Capra (genus)

Capra is a genus of mammals, the goats, comprising ten species, including the markhor and several species known as ibexes. The domestic goat (Capra hircus) is a domesticated species derived from the bezoar ibex (Capra aegagrus aegagrus). It is one of the oldest domesticated species of animal—according to archaeological evidence its earliest domestication occurred in Iran at 10,000 calibrated calendar years ago.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Wild goats are animals of mountain habitats. They are very agile and hardy, able to climb on bare rock and survive on sparse vegetation. They can be distinguished from the genus Ovis, which includes sheep, by the presence of scent glands close to the feet, in the groin, and in front of the eyes, and the absence of other facial glands, and by the presence of a beard in some specimens, and of hairless calluses on the knees of the forelegs.<ref name=Parrini2009>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Taxonomy

All members of the genus Capra are bovids (members of the family Bovidae), and more specifically caprines (subfamily Caprinae). As such they are ruminants, meaning they chew the cud, and have four-chambered stomachs which play a vital role in digesting, regurgitating, and redigesting their food.

The genus has sometimes been taken to include Ovis (sheep) and Ammotragus (Barbary sheep),<ref>Ansell, W. F. H. 1972. Order Artiodactyla. Part 15. Pp. 1–84, in The mammals of Africa: An identification manual (J. Meester and H. W. Setzer, eds.) [issued 2 May 1972]. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C., not continuously paginated. (quoted in Template:MSW3 Grubb)</ref> but these are usually regarded as distinct genera, leaving Capra for ibexes. In this smaller genus, some authors have recognized only two species, the markhor on one side and all other forms included in one species on the other side.<ref>Haltenorth, T. 1963. Klassifikation der Säugetiere: Artiodactyla I. Handbuch der Zoologie, 8(32):1–167 (quoted in Template:MSW3 Grubb)</ref> Today, nine wild species are usually accepted to which is added the domestic goat:<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

• West Asian ibex also known as the wild goat (Capra aegagrus)
  • Bezoar ibex (Capra aegagrus aegagrus)
  • Sindh ibex (Capra aegagrus blythi)
• Domestic goat (Capra hircus; includes feral goat; domesticated from C. aegagrus and sometimes considered a subspecies of it)
• Asian ibex also known as the Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
• Markhor (Capra falconeri)
• West Caucasian tur (Capra caucasica)
• East Caucasian tur (Capra cylindricornis)
• Alpine ibex (Capra ibex)
• Iberian ibex also known as the Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
• Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Walia ibex (Capra walie)

The goats of the genus Capra have complex systematic relationships, which are still not completely resolved. Recent studies based on mitochondrial DNA suggest that the Asian ibex and the Nubian ibex represent distinct species, which are not very closely related to the physically similar Alpine ibex. The Alpine ibex forms a group with the Iberian ibex. The West Caucasian tur appears to be more closely related to the wild goat than to the East Caucasian tur. The markhor is relatively little separated from other forms—previously it had been considered to be a separate branch of the genus.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The following cladogram of seven Capra species is based on 2022 mitochondrial evidence:<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Almost all wild goat species are allopatric (geographically separated)—the only geographical overlaps are the wild goat (Capra aegagrus) with the East Caucasian tur (Capra cylindricornis), and the markhor (Capra falconeri) with the Asian ibex (Capra sibirica). In both cases, the overlapping species do not usually interbreed in the wild, but in captivity, all Capra species can interbreed, producing fertile offspring.<ref>V. G. Heptner: Mammals of the Sowjetunion Vol. I UNGULATES. Leiden, New York, 1989 Template:ISBN</ref>

• Goats as weed control.jpg

  Goats used for natural weed control

• Boisseau à décor de bouquetins, sloughis et échassiers - Musée du Louvre Antiquités orientales SB 3174 ; AS 12672.jpg

  Prehistoric terracotta pottery from Susa depicting an ibex, Template:Circa BC

• Ibex in the French Vanoise National Park.JPG

  Ibex securely climbing rocky slope

• Capra nubiana, Tierpark Hellabrunn – 03.jpg

  Male Nubian ibex

• Caprine heart.jpg

  Caprine heart

Domestication and uses

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Along with sheep, goats were among the first domesticated animals. The domestication process started at least 10,000 years ago in what is now northern Iran.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Easy human access to goat hair, meat, and milk were the primary motivations. Goat skins were popularly used until the Middle Ages for water and wine bottles when traveling and camping, and in certain regions as parchment for writing.

• Goats as weed control.jpg

  Goats used for natural weed control

External links

• Template:Cite NIE