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Capra (genus)

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Revision as of 21:39, 21 May 2005 by Everyking (talk | contribs) (Reverted edits by 84.67.198.211 to last version by 81.178.99.46)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
This article is about goats, the animals. For the web comic, see Goats (comic).

Template:Taxobox begin Template:Taxobox begin placement Template:Taxobox regnum entry Template:Taxobox phylum entry Template:Taxobox classis entry Template:Taxobox ordo entry Template:Taxobox familia entry Template:Taxobox subfamilia entry Template:Taxobox genus entry Template:Taxobox end placement Template:Taxobox end A goat is an animal in the genus Capra, which consists of nine species: the Ibex, the West Caucasian Tur, the East Caucasian Tur, the Markhor, and the Wild Goat. The animal most commonly known as a "goat" is the Domestic Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), which is a subspecies of the Wild Goat.

Goats are bovines (members of the family Bovidae) and are related to cows and antelopes. It is a stereotype that goats eat everything.

Goats are widely scattered throughout Eurasia and Africa.

The Rocky Mountain Goat, despite its name, is not considered a true goat by scientists as it belongs to the genus Oreamnos.


History

Along with sheep, goats were among the first domesticated animals. The domestication of goats started at least 10,000 years ago. Goat hair and milk were the most important reasons for their domestication. Goat skins were used for water and wine bottles when traveling and camping and as parchment for writing.

A common superstition was that goats whispered lewd sentences in the ears of the saints. This belief was started with the size of the male goat's phallus, which is unusually large.

Species and subspecies

Preferring woody and weedy species, goats select the young growing points first as they browse downward from the upper parts of a plant.
Photo by Scott Bauer for the USDA
Adult "Billy" Goat
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