Aurochs

Bos primigenius

Resurrected on:

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Genus information

Bos is an extant genus of bovines, like modern day cows, and several wild species, like the Gaur, Yak and Kouprey. Several extinct species of the genus are known and lived during the Pleistocene and Holocene epoch of Eurasia and Africa. Typical characteristics of the genus are their curved horns and fairly large built. Wild Bos species feed on grasses and leaved and can be found in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from dense forests to mountain slopes. They lived in (small) herds.

Family:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Bovidae

Eurasia & Africa

Pleistocene to Holocene

Species information

Probably the most famous species of extinct bovine is the Aurochs (Bos primigenius) that lived during the Pleistocene and Holocene epoch of Eurasia and Northern Africa. Most modern day cattle is closely related to this species of bovine and the species has been domesticated at least two times during the early Holocene. The Aurochs lived on open steppes and taigas and fed on low vegetation. Bulls were black in colour and had two large horns on top of their heads. Cows were brown coloured and had smaller horns.

Species:

Paleontologist:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Bos primigenius

Bojanus, 1827

Eurasia & Africa

Pleistocene to Holocene

Length:

Height:

Weight:

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1.8 m

1.500 kg

Reference:

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