| Taxon details
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Almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed mammal … Almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed mammals belonging to the family ''Bovidae'' are called bovids. The family is widespread, being native to Asia, Africa, Europe and North America, and diverse: members include bison, African buffalo, water buffalo, antelopes, gazelles, sheep, goats, muskoxen, and domestic cattle. The largest number of modern bovids is found in Africa
The bovid family is known through fossils from the early Miocene, around 20 million years ago. The earliest bovids, such as Eotragus, were small animals, somewhat similar to modern gazelles, and probably lived in woodland environments. The bovids rapidly diversified, and by the late Miocene had moved onto grassland habitats.Miocene had moved onto grassland habitats. +
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| Taxon level
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Family +
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| Taxon morphology details
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The largest bovid, the gaur, weighs well o … The largest bovid, the gaur, weighs well over a ton and stands 2.2 metres high at the shoulder; the smallest, the royal antelope, weighs about 3 kg and stands no taller than a large domestic cat. They occupy, and are adapted to, a wide variety of habitat types, from desert to tundra and from thick tropical forest to high mountains. Most members of the family are herbivorous.
Many bovids have a solid, stocky build, complex digestive systems (four chambered stomach) and four toes on each foot. Additionally, males of most species have horns, which have been linked to sexual selection.hich have been linked to sexual selection. +
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| Taxon name
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Bovidae +
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| Taxon neighbors
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Antilocapridae +
, Bovidae +
, Camelidae +
, Cervidae +
, Giraffidae +
, Hippopotamidae +
, Moschidae +
, Suidae +
, Tayassuidae +
, Tragulidae +
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| Has queryThis property is a special property in this wiki.
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Bovidae +
, Bovidae +
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| Categories |
Higher level taxa +
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| Modification dateThis property is a special property in this wiki.
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17 March 2011 01:17:31 +
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