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Taxa

Bovidae

Mammal Families

Bovidae is the family of cloven-hoofed ruminant mammals commonly called bovids, comprising cattle, bison, buffalo, antelopes, gazelles, sheep and goats. It is the largest family within the order Artiodactyla and one of the most diverse mammal families, distributed naturally across Africa, Eurasia and North America, with the genus Bison and the genus Capra among its members. Bovids are characterized by unbranched, permanent horns present in most species, in contrast to the deciduous antlers of deer.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Family 1
Scientific Name
Bovidae 1
Member Species/Taxa Count
143 1
Geographic Distribution
Greatest diversity occurs in Africa, especially the savannas of Eastern Africa; also found in Europe, Asia, and North America 1
Defining Characteristics
Share a basic form of a blunt snout, one or more pairs of horns generally present on males just behind the ears, a distinct neck and limbs, and a tail varying in length and bushiness 1
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
The unique horn structure is the only unambiguous morphological feature distinguishing bovids from other pecorans 1
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
Connections

Parent Taxon Of

Blesbok, Species
Source Blesbok (Wikidata)
Chamois, Species
Source Chamois (Wikidata)
Common beisa oryx, Species
Source Common beisa oryx (Wikidata)
Cyprus mouflon, Species
Source Wikidata: Cyprus mouflon
Desert bighorn sheep, Species
Source Wikidata: Desert bighorn sheep
European mouflon, Species
Source Wikidata: European mouflon
In the Other Atlases
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Africa, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Asia, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Europe, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: North America, found in there.
Sources
1. Bovidae - Wikipedia
  • Lead sentence
    Bovidae is the biological family of cloven-hoofed, ruminant mammals that includes cattle, bison, buffalo, antelopes, and goat-antelopes such as sheep and goats.
  • Lead sentence, family name clause
    Bovidae is the biological family of cloven-hoofed, ruminant mammals that includes cattle, bison, buffalo, antelopes, and goat-antelopes such as sheep and goats.
  • Introduction section, species count sentence
    There are 143 extant species and 300 known extinct species of bovids
  • Distribution section
    The greatest diversities of Bovidae occur in Africa. The maximum concentration of species is in the savannas of Eastern Africa. Other bovid species also occur in Europe, Asia, and North America.
  • Characteristics section, basic form sentence
    All bovids have the similar basic form, a snout with a blunt tip, one or more pairs of horns (generally present on males) immediately after the oval or pointed ears, a distinct neck and limbs, and a tail varying in length and bushiness among the species.
  • Characteristics section, horn sentence
    The unique horn structure is the only unambiguous morphological feature of bovids that distinguish them from other pecorans.
View the Source
2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ25497, descriptionView the Source
Wikidata: Bovidae
Wikidata Q25497, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Chamois (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Chamois, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Blesbok (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Blesbok, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Common beisa oryx (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Common beisa oryx, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Wikidata: European mouflon
Parent Taxon Of: European mouflon, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Wikidata: Cyprus mouflon
Parent Taxon Of: Cyprus mouflon, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Wikidata: Desert bighorn sheep
Parent Taxon Of: Desert bighorn sheep, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
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