Family BOVIDAE
Compiler and date details
December 2010 - Updated by Stephen M. Jackson, c/- Queensland Museum, Brisbane, following Van Dyck & Strahan (2008)
31 December 1998 - J.A. Mahoney & D.W. Walton (1988); updated by Barry J. Richardson (1999), Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury
Introduction
The family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla, includes the cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo and antilopes. No bovid is native to Australia. Although many species have been introduced, a few species have become feral here: the water buffalo Bubalus bubalis, the Bali cattle Bos javanicus, the blackbuck Antilope cervicapra and the goat Capra hircus. Domesticated European cattle, Bos taurus, have also established feral populations.
The dental formula is 0/3, 0-1/0-1, 3/2-3, 3/3. When present the upper canines are small. There is a single lacrymal duct and antorbitals are sometimes present. One pair of horns is present in all males and the females of some species. The horns are permanent, unbranched, outgrowths of the frontal bones. There are two or four digits on each foot.
Bovids are herbivorous, ruminant, browsers or grazers. They inhabit virtually all habitats from tropical forests to tundra in both the New and Old Worlds.
General References
Groves, C.P. 1989. Bovidae. pp. 1061-1066 in Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds). Fauna of Australia. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1B 827 pp.
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-Dec-2010 | 16-Dec-2010 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |