Bovinae
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Bovines (subfamily Bovinae) comprise a diverse group of 10 genera of medium to large-sized ungulates, including cattle, bison, African buffalo, water buffalos, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes. The members of this group of bovids are classified into loose tribes rather than formal subgroups, as the evolutionary relationships within the groups are still uncertain. General characteristics include cloven hooves and usually at least one of the sexes of a species having true horns. The largest extant bovine is the gaur.
In many countries, bovine milk and meat is used as food by humans. Cattle are kept as livestock almost everywhere except in parts of India and Nepal, where they are considered sacred by most Hindus. Bovines are used as draft animals and as riding animals. Small breeds of domestic bovine, such as the Miniature Zebu, are kept as pets. Bovine leather is durable and flexible and is used to produce a wide range of goods including clothing and bags.
Systematics and classification
- Family Bovidae Subfamily Bovinae Tribe Boselaphini Genus Tetracerus Four-horned antelope, Tetracerus quadricornis T. q. quadricornis T. q. iodes T. q. subquadricornis Genus Boselaphus Nilgai, Boselaphus tragocamelus B. t. tragocamelus (Indian nilgai) Genus †Duboisia †D. santeng Tribe Tragelaphini Genus Tragelaphus (antelope-like) Bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus T. e. isaaci T. e. eurycerus Greater kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros T. s. strepsiceros T. s. chora T. s. cottoni Cape bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus Harnessed bushbuck, Tragelaphus sylvaticus Lesser kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis Mountain nyala, Tragelaphus buxtoni Lowland nyala, Tragelaphus angasii Sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekeii T. s. selousi T. s. gratus T. s. spekii Genus Taurotragus Common eland, Taurotragus oryx T. o. oryx T. o. livingstonii T. o. pattersonianus Giant eland, Taurotragus derbianus T. d. derbianus T. d. gigas Tribe Bovini Subtribe Pseudorygina Genus Pseudoryx Saola, Pseudoryx nghetinhensis Subtribe Bubalina Genus Bubalus Wild water buffalo, Bubalus arnee Domestic water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis Lowland anoa, Bubalus depressicornis Mountain anoa, Bubalus quarlesi Tamaraw, Bubalus mindorensis Cebu tamaraw†, Bubalus cebuensis Genus Syncerus African buffalo, Syncerus caffer Cape buffalo, S. c. caffer Nile buffalo, S. c. aequinoctialis Sudan buffalo, S. c. brachyceros Forest buffalo, S. c. nanus Giant buffalo, Syncerus antiquus† Subtribe Bovina Genus Bos Aurochs, Bos primigenius Eurasian aurochs†, B. p. primigenius Indian aurochs†, B. p. namadicus Banteng, Bos javanicus Domestic banteng, Bos domesticus Gaur, Bos gaurus Gayal, Bos frontalis Domestic yak, Bos grunniens Wild yak, Bos mutus Bos palaesondaicus†, Kouprey, Bos sauveli (possibly extinct) Zebu cattle, Bos indicus Domestic cattle, Bos taurus Taurine cattle, B. t. taurus Sanga cattle, B. t. africanus Genus Bison American bison, Bison bison Wood bison, B. b. athabascae Plains bison, B. b. bison European bison, Bison bonasus Bison palaeosinensis†, (extinct) Steppe wisent†, Bison priscus Ancient bison†, Bison antiquus Long-horned bison†, Bison latifrons Genus Pelorovis† (extinct) Pelorovis oldowayensis† Pelorovis turkanensis† Pelorovis howelli† ?Pelorovis praeafricanus†
Etymology
Bovine is derived from Latin bos, "ox", through Late Latin bovinus. Bos comes from the Indo-European root *gwous, meaning ox.
- International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (2003) Opinion 2027 (Case 3010). Usage of 17 specific names based on wild species which are pre-dated by or contemporary with those based on domestic animals (Lepidoptera, Osteichthyes, Mammalia): conserved. Bull. Zool. Nomencl., 60:81–84.
External links
- information in ITIS.