Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which animals belong to the bovid family Bovidae?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
bovid
American bison, or plains buffalo (Bison bison).
The family Bovidae consists of 143 species of hoofed mammals belonging to the order Artiodactyla. These animals are distinguished from other cud-chewing artiodactyls, such as deer, by their permanent horns, which consist of a bony core covered by a keratinous sheath.1
The bovid family includes a diverse range of animals, such as:
- Antelopes (including duikers, dik-diks, sable antelope, blackbuck, and kudu)12
- Cattle1
- Sheep1
- Goats (including the markhor)1
- Bison1
- Buffalo1
- Saola1
These species are categorized into 50 genera and are adapted to various environments, ranging from dense forests to open plains and mountains. While their social structures and mating systems vary—ranging from solitary and territorial to herd-based and hierarchical—they all share the fundamental anatomical traits defining the family.12