Caprinae

Caprinae is a subfamily of the Bovidae family that includes the goat-antelope species known as caprines. Ruminant, hoofed mammals, they are adapted to a variety of habitats. Caprinae ranges across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the Americas, with many species inhabiting mountainous regions.

Taxonomy of Caprinae includes many genera such as Capra (goats), Ovis (sheep), Rupicapra (chamois), Naemorhedus (goral), Hemitragus (tahr), Budorcas (takins), Pseudois (blue sheep), Oreamnos (mountain goat), Pantholops (Tibetan antelope), and Ovibos (muskox). Some classifications recognize two tribes, Caprini and Ovibini, but arrangements vary with new data.

Caprines are typically adapted to rugged terrain and skilled climbers. They inhabit alpine meadows, forests, steppes, and tundra, forming social groups that range from small bands to large herds. Physical dimorphism varies by species, and horns are a common feature in both sexes of many caprines.

Horns are generally permanent and hollow, made of a bony core encased in a horn sheath. Caprinae are herbivorous ruminants, feeding on grasses, forbs, and shrubs; their dentition and stomachs allow efficient processing of fibrous plant matter.

Reproduction is often seasonal, with births timed to favorable conditions. Gestation and lactation yield typically one offspring, though twins occur. Many caprines migrate or move seasonally to exploit new forage.

Humans domesticated several caprine species, notably goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and sheep (Ovis aries). Wild caprines face threats from habitat loss, hunting, and climate change, leading to conservation concerns for several species.