Bovinae
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| Bovinae Fossil range: Miocene to Recent |
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The biological subfamily bovinae includes a diverse group of 10 genera of medium to large sized ungulates, including domestic cattle, the 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.
In most countries, bovines are used for food. Cattle are eaten almost everywhere except in India, where bovines are considered sacred by Hindus.
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[edit] Evolution
The closest relations to this subfamily are the Boselaphini and Tragelaphini tribes. There are 13 extant members. These species appear to have evolved over the last 5-8 million years.[1] The first clade to diverge was the Buffalo clade (Bubalus and Syncerus species). This was followed by the Banteng/Gaur/Mithan clade and the domestic cattle clade. A fourth clade leading to the Bison and Yak species may also exist.
[edit] Systematics and classification
- FAMILY BOVIDAE
- Subfamily Bovinae
- Tribe Boselaphini
- Genus Tetracerus
- Four-horned Antelope, Tetracerus quadricornis
- Genus Boselaphus
- Nilgai or blue bull, Boselaphus tragocamelus (not to be confused with the extinct Bluebuck Hippotragus leucophaeus, Hippotraginae)
- Genus Tetracerus
- Tribe Bovini
- Genus Bubalus
- Domestic Asian Water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis
- Wild Asian Water buffalo, Bubalus arnee
- Lowland Anoa, Bubalus depressicornis
- Mountain Anoa, Bubalus quarlesi
- Tamaraw, Bubalus mindorensis
- Genus Bos
- 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)
- Ancient Bison, Bison antiquus (extinct)
- Genus Bubalus
- Tribe Strepsicerotini
- Genus Tragelaphus (antelope-like)
- Sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekeii
- Nyala, Tragelaphus angasii
- 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
- Genus Tragelaphus (antelope-like)
- Tribe Boselaphini
- Subfamily Bovinae
[edit] Etymology
Bovine is derived from Latin bos, "ox", through Late Latin bovinus. Bos derives from the Greek word Βους (Vus), meaning ox.
[edit] References
- ^ Maceachern S., McEwan J., Goddard M. (2009) Phylogenetic reconstruction and the identification of ancient polymorphism in the Bovini tribe (Bovidae, Bovinae). BMC Genomics 10(1):177
- 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.
[edit] External links
