Bovid

Bovids are a family of even-toed ungulate mammals. The word "Bovidae" is comes from Latin bos, "ox". Even-toed ungulates are said to have "cloven hooves": that means their hooves are formed from two toes. They evolved early in the Miocene period.

Bovidae
File:Sable bull.jpg
Sable antelope
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Bovidae Gray, 1821

There 143 living species in this family. They include cattle, goats, sheep and antelopes. The family is widespread, living in all continents except the southern continents South America, Australia and Antarctica.

They are all ruminants, with the double stomach system of digesting vegetation, which is most efficient. The family originated in the Miocene, and is now very successful. Their success is probably helped by their digestive system. The group includes the three domestic animals cows, sheep and goats.

Taxonomy

• Family Bovidae
  • Subfamily Aepycerotinae (one genus: the impala)
  • Subfamily Alcelaphinae (one tribe and four genera: wildebeest and relatives)
  • Subfamily Antilopinae (three tribes and 15 genera: gazelles and relatives)
  • Subfamily Bovinae (three tribes and ten genera: cattle, bisons etc.)
  • Subfamily Caprinae (three tribes and 13 genera: goats and sheep)
  • Subfamily Cephalophinae (three genera: duikers)
  • Subfamily Hippotraginae (three genera: antelopes)
  • Subfamily Panthelopinae (the Tibetan antelope)
  • Subfamily Peleinae (the grey rhebok)
  • Subfamily Reduncinae (two genera: more antelopes)

Bovid Media

• Tragulus napu - 1818-1842 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - Special Collections University of Amsterdam - (white background).jpg

  Tragulus napu - 1818-1842 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - Special Collections University of Amsterdam - (white background)

• Antilocapra white background.jpg

  Antilocapra white background

• Giraffa camelopardalis Brockhaus white background.jpg

  Giraffa camelopardalis Brockhaus white background

• The deer of all lands (1898) Hangul white background.png

  The deer of all lands (1898) Hangul white background

• Moschus chrysogaster white background.jpg

  Moschus chrysogaster white background

• Birds and nature (1901) (14562088237) white background.jpg

  Birds and nature (1901) (14562088237) white background

• Birds and nature (1901) (14562088237) white background.jpg

  Birds and nature (1901) (14562088237) white background

• The book of antelopes (1894) Boselaphus tragocamelus white background.png

  The book of antelopes (1894) Boselaphus tragocamelus white background

• The book of antelopes (1894) Tragelaphus angasi white background.png

  The book of antelopes (1894) Tragelaphus angasi white background

• The book of antelopes (1894) Aepyceros melampus white backround.png

  The book of antelopes (1894) Aepyceros melampus white backround