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Simple Summary: This study explores the genetic diversity of the casein gene cluster, a key component in milk protein production, across various Bovidae species, including cattle, buffaloes, and antelopes. The lack of genetic data for wild bovids hampers the understanding of milk protein expression and the improvement of dairy breeds. The researchers assessed the feasibility of using a cattle-specific SNP microarray to analyze genetic variation in 12 Bovidae taxa, representing 5 different subfamilies. The positive results enabled the examination of genetic variations and their potential impact on milk protein production. The findings revealed high genetic diversity in these genes among domestic cattle and certain wild species, such as the lechwe, suggesting variations in milk protein expression. The study demonstrated that cattle-derived SNP chips are effective tools for examining genetic diversity in other Bovidae species. Moreover, the relatively low cost of SNP microarrays and the ability of third-party companies to scan them make genomic analysis applicable to a wide range of research areas. The casein gene cluster spans 250 to 350 kb across mammalian species and is flanked by non-coding DNA with largely unknown functions. These regions likely harbor elements regulating the expression of the 4 casein genes. In Bovidae, this cluster is well studied in domestic cattle and to a lesser extent in zebu and water buffalo. This study used a cattle-specific SNP microarray to analyze 12 Bovidae taxa and estimate casein gene cluster variability across 5 bovid subfamilies. Genotyping identified 126 SNPs covering the entire casein gene cluster and 2 Mb of upstream and downstream regions. Dairy cattle, watusi, and zebu showed the highest polymorphism: 63.7–68.2% in the 5′-upstream region, 35.6–40.0% in the casein cluster, and 40.4–89.4% in the 3′-downstream region. Among wild bovids, only a 'semi-aquatic' lechwe revealed high polymorphism similar to cattle. Other species exhibited lower variability, ranging from 9.1–27.3% in the 5′-upstream, 8.9–20.0% in the casein, and 4.2–10.6% in the 3′-downstream regions. For the first time, genome variability data were obtained for impala, waterbuck, and lechwe. It appears that higher variability in cattle's casein gene cluster may relate to its intense expression. This study confirms the effectiveness of cattle-derived microarrays for genotyping Bovidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ear region has a strong potential for evolutionary studies. While the petrosal bone suffers from ontogeny and allometry, the bony labyrinth provides crucial information for phylogeny. The study of the bony labyrinth itself allowed for argumentation of the early bovid species Eotragus artenensis and Eotragus clavatus being closely related, while a newly described species and genus of early Bovidae from Montréal‐du‐Gers (France), formerly attributed to Eotragus, clearly belong to another lineage. The morphology of the bony labyrinth of these oldest bovids confirms that Eotragus is a stem Bovidae, while the new Bovidae is more derived. Since the bony labyrinth is a structure that is little affected by ontogeny, allometry, and sexual dimorphism, we propose this structure and its surrounding petrosal bone as the holotype for this new species. This study shows the importance of the ear region in the context of micro‐ and macro‐evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myotragus balearicus is the terminal species of a Caprinae lineage that inhabited the Balearic Islands since the Messinian. Myotragus balearicus had a relatively small brain, reported to be half the size of a contemporary bovid of similar size. This study presents a reassessment of its brain size and anatomy. We demonstrate that the brain of M. balearicus is only 17% smaller when compared to Late Miocene taxa. Since the ancestors of M. balearicus were isolated on the Balearics in the Late Miocene, we deduce that the small brain size of M. balearicus is a feature largely retained from its continental ancestor and only partially the result of geographic isolation. The reduction in brain size can be attributed to reduction of the occipital region. We hypothesise that neuroanatomical changes during the evolutionary process of dwarfism were likely influenced by the absence of ecologically relevant predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It occurs in a wide variety of habitats that range from open plains, grasslands, scrublands, and lightly forested areas. The current study provides insights into the existing genetic variation in blackbuck populations, which is crucial for enhancing population fitness and long-term survival. To understand the phylogeny and genetic diversity of blackbuck, we processed the pellet samples (n = 233) from 18 locations across their distribution range in India for MtDNACytb and control region. High haplotype (0.991) and nucleotide diversity (0.033) were observed in the populations. The mtDNA-based AMOVA indicated 41.73% genetic variations among the blackbuck populations of India. The results confirmed that the blackbuck has a unique haplotype in different locations that is not shared by other populations. Geographically, our results identified four genetically distinct clusters: Northern, Southern East, Southern West and Eastern central regions of India. The study reveals that an ancestral population initially separated into two groups, leading to the formation of the North and South clusters. Subsequently, the South population diverged further into three clusters: Southeast, Southwest, and Eastern-central populations. Neighbor-joining analysis suggested the Eastern-central region