus
|
Marsh Deer (B. dichotomus)
|
|
Ozotoceros
|
Pampas deer (O. bezoarticus)
|
|
Mazama
|
Red Brocket (M. americana) · Merida Brocket (M. bricenii) · Dwarf Brocket (M. chunyi) · Gray Brocket (M. gouazoubira) · Pygmy Brocket (M. nana) · Yucatan Brown Brocket (M. pandora) · Little Red Brocket (M. rufina)
|
|
Pudú
|
Northern Pudu (P. mephistophiles) · Pudú (P. pudu)
|
|
Hippocamelus
|
Taruca (H. antisensis) · South Andean Deer (H. bisulcus)
|
|
Capreolus
|
Roe Deer (C. capreolus) · Siberian Roe Deer (C. pygargus)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Family Bovidae |
|
Cephalophinae |
Cephalophus
|
Abbott's Duiker (C. spadix) · Aders' Duiker (C. adersi) · Bay Duiker (C. dorsalis) · Black Duiker (C. niger) · Black-fronted Duiker (C. nigrifrons) · Blue Duiker (C. monticola) · Harvey's Duiker (C. harveyi) · Jentink's Duiker (C. jentinki) · Maxwell's Duiker (C. maxwellii) · Red Forest Duiker (C. natalensis) · Ogilby's Duiker (C. ogilbyi) · Peters's Duiker (C. callipygus) · Red-flanked Duiker (C. rufilatus) · Ruwenzori Duiker (C. rubidis) · Weyns's Duiker (C. weynsi) · White-bellied Duiker (C. leucogaster) · Yellow-backed Duiker (C. Sylvicultor) · Zebra Duiker (C. zebra)
|
|
Sylvicapra
|
Common Duiker (S. grimmia)
|
|
|
Hippotraginae |
Hippotragus
|
Roan Antelope (H. equinus) · Sable Antelope (H. niger)
|
|
Oryx
|
East African Oryx (O. beisa) · Scimitar Oryx (O. dammah) · Gemsbok (O. gazella) · Arabian Oryx (O. leucoryx)
|
|
Addax
|
Addax (A. nasomaculatus)
|
|
|
Reduncinae |
Kobus
|
Upemba Lechwe (K. anselli) · Waterbuck (K. ellipsiprymnus) · Kob (K. kob) · Lechwe (K. leche) · Nile Lechwe (K. megaceros) · Puku (K. vardonii)
|
|
Redunca
|
Southern Reedbuck (R. arundinum) · Mountain Reedbuck (R. fulvorufula) · Bohor Reedbuck (R. redunca)
|
|
|
Aepycerotinae |
Aepyceros
|
Impala (A. melampus)
|
|
|
Peleinae |
Pelea
|
Grey Rhebok (P. capreolus)
|
|
|
Alcelaphinae |
Beatragus
|
Hirola (B. hunteri)
|
|
Damaliscus
|
Korrigum (D. korrigum) · Common Tsessebe (D. lunatus) · Bontebok (D. pygargus) · Bangweulu Tsessebe (D. superstes)
|
|
Alcelaphus
|
Hartebeest (A. buselaphus) · Red Hartebeest (A. caama) · Lichtenstein's Hartebeest (A. lichtensteinii)
|
|
Connochaetes
|
Black Wildebeest (C. gnou) · Blue Wildebeest (C. taurinus)
|
|
|
Pantholopinae |
Pantholops
|
Tibetan antelope (P. hodgsonii)
|
|
|
Caprinae |
Large subfamily listed below
|
|
Bovinae |
Large subfamily listed below
|
|
Antilopinae |
Large subfamily listed below
|
|
|
|
Family Bovidae (subfamily Caprinae) |
|
Ammotragus
|
Barbary Sheep (A. lervia)
|
|
Budorcas
|
Takin (B. taxicolor)
|
|
Capra
|
Wild Goat (C. aegagrus) · West Caucasian Tur (C. caucasia) · East Caucasian Tur (C. cylindricornis) · Markhor (C. falconeri) · Alpine Ibex (C. ibex) · Nubian Ibex (C. nubiana) · Spanish Ibex (C. pyrenaica) · Siberian Ibex (C. sibirica) · Walia Ibex (C. walie)
|
|
Hemitragus
|
Nilgiri Tahr (H. hylocrius) · Arabian Tahr (H. jayakari) · Himalayan Tahr (H. jemlahicus)
|
|
Naemorhedus
|
Red Goral (N. baileyi) · Japanese Serow (N. crispus) · Long-tailed Goral (N. caudatus) · Gray Goral (N. goral) · Mainland Serow (N. sumatraensis) · Taiwan Serow (N. swinhoei)
|
|
Oreamnos
|
Mountain goat (O. americanus)
|
|
|
|
|
Ovis
|
