Zebu
| Zebu | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification (disputed,[1] see § Taxonomy and name) | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Bovinae |
| Genus: | Bos |
| Species: | B. indicus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Bos indicus | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
| |
The zebu (/ˈziːb(j)uː, ˈzeɪbuː/; Bos indicus), also known as indicine cattle and humped cattle, is a species or subspecies of domestic cattle originating in South Asia.[4] Zebu, like many Sanga cattle breeds, differ from taurine cattle in the fatty hump on their shoulders, their large dewlap, and their sometimes-drooping ears. They are well adapted to high temperatures and are raised throughout the tropics.
The zebu is used as a draught and riding animal, as dairy cattle and beef cattle, and as a source of byproducts such as hides and dung for fuel and manure. Some small breeds such as Nadudana (also known as the miniature zebu)[5] are also kept as pets.[6]
In some regions, zebu have significant religious meaning.
- ^ International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1922). "Opinion 75. Twenty-Seven Generic Names of Protozoa, Vermes, Pisces, Reptilia and Mammalia Included in the Official List of Zoological Names". Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. 73 (1): 35–37.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
ASM21was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Linnaeus, C. (1758). "Bos indicus". Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (Tenth reformed ed.). Holmiae: Laurentii Salvii. p. 71.
- ^ Chen, S.; Lin, B.-Z.; Baig, M.; Mitra, B.; Lopes, R. J.; Santos, A. M.; Magee, D. A.; Azevedo, M.; Tarroso, P.; Sasazaki, S.; Ostrowski, S. (2010). "Zebu cattle are an exclusive legacy of the South Asia Neolithic". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 27 (1): 1–6. doi:10.1093/molbev/msp213. PMID 19770222.
- ^ "Miniature Zebu Cattle". Oklahoma State University. 2022. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
- ^ Madalena, F.E.; Toledo-Alvarado, H.; Cala-Moreno, N. (2019). "Bos indicus Breeds and Bos indicus × Bos taurus Crosses". Encyclopedia of Dairy Sciences. pp. 30–47. doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-100596-5.00619-3. ISBN 978-0-12-818767-8.