BOVINAE

The biological subfamily 'Bovinae' (or 'bovines') includes a diverse group of about 24 species of medium-sized to large ungulates, including domestic cattle, Bison, the Water Buffalo, the Yak, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes. The evolutionary relationship between the members of the group is obscure, and their classification into loose tribes rather than formal sub-groups reflects this uncertainty. General characteristics include a cloven hoof and usually at least one of the sexes of a species having a true horn.
The 'Boselaphini' or four-horned antelope tribe are the last survivors of a form very similar to that of the ancestors of the entire subfamily. Both species have relatively primitive anatomical and behavioural characteristics and the females have no horns. They are native to the rapidly diminishing forests of India, and tend to avoid open plains. The Nilgai has been introduced into southern Texas where a population of a little under 100,000 animals provides some long-term insurance for its survival.
The 'Bovini' tribe is made up of large to very large grazers, including large animals of great economic significance to humans in Domestic Cattle, Water Buffalo, and the Yak, as well as smaller Asian relatives, and large free-roaming bovids in the African Buffalo and the American Bison.
Where the Boselaphini and Bovini are mostly Asian, members of the 'Strepsicerotini' tribe, the 'spiral-horned antelopes', are found only on the continent of Africa. This group tends to large size, a lighter build, longer necks and considerable sexual dimorphism. Seven of the 9 species are of conservation concern, being classified as lower-risk, conservation dependent, the remaining two, the Common Eland and the Giant Eland are secure.
In most countries, bovines are used for food. Cows are eaten almost everywhere, except in India where bovines are considered sacred by most Hindus. Some of the largest cattle breeding areas in the United States are Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

Contents

Systematics and Classification

Etymology

See also

Bibliography

References

External links

Systematics and Classification

★ 'FAMILY BOVIDAE'

★
★ 'Subfamily Bovinae'

★
★
★ 'Tribe Boselaphini'

★
★
★
★ Genus ''Tetracerus''

★
★
★
★
★ Four-horned Antelope, ''Tetracerus quadricornis''

★
★
★
★ Genus ''Boselaphus''

★
★
★
★
★ Nilgai or Blue Bull (not to be confused with the extinct Bluebuck), ''Boselaphus tragocamelus''

★
★
★ 'Tribe Bovini'

★
★
★
★ Genus ''Bubalus''

★
★
★
★
★ Water Buffalo, ''Bubalus bubalus''

★
★
★
★
★ Lowland Anoa, ''Bubalus depressicornis''

★
★
★
★
★ Mountain Anoa, ''Bubalus quarlesi''

★
★
★
★
★ Tamaraw, ''Bubalus mindorensis''

★
★
★
★ Genus ''Bos''

★
★
★
★
★ Aurochs, ''Bos primigenius'' (extinct)

★
★
★
★
★ Banteng, ''Bos javanicus''

★
★
★
★
★ Gaur, ''Bos gaurus''

★
★
★
★
★ Gayal, ''Bos frontalis'' (domestic gaur)

★
★
★
★
★ Yak, ''Bos mutus''

★
★
★
★
★ Domestic Cattle, ''Bos taurus'' (increasingly considered a subspecies of ''Bos primigenius'')

★
★
★
★
★ Kouprey, ''Bos sauveli''

★
★
★
★ Genus ''Pseudonovibos''

★
★
★
★
★ Kting Voar, ''Pseudonovibos spiralis''

★
★
★
★ Genus ''Pseudoryx''

★
★
★
★
★ Saola, ''Pseudoryx nghetinhensis''

★
★
★
★ Genus ''Syncerus''

★
★
★
★
★ African Buffalo, ''Syncerus caffer''

★
★
★
★ Genus ''Bison''

★
★
★
★
★ American Bison, ''Bison bison''

★
★
★
★
★ Wisent, ''Bison bonasus''

★
★
★
★
★ Steppe Wisent, ''Bison priscus'' (extinct)

★
★
★ 'Tribe Strepsicerotini'

★
★
★
★ Genus ''Tragelaphus'' (antelope-like)

★
★
★
★
★ Sitatunga, ''Tragelaphus spekeii''

★
★
★
★
★ Nyala, ''Tragelaphus angasii''

★
★
★
★
★ Cottonus Nadinus , Commonly found in the alpine snow dunes

★
★
★
★
★ Bushbuck, ''Tragelaphus scriptus''

★
★
★
★
★ Mountain Nyala ''Tragelaphus buxtoni''

★
★
★
★
★ Lesser Kudu, ''Tragelaphus imberbis''

★
★
★
★
★ Greater Kudu, ''Tragelaphus strepsiceros''

★
★
★
★
★ Bongo, ''Tragelaphus eurycerus''

★
★
★
★ Genus ''Taurotragus''

★
★
★
★
★ Common Eland, ''Taurotragus oryx''

★
★
★
★
★ Giant Eland, ''Taurotragus derbianus''

Etymology

Bovine is derived form Latin bos, "ox", through Late Latin bovinus.

See also

★ Bovid hybrid

Bibliography

★ International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. 2003. Opinion 2027 (Case 3010). Usage of 17ΔбГ 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.

References

External links