Bovidae

While bovids are native to Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, the . They occupy nearly every land environment, including:

: Bovids have a specialized four-chambered stomach (rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum) designed for fermenting and digesting tough plant cellulose. bovidae

: Inhabited by muskox and mountain goats. While bovids are native to Africa, Asia, Europe,

: All males, and many females, possess permanent, unbranched horns. Unlike antlers, these consist of a keratin sheath over a bony core and are never shed. : All males, and many females, possess permanent,

: Home to shy species like duikers and bongo. Economic & Cultural Importance

: Every member of the family has two-toed (cloven) hooves. Global Distribution & Habitats

The family is a massive and diverse group of cloven-hoofed ruminants that includes familiar animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and bison, as well as a wide array of antelopes. There are approximately 143 living species today, with hundreds more known from the fossil record. Key Biological Characteristics