Capra (genus) 1164051 225783073 2008-07-15T11:18:02Z JAnDbot 1725149 robot Adding: hr, lt Removing: ca, cy, da, eo, gl, id, io, ja, ms, nds, sv, tr Modifying: he, no, pt {{Refimprove|date=March 2008}} :''This article is about the Capra genus of animals and the Goat species. For other uses, see [[Capra]], or [[Goat (disambiguation)]].'' {{Taxobox | name = ''Capra'' | image = Bouquetin01.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Female ibex | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ordo = [[Even-toed ungulate|Artiodactyla]] | familia = [[Bovid]]ae | subfamilia = [[Goat antelope|Caprinae]] | genus = '''''Capra''''' | genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See [[Goat#Species and subspecies|Species and subspecies]] }} The genus '''''Capra''''', usually called goats or wild goats, is a [[genus]] of [[mammals]] composed of nine [[species]], including the [[Ibex]], the [[West Caucasian Tur]], the [[East Caucasian Tur]], the [[Markhor]], and the [[Wild Goat]]. The animal commonly known as the [[domestic goat]] (''Capra aegagrus hircus'') is a [[domesticated]] [[subspecies]] of the [[Wild Goat]]. All members of the Capra genus are [[bovid]]s (members of the [[family]] [[Bovidae]]) and caprins or goat antelopes (subfamily [[Caprinae]]). They are also [[ruminant]]s, meaning they chew cud. These animals have a four-chambered stomach which plays a vital role in digesting, regurgitating and re-digesting their food. A [[male]] goat is called a ''buck'' or ''billy'', and a [[female]] is called a ''doe'' or ''nanny''. Young goats are called ''kids''. The [[Mountain goat|Rocky Mountain Goat]], despite its name, is not considered a true goat by [[scientist]]s as it belongs to the genus ''[[Oreamnos]]''. ==Species and subspecies== [[Image:Capra ibex ibex – 03.jpg|thumb|right|Male Nubian ibex]] All species of the genus were included in just a single species formerly. Some would have recognized two species, the [[Markhor]] on one side and all other forms included in one species on the other side. Today usually seven to nine species are accepted<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Grubb|id=14200767}}</ref>: * '''[[Spanish ibex]]''' (''Capra pyrenaicais'') * '''[[Alpine ibex]]''' (''Capra ibex'') * '''[[Nubian ibex]]''' (''Capra nubiana'') * '''[[Siberian Ibex]]''' (''Capra sibirica'') * '''[[Walia Ibex]]''' (''Capra walie'') * '''[[West Caucasian tur]]''' (''Capra caucasica'') * '''[[East Caucasian tur]]''' (''Capra cylindricornis'') * '''[[Wild goat]]''' (''Capra aegagrus'') * '''[[Markhor]]''' (''Capra falconeri'') The [[goats]] of the genus ''Capra'' have a complicated intern systematic, which is still not completely resolved. Recent studies based on [[mitochondrial DNA]] confirm that the Siberian ibex and the Nubian ibex represent distinct species, which are not very closely related to the similar Alpine ibex. The Alpine ibex however, is genetically not so far from the Spanish ibex and a need for grouping both together seems to be evident. West Caucasian tur seems to be closely related with the wild goat rather than with the East Caucasian tur. The genetic distance separating the [[Markhor]], which was thought to be a separate branch of the genus, from other forms is small.<ref>''Phylogenetic Reconstructions in the Genus Capra (Bovidae, Artiodactyla) Based on the Mitochondrial DNA Analysis''. Russian Journal of Genetics, 2007, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 181–189. [http://www.springerlink.com/content/t66k1n07tqn8l564/ online]</ref>. Almost all wild goat species are [[allopatric]], only the range of the wild goat (''Capra aegagrus'') overlaps with that of the East Caucasian Tur (''Capra cylindricornis'') and the range of the Markhor (''Capra falconeri'') overlaps with the Siberian ibex (''Capra siberica''). In both cases they form usually no hydrids or intermediate forms. In captivity however all Capra species can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.