Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus)
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Capra
Species: Capra hircus
Range and Habitat
Domestic goats are found worldwide and associated with humans.
Physical Features
Size: Domestic goats are usually 64 cm tall and weigh 45 kg.
Build: Goats are lighter than sheep and have a less solid build.
Horns: Both male and female goats may have hollow horns that curve backward, either in a corkscrew or scimitar shape.
Hair: Goats can have short or long hair that is curly, silky, or coarse. Different breeds can have different hair types.
Ears: Goat ears can be erect or drooping and vary in size.
Nose: Some goat breeds have straight noses, while others have convex or slightly dished noses.
Neck: Goats may have beards and wattles on their necks.
Eyes: Goats have prominent eyes on either side of their heads, which gives them a wide field of vision of 320-340° and binocular vision of 20-60°. This is typical of prey species.
Tail: Goats have short tails.
Diet
General grazers feeding on grasses however they are able to high fibrous foods that cannot be digested by many other animals.
Lifespan
10-12 years.
Reproduction
Does are seasonally polyestrus with an estrous cycle that lasts approximately 21 days. Goats are normally pregnant for 149 days and there can be some very small variation depending on various factors such as season and breed.
Social Behavior and Interaction
Goats are social animals that are usually found in groups and prefer to stay close together. Their social behaviors can vary based on their breed, surroundings, and herd size. Here are some examples of goat social behaviors:
- Horns play a major role in social rankings, and the most hierarchical position is usually the most aggressive.
- Goats may rub their horns against each other in an up-and-down motion, lightly collide with their horns, or lean onto each other to rest.
- Goats may urinate on their front legs and then rub them on a doe as part of a courtship ritual.
- Goats use urine to signal their identity and reproductive status, and they secrete olfactory signals through their pedal and tail glands.
Major Threats
No major threats.