Argali ( O. ammon) · Domestic sheep (O. aries) · Bighorn Sheep ( O. canadensis) · Dall Sheep ( O. dalli) · Mouflon ( O. musimon) · Snow sheep ( O. nivicola) · Urial ( O. orientalis)
|
|
Pseudois
|
Bharal (P. nayaur) · Dwarf Blue Sheep (P. schaeferi)
|
|
Rupicapra
|
|
|
|
|
Family Bovidae (subfamily Bovinae) |
|
Boselaphini |
Tetracerus
|
Four-horned Antelope (T. quadricornis)
|
|
Boselaphus
|
Nilgai (B. tragocamelus)
|
|
|
Bovini |
Bubalus
|
|
|
Bos
|
|
|
Pseudonovibos
|
Kting Voar (P. spiralis)
|
|
Pseudoryx
|
Saola (P. nghetinhensis)
|
|
Syncerus
|
African Buffalo (S. caffer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strepsicerotini |
Tragelaphus
|
Sitatunga ( T. spekeii) · Nyala ( T. angasii) · Bushbuck ( T. scriptus) · Mountain Nyala ( T. buxtoni) · Lesser Kudu ( T. imberbis) · Greater Kudu ( T. strepsiceros) · Bongo (T. eurycerus)
|
|
Taurotragus
|
Common Eland (T. oryx) · Giant Eland (T. derbianus)
|
|
|
|
|
Family Bovidae (subfamily Antilopinae) |
|
Antilopini |
Ammodorcas
|
Dibatag (A. clarkei)
|
|
Antidorcas
|
Springbok (A. marsupialis)
|
|
Antilope
|
Blackbuck (A. cervicapra)
|
|
|
Mountain Gazelle (G. gazella) · Neumann's Gazelle (G. erlangeri) · Speke's Gazelle (G. spekei) · Dorcas Gazelle (G. dorcas) · Saudi Gazelle (G. saudiya) · Chinkara (G. bennettii) · Thomson's Gazelle (G. thomsonii) · Red-fronted Gazelle (G. rufifrons) · Dama Gazelle (G. dama) · Grant's Gazelle (G. granti) · Soemmerring's Gazelle (G. soemmerringii) · Cuvier's Gazelle (G. cuvieri) · Rhim Gazelle (G. leptoceros) · Goitered Gazelle (G. subgutturosa)
|
|
Litocranius
|
Gerenuk (L. walleri)
|
|
Procapra
|
Mongolian gazelle (P. gutturosa) · Goa (P. picticaudata) · Przewalski's Gazelle (P. przewalskii)
|
|
|
Saigini |
Pantholops
|
Tibetan antelope (P. hodgsonii)
|
|
Saiga
|
Saiga Antelope (S. tatarica)
|
|
|
Neotragini |
Dorcatragus
|
Beira (D. megalotis)
|
|
Madoqua
|
Günther's Dik-dik (M. guentheri) · Kirk's Dik-dik (M. kirkii) · Silver Dik-dik (M. piacentinii) · Salt's Dik-dik (M. saltiana)
|
|
Neotragus
|
Bates's Pygmy Antelope (N. batesi) · Suni (N. moschatus) · Royal Antelope (N. pygmaeus)
|
|
Oreotragus
|
Klipspringer (O. oreotragus)
|
|
Ourebia
|
Oribi (O. ourebi)
|
|
Raphicerus
|
Steenbok (R. campestris) · Cape Grysbok (R. melanotis) · Sharpe's Grysbok (R. sharpei)
|
|
|
|
|
Suborder Suina |
|
Suidae |
Babyrousa
|
Buru Babirusa (B. babyrussa) · North Sulawesi Babirusa (B. celebensis) · Togian Babirusa (B. togeanensis)
|
|
Hylochoerus
|
Giant forest hog (H. meinertzhageni)
|
|
Phacochoerus
|
Desert Warthog (P. aethiopicus) · Warthog (P. africanus)
|
|
Porcula
|
Pygmy Hog (P. salvania)
|
|
Potamochoerus
|
Bushpig (P. larvatus) · Red River Hog (P. porcus)
|
|
|
Bearded Pig ( S. barbatus) · Indo-chinese Warty Pig ( S. bucculentus) · Visayan Warty Pig ( S. cebifrons) · Celebes Warty Pig ( S. celebensis) · Flores Warty Pig ( S. heureni) · Oliver's Warty Pig ( S. oliveri) · Philippine Warty Pig ( S. philippensis) · Boar (S. scrofa) · Timor Warty Pig ( S. timoriensis) · Javan Pig ( S. verrucosus)
|
|
|
Tayassuidae |
Tayassu
|
White-lipped Peccary (T. pecari)
|
|
Catagonus
|
Chacoan Peccary (C. wagneri)
|
|
Pecari
|
Collared Peccary (P. tajacu) · Giant Peccary (P. maximus)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cetartiodactyla (unranked clade, higher than Artiodactyla) |
|
|
|
|