Bos - Systematics and Taxonomy

Systematics and Taxonomy

  • Subgenus Bos
    • Bos primigenius (aurochs) †
    • Bos taurus (cattle, domesticated form of Bos primigenius)
    • Bos indicus (zebu, domesticated form of Bos primigenius)
    • Bos aegyptiacus (Egyptian cattle; name not recognized by ITIS) †
    • Bos acutifrons
    • Bos planifrons
  • Subgenus Bibos
    • Bos gaurus (gaur or Indian bison)
    • Bos frontalis (gayal or mithun, domesticated form of Bos gaurus)
    • Bos javanicus (banteng)
    • Bos palaesondaicus (Pleistocene Banteng) †
  • Subgenus Novibos
    • Bos sauveli (kouprey or Grey ox)
  • Subgenus Poephagus
    • Bos grunniens (yak; also Bos mutus)

In 2003, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature resolved a long-standing dispute about the naming of those species (or pairs of species) of Bos that contain both wild and domesticated forms. The commission "conserved the usage of 17 specific names based on wild species, which are pre-dated by or contemporary with those based on domestic forms", confirming Bos primigenius for the aurochs and Bos gaurus for the gaur. If domesticated cattle and gayal are considered separate species, they are to be named Bos taurus and Bos frontalis; however, if they are considered part of the same species as their wild relatives, the common species are to be named Bos primigenius and Bos gaurus.

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