The biological subfamily Bovinae (or bovines) includes a diverse group of about 24 species of medium-sized to large ungulates, including domestic cattle, 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.

The Boselaphini or four-horned antelope tribe are the last survivors of a form very similar to that of the ancestors of the entire subfamily. Both species have relatively primitive anatomical and behavioural characteristics and the females have no horns. They are native to the rapidly diminishing forests of India, and tend to avoid open plains. The Nilgai has been introduced into southern Texas where a population of a little under 10,000 animals provides some long-term insurance for its survival.

The Bovini tribe is made up of large to very large grazers, including large animals of great economic significance to humans in Domestic Cattle, Water Buffalo, and the Yak, as well as smaller Asian relatives, and large free-roaming bovids in the African Buffalo and the American Bison.

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RT: @markinreading Dimbleby loses debate with Bos Primigenius, a castrated male domesticated ungulate from the subfamily Bovinae #bbcqt
mjrobbins (Martin Robbins) Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:01:19 -0000
RT: @markinreading Dimbleby loses debate with Bos Primigenius, a castrated male domesticated ungulate from the subfamily Bovinae #bbcqt
Dimbleby loses debate with Bos Primigenius, a castrated male domesticated ungulate from the subfamily Bovinae #bbcqt
markinreading (Mark Adams) Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:50:45 -0000
Dimbleby loses debate with Bos Primigenius, a castrated male domesticated ungulate from the subfamily Bovinae #bbcqt

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