Cow
Bos taurus
Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.
Domestic cattle are large social herbivores kept in many parts of the world. Microbes in their digestive system help break down tough plant material.
Photo by Gilles DETOT on Unsplash
At a glance
- Location
- Farms and managed grazing land worldwide.
- Habitat
- Grassland
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Food
- Grasses and other herbaceous plants, with feed varying between farming systems.
Classification
- Common name
- Cow
- Browse group
- Mammals
- Scientific name or taxon
- Bos taurus
- Taxon rank
- species
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Bos
- Source classification
- Mammalia
Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.
Three things to know
- Cattle are ruminants.
- The tongue helps gather grass.
- Females are protective of their calves.
Habitat and range
Farms and managed grazing land worldwide.
Appearance and adaptations
The body and coat differ between breeds. A broad muzzle and mobile tongue help gather vegetation, while the digestive tract supports rumination.
Diet and behaviour
Cattle graze, rest and chew cud. Herd relationships influence access to resources, and females protect their calves.
More photos
Photo by Pascal van de Vendel on Unsplash
Sources
- Animal Diversity Web: Bos taurus
- A–Z Animals: Cow · Directory entry
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