How are spiral-horned antelopes related to cattle?

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An American bison, or plains buffalo (Bison bison), stands in tall yellow grass with open plains in the background. — bovid American bison, or plains buffalo (*Bison bison*).

Spiral-horned antelopes (tribe Tragelaphini) are closely related to cattle because they belong to the same subfamily, Bovinae.

While "antelope" is a general term for many species within the family Bovidae, taxonomic classification places spiral-horned antelopes—such as kudus, elands, and bushbucks—in the same subfamily as the cattle tribe (Bovini). This grouping reflects a shared evolutionary lineage that distinguishes them from other bovid groups, such as the Caprinae (which includes sheep and goats) or the Antilopinae (which includes gazelles). Additionally, members of the subfamily Bovinae are generally characterized by non-territorial mating systems, a trait that further distinguishes them from many other bovid lineages.12