Bovid 241281 225179293 2008-07-12T08:56:04Z Jonathan Cardy 4071608 disambig Buffalo {{Taxobox | name = Bovids | fossil_range = Early [[Miocene]] to Recent | image = Sable bull.jpg | image_caption = [[Sable Antelope]] | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ordo = [[Artiodactyla]] | familia = '''Bovidae''' | familia_authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1821 | subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies | subdivision = [[Bovinae]]<br> [[Cephalophinae]]<br> [[Hippotraginae]]<br> [[Antilopinae]]<br> [[Caprinae]]<br> [[Reduncinae]]<br> [[impala|Aepycerotinae]]<br> [[Grey Rhebok|Peleinae]]<br> [[Alcelaphinae]]<br> [[Pantholopinae]] }} A '''bovid''' is any of almost 140 species of [[cloven-hoof]]ed [[mammal]]s belonging to the [[family (biology)|family]] '''Bovidae'''. The family is widespread, being native to all continents except [[South America]], [[Australia]] and [[Antarctica]], and diverse: members include [[Bovinae|buffalo]], [[bison]], [[antelope]]s, [[gazelle]]s, both wild and domesticated [[cattle]], [[sheep]], [[goat]]s, and [[Bubalus|water buffalo]]. ==Characteristics== The largest bovids weigh well over a ton and stand 2 metres high at the shoulder; the smallest weigh about 3 kg and stand 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 [[Cephalophinae|duikers]], which are [[omnivorous]]. All bovids have a four-chambered stomach which allows most of them to digest foods that are too low in nutriment for many other animals, notably [[grass]]es. No higher animal directly digests [[cellulose]], but like [[kangaroo]]s, [[termite]]s and others, bovids rely on [[micro-organisms]] living in their stomachs 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 [[grazer]]s. Their upper [[canine tooth|canine teeth]] and [[incisor]]s 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 [[molar (tooth)#Molars among species|selenodont]], and are separated from the forward teeth by a wide gap, or [[diastema (dentistry)|diastema]]. <ref name=EoM>{{cite book |editor=Macdonald, D.|author= Janis, C. & Jarman, P.|year=1984 |title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 498-499|isbn= 0-87196-871-1}}</ref> The [[dentition|dental formula]] for bovids is similar to that of other ruminants:{{dentition2|0.0.2-3.3|3.1.3.3}} All bovids have four [[toe]]s on each foot &ndash; they walk on the central two (the [[hoof|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 [[fossil]]s from the early [[Miocene]], around 20 million years ago. The earliest bovids, such as ''[[Eotragus]]'', were small animals, somewhat similar to modern [[gazelle]]s, 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.<ref name=MamEv>{{cite book |author= Savage, RJG, & Long, MR|year=1986 |title= Mammal Evolution: an illustrated guide|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 232-235|isbn= 0-8160-1194-X}}</ref> 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]], [[Domestic buffalo|water buffalo]] and [[yak]]) originated in Asia. This may be because Asian bovids had less fear of humans and were more docile.{{who | date=November 2007}} 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|ARTIODACTYLA]]''': even-toed ungulates ** Suborder [[Suina]]: pigs and allies ** Suborder [[Tylopoda]]: camels and llamas ** '''Suborder [[Ruminantia]]''': ruminants ***Infraorder Tragulina **** Family [[Tragulidae]]: chevrotains, 6 species in 4 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, 26 species in 10 genera ***** Subfamily [[Cephalophinae]]: duikers, 19 species in 2 genera ***** Subfamily [[Hippotraginae]]: grazing antelopes, 6 species in 5 genera ***** Subfamily [[Antilopinae]]: gazelles, dwarf antelopes and the saiga, 34 species in 13 genera ***** Subfamily [[Caprinae]]: sheep, goats, 33 species in 10 genera ***** Subfamily [[Reduncinae]]: reedbucks, lechwe, 8 species in 2 genera ***** Subfamily [[impala|Aepycerotinae]]: impala, 1 species in 1 genus ***** Subfamily [[Grey Rhebok|Peleinae]]: rhebok, 1 species in 1 genus ***** Subfamily [[Alcelaphinae]]: [[wildebeest]], topi/tsessebe, 7 species in 4 genera ***** Subfamily [[Pantholopinae]]: Chiru ==References== {{reflist}} {{Wikispecies|Bovidae}} {{Refimprove|date=November 2007}} {{Artiodactyla|R.2}} [[Category:Bovidae| ]] [[zh-min-nan:Gû-kho]] [[bg:Кухороги]] [[cs:Turovití]] [[da:Skedehornede]] [[de:Hornträger]] [[es:Bovidae]] [[eo:Bovedoj]] [[fr:Bovidae]] [[hr:Šupljorošci]] [[is:Slíðurhyrningar]] [[it:Bovidae]] [[he:פריים]] [[la:Bovidae]] [[lb:Rannerdéieren]] [[lt:Dykaraginiai]] [[li:Koojechtege]] [[hu:Tülkösszarvúak]] [[nl:Holhoornigen]] [[ja:ウシ科]] [[no:Okser]] [[pl:Krętorogie]] [[pt:Bovídeos]] [[ru:Полорогие]] [[sl:Votlorogi]] [[fi:Onttosarviset]] [[sv:Slidhornsdjur]] [[tr:Boynuzlugiller]] [[uk:Бичачі]] [[zh:牛科]]