Difference between revisions of "Bovid" - New World Encyclopedia
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Bovids are members of the Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulate) order. As such they walk on the third and fourth toes of each foot, which are covered and protected by hoofs — specialized claws. Standing on their toes has the effect of lengthening their legs, which gives them greater quickness and speed in running and jumping and lets them hold their heads higher above the ground to better watch out for predators (Huffman 2007). | Bovids are members of the Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulate) order. As such they walk on the third and fourth toes of each foot, which are covered and protected by hoofs — specialized claws. Standing on their toes has the effect of lengthening their legs, which gives them greater quickness and speed in running and jumping and lets them hold their heads higher above the ground to better watch out for predators (Huffman 2007). | ||
| − | In general bovids are [[herbivorous]], eating [[plant]]s; a few are [[omnivorous]]) and eat small animals, carrion, and insects as well as plants. All bovids are ruminants, which means that they have a four-chambered stomach which allows them to digest foods that are too low in nutriment for many other animals, notably [[grass]]es and the [[leaf|leaves]] of [[tree]]s and bushes. No animal is able to directly digest [[cellulose]], the material of plant [[cell (biology)|cell]] walls; ruminants rely their [[symbiosis|symbiotic]] relationship with [[bacteria]] and other micro-organisms in their first stomach, or rumen to break down cellulose by fermentation. | + | In general bovids are [[herbivorous]], eating [[plant]]s; a few are [[omnivorous]]) and eat small animals, carrion, and insects as well as plants. All bovids are ruminants, which means that they have a four-chambered stomach which allows them to digest foods that are too low in nutriment for many other animals, notably [[grass]]es and the [[leaf|leaves]] of [[tree]]s and bushes. No animal is able to directly digest [[cellulose]], the material of plant [[cell (biology)|cell]] walls; ruminants rely their [[symbiosis|symbiotic]] relationship with [[bacteria]] and other micro-organisms in their first stomach, or rumen 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 (slender) members of the family tend to have more selective diets, and be browsers rather than grazers. Their canine teeth are either missing or else modified to act as extra incisors. |
| − | + | All bovid species, at least the males, have horns on their heads. A bovid horn consists of a bony protrusion covered in a sheath of [[keratin]], a material found in skin, hair, and claws. [[Deer]], the second largest ungulate family, have antlers which are solid bone and are shed and regrown each year. The pronghorn of North America is in a family by itself and differs from bovids by shedding the keratin sheaths of its horns each year. The horns of giraffes are bumps of cartilage covered by skin. The horns of rhinoceroses are formed of compacted hair. | |
The family is known through [[fossil|fossil records]] from the early [[Miocene]]. The largest number of modern bovids are found in [[Africa]], with substantial but less diverse populations in [[Asia]] and [[North America]]. It is thought that many of the bovid species, which evolved in Asia, were unable to survive the sudden advent of a new and unfamiliar predator when humans first emerged from Africa in the late [[Pleistocene]], the African species, on the other hand, had many thousands of years, perhaps a few millions, in which to gradually adapt to the equally gradual development of human hunting skills. It is notable that many of the commonly domesticated bovid species—goats, sheep, water buffalo, the Yak—are of Asian origin: it is believed that the Asian bovids had less fear of humans and were more docile. | The family is known through [[fossil|fossil records]] from the early [[Miocene]]. The largest number of modern bovids are found in [[Africa]], with substantial but less diverse populations in [[Asia]] and [[North America]]. It is thought that many of the bovid species, which evolved in Asia, were unable to survive the sudden advent of a new and unfamiliar predator when humans first emerged from Africa in the late [[Pleistocene]], the African species, on the other hand, had many thousands of years, perhaps a few millions, in which to gradually adapt to the equally gradual development of human hunting skills. It is notable that many of the commonly domesticated bovid species—goats, sheep, water buffalo, the Yak—are of Asian origin: it is believed that the Asian bovids had less fear of humans and were more docile. | ||
Revision as of 22:27, 30 January 2007
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 American Bison | ||||||||||
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Bovinae |
A bovid is any of almost 140 species of ungulates, hoofed mammals, belonging to the family Bovidae. The bovids are the largest family of hoofed mammals and are native to Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America. Members include antelope, bison, buffalo, cattle, sheep, and goats.
Biology
The largest bovids, for instance the bison, weigh over 1000 kg (2200 lbs) and stand 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall at the shoulder; the smallest weigh about 3 kg (7 lbs) and stand no taller than a large domestic cat.
Bovids are members of the Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulate) order. As such they walk on the third and fourth toes of each foot, which are covered and protected by hoofs — specialized claws. Standing on their toes has the effect of lengthening their legs, which gives them greater quickness and speed in running and jumping and lets them hold their heads higher above the ground to better watch out for predators (Huffman 2007).
In general bovids are herbivorous, eating plants; a few are omnivorous) and eat small animals, carrion, and insects as well as plants. All bovids are ruminants, which means that they have a four-chambered stomach which allows them to digest foods that are too low in nutriment for many other animals, notably grasses and the leaves of trees and bushes. No animal is able to directly digest cellulose, the material of plant cell walls; ruminants rely their symbiotic relationship with bacteria and other micro-organisms in their first stomach, or rumen 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 (slender) members of the family tend to have more selective diets, and be browsers rather than grazers. Their canine teeth are either missing or else modified to act as extra incisors.
All bovid species, at least the males, have horns on their heads. A bovid horn consists of a bony protrusion covered in a sheath of keratin, a material found in skin, hair, and claws. Deer, the second largest ungulate family, have antlers which are solid bone and are shed and regrown each year. The pronghorn of North America is in a family by itself and differs from bovids by shedding the keratin sheaths of its horns each year. The horns of giraffes are bumps of cartilage covered by skin. The horns of rhinoceroses are formed of compacted hair.
The family is known through fossil records from the early Miocene. The largest number of modern bovids are found in Africa, with substantial but less diverse populations in Asia and North America. It is thought that many of the bovid species, which evolved in Asia, were unable to survive the sudden advent of a new and unfamiliar predator when humans first emerged from Africa in the late Pleistocene, the African species, on the other hand, had many thousands of years, perhaps a few millions, in which to gradually adapt to the equally gradual development of human hunting skills. It is notable that many of the commonly domesticated bovid species—goats, sheep, water buffalo, the Yak—are of Asian origin: it is believed that the 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. All of the large grazing animals native to North America died out immediately after the arrival of the Clovis people about 12,000 years ago. This left a number of ecological niches vacant, and the ancestors of the modern American Bison, Mountain Goat and American Bighorn Sheep moved in to occupy them.
- ORDER ARTIODACTYLA: even-toed ungulates
- Suborder Ruminantia: ruminants
- Family Tragulidae: chevrotains, 6 species in 4 genera
- 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, 24 species in 9 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, 38 species in 14 genera
- Subfamily Caprinae: sheep, goats, 26 species in 12 genera
- Subfamily Reduncinae: reedbucks, lechwe, 8 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, 7 species in 4 genera
- Subfamily Panthalopinae: Chiru
- Suborder Suina: pigs and allies
- Suborder Tylopoda: camels and llamas
- Suborder Ruminantia: ruminants
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Huffman, B. 2007. The Ultimate Ungulate Page Website [1] Retrieved January 24, 2007.
- Lott, D.F. 2002. American Bison. Berkeley, California, USA : University of California Press
- Nowak, R. M. and J. L. Paradiso. 1983. Walker's Mammals of the World. Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801825253
- Voelker, W. 1986. The Natural History of Living Mammals. Medford, New Jersey: Plexus Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0937548081
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