Bovines (subfamily Bovinae) comprise a diverse group of 10 genera of medium to large-sized ungulates, including cattle, bison, African buffalo, water buffalos, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes. The members of this group of bovids are classified into loose tribes rather than formal subgroups, as the evolutionary relationships within the groups are still uncertain. General characteristics include cloven hooves and usually at least one of the sexes of a species having true horns. The largest extant bovine is the gaur.
In many countries, bovine milk and meat is used as food by humans. Cattle are kept as livestock almost everywhere except in parts of India and Nepal, where they are considered sacred by most Hindus. Bovines are used as draft animals and as riding animals. Small breeds of domestic bovine, such as the Miniature Zebu, are kept as pets. Bovine leather is durable and flexible and is used to produce a wide range of goods including clothing and bags.
Systematics and classification
Bovine skull
Family Bovidae
Subfamily Bovinae
Genus †Rectacornis?
†R. mirabilis
Tribe Boselaphini
Genus Tetracerus
Four-horned antelope, Tetracerus quadricornis
T. q. quadricornis
T. q. iodes
T. q. subquadricornis
Genus Boselaphus
Nilgai, Boselaphus tragocamelus
B. t. tragocamelus (Indian nilgai)
Genus †Duboisia
†D. santeng
Tribe Tragelaphini
Genus Tragelaphus (antelope-like)
Bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus
T. e. isaaci
T. e. eurycerus
Greater kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros
T. s. strepsiceros
T. s. chora
T. s. cottoni
Cape bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus
Harnessed bushbuck, Tragelaphus sylvaticus
Lesser kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis
Mountain nyala, Tragelaphus buxtoni
Lowland nyala, Tragelaphus angasii
Sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekeii
T. s. selousi
T. s. gratus
T. s. spekii
Genus Taurotragus
Common eland, Taurotragus oryx
T. o. oryx
T. o. livingstonii
T. o. pattersonianus
Giant eland, Taurotragus derbianus
T. d. derbianus
T. d. gigas
Tribe Bovini
Subtribe Pseudorygina
Genus Pseudoryx
Saola, Pseudoryx...