<ref>V. G. Heptner: ''Mammals of the Sowjetunion Vol. I UNGULATES''. Leiden, New York, 1989 ISBN 9004088741</ref> ==Species and subspecies of goats== {| class="wikitable" | [[Image:Gorges du Verdon Goat-Rove-black 0253.jpg|120px]] || ''Capra (aegagrus) hircus'' || [[domestic goat]] |- | [[Image:Capra caucasica1.JPG|120px]] || ''Capra caucasica'' || [[West Caucasian tur]] |- | [[Image:Capra cylindricornis 2.JPG|120px]] || ''Capra cylindricornis'' || [[East Caucasian tur]] |- | [[Image:Markhor.jpg|120px]] || ''Capra falconeri'' || [[markhor]] |- " |- | [[Image:Bezoarziege.jpg|120px]] || ''Capra aegagrus'' || [[Wild Goat]] |- | [[Image:Steinbock1000943.JPG|120px]]|| ''Capra sibirica'' || [[Siberian ibex]] |- | [[Image:Lightmatter ibex.jpg|120px]] || ''Capra pyrenaica'' || [[Spanish ibex]] |- | || ''Capra walie'' || [[Walia ibex]] |- | [[Image:Capra ibex gran paradiso.jpg|120px]] || ''Capra ibex'' || [[Alpine ibex]] |- | [[Image:Stavenn Capra nubiana 00.jpg|120px]] || ''Capra nubiana'' || [[Nubian ibex]] |} == Domestication and uses == : ''Main article: [[Domestic goat]]'' [[Image:Goats as weed control.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Goats used for natural weed control]] Along with [[sheep]], goats were among the first [[domesticated animals]], the domestication process starting at least 10,000 years ago. Goats may have first been domesticated in what is now northern [[Iran]]. Easy human access to goat [[hair]], [[meat]], and [[milk]] were the primary motivations. Goat [[skin]]s were popularly used until the [[Middle Ages]] for water and [[wine bottles]] when traveling and [[camping]], and in certain regions as [[parchment]] for writing. The meat and milk of goats is used for consumption, goat milk having become more popular in recent years because it is easier to digest than cow milk. Many call goat milk a universal milk, because it can be given to most mammals. It is used to make a variety of [[dairy]] products. The cheeses are known collectively as [[chevre]]; examples include [[Rocamadour (cheese)|Rocamadour]] and [[Feta (cheese)|feta]]. Goat meat intended for consumption is also known as 'chevon'. Goat skin is used to make [[kid glove]]s and other items of clothing. [[Fibre]] is obtained from several breeds: [[Angora goat]]s produce silk-like [[mohair]], [[Kashmir goat]]s produce [[cashmere wool]], while [[Pygora goat]]s produce a cashmere-type fiber. All are fine soft fibers that can be knitted into sweaters and other items. Some people keep goats as pets as well. == Similarity to sheep == Though closely related to sheep, to the point of causing occasional taxonomic confusion, goat behaviour is quite different. Sheep are primarily roaming grazers which travel in herds (also known as flocks), while goats are browsers like deer, eating branches and twigs, and tend to be more territorial. Like sheep, though, they have horns that continue to grow throughout their lifetime instead of antlers that fall off once a year. Unlike sheep, both male and female goats grow horns, and both sexes can have beards. Goats are [[herd]] animals and survive better in a herd situation than alone. But they tend to be more aggressive with predators, and some sheep herders will run a few goats with the herd because after initially fleeing, the goats will stand up to a predator and possibly deter them, whereas sheep will continue to run. A herd typically has a Herd Queen, who leads the herd while browsing. They are also much more lively than sheep and their inquisitive nature makes them curious [[pet]]s. Sheep and goats have the same horizontal slit [[pupil]] in their [[eye]]balls. Sheep tails go down, which is why they are sometimes [[docking (animal)|docked]], whereas goat tails go up. [[Image:Steinbock 2006 08 2.jpg|thumb|230px|Alpine ibex]] ==References== <References/> == See also == {{Commonscat|Capra}} * [[Bill the Goat]] * [[Domestic goat]] * [[Goat Glossary of Terms]] * [[Goatstown]] * [[The Pet Goat]] * [[Royal antelope]] * [[Sheep-goat hybrid]] {{Artiodactyla|R.3}} [[Category:Capra| ]] [[Category:Goats]] [[bg:Кози]] [[cs:Koza]] [[de:Ziegen]] [[es:Capra]] [[fr:Capra]] [[ko:염소 (동물)]] [[hr:Koze]] [[ilo:Kalding]] [[it:Capra (genere)]] [[he:יעל]] [[pam:Capra (genus)]] [[lt:Kalniniai ožiai]] [[nl:Geiten]] [[no:Geiter]] [[pl:Capra]] [[pt:Capra]] [[ru:Горные козлы]] [[sh:Koze]] [[zh:山羊屬]]