as part of the Southern East region, while Bayesian phylogeny indicated a separate clade emerging from the Eastern-central region at a later time. Bayesian skyline plots revealed a history of population equilibrium in the Northern region followed by a recent population expansion in Southern East, Southern West and Eastern-central regional populations. Demographic analysis suggests that blackbucks have effectively adapted to their respective landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No single studies on the Burmese Red Serows, a little known bovid to date yet considered as nationally endangered species, have been conducted in Bangladesh. As part of a systematic wildlife inventory and monitoring project, this study utilized 48 camera traps to elucidate their occurrence, activity pattern and possible sympatric association with other artiodactyls species inhabiting Baraiyadhala National Park. The study found 25 independent serow events with relative abundance index (RAI) of 0.89. The number of individuals seems low, but this is by far the country's stronghold population. The Red Serows are mostly nocturnal and showed moderate temporal activity with barking dear (∆1 = 0.59) and wild boar (∆1 = 0.62) in this area. Anthropogenic pressures due to tourists (RAI = 4.8) and poachers (RAI = 1.7) were highly evident and must have negative impact on overall wildlife of the national park. The study suggests similar studies in adjacent protected area (Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary), habitat protection and restoration program, and awareness raising program targeting forest dependent communities for long term conservation of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among gastrointestinal nematodes, Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi) Cobb (order Strongylidae; family Trichostrongylidae) is one of pathogenic and economic importance in domestic and wild ruminants, including the European bison, Bison bonasus Linnaeus (order Cetartiodactyla; family Bovidae); a species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. Carabus granulatus Linnaeus (order Coleoptera; family Carabidae) is one of the most prevalent species of ground beetle, inhabiting a wide range of terrestrial ecosystems in Poland. Twenty‐six ground beetles of this species inhabiting the Białowieża Primeval Forest in eastern Poland were screened for the presence of DNA of pathogenic gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants. Extracted DNA was sequenced and compared to reference sequences. In six insects, the presence of H. contortus DNA was detected. The obtained nucleotide sequences were homologous to each other and to the majority of the published DNA sequences of H. contortus isolates. The sequences were also identical to a sequence of H. contortus isolated from European bison in Poland. The study provides the first molecular evidence of the presence of H. contortus DNA in C. granulatus. The finding suggests that ground beetles may play a role in the transmission dynamics of this parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Bovidae [Mammalia: Artiodactyla] is speciose and has extant representatives on every continent, forming key components of mammal communities. For these reasons, bovids are ideal candidates for studies of ecomorphology. In particular, the morphology of the bovid humerus has been identified as highly related to functional variables such as body mass and habitat. This study investigates the functional morphology of the bovid distal humerus in isolation due to its increased likelihood of preservation in the fossil record, and the resulting opportunity for a better understanding of the ecomorphology of extinct bovids. A landmark scheme of 30 landmarks was used to capture the 3D distal humerus morphology in 111 extant bovid specimens. We find that the distal humerus has identifiable morphologies associated with body mass, habitat preference and tribe affiliation and that some characteristics are shared between high body mass bovids and those living on hard, flat terrain which is likely due to the high stress on the bone in both cases. We directly apply our findings regarding extant bovids to the extinct alcelaphine bovid, Rusingoryx atopocranion from the mid to late Pleistocene (>33–45 ka) Lake Victoria region of Kenya. This species is known for some peculiar morphologies including a domed cranium with hollow nasal crests, and having small hooves for a bovid of its size. Another interesting aspect of Rusingoryx's skeletal morphology which has not been addressed is an unusual protrusion on the lateral epicondyle of the distal humerus. Despite considerable individual variation in the Rusingoryx specimens, we find evidence to support its historical assignment to the tribe Alcelaphini, and that it likely preferred open grassland habitats, which is consistent with independent reconstructions of the palaeoenvironment. We also provide the most accurate body mass estimate for Rusingoryx to date, based on distal humerus centroid size. Overall, we are able to conclude that the distal humerus in extant bovids is highly informative regarding body mass, habitat preference and tribe, and that this can be applied directly to a fossil taxon with promising results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explorations in the past 20 years in the Plio-Pleistocene Zanda Basin (3,800–4,500 m above sea level) along the northern slopes of the Himalaya Mountains have substantially enriched our understanding of the paleoenvironments of the Tibetan Plateau and associated biologic evolution. Many elements of the mammalian fauna recovered are either new to science or shed new light about their special adaptations in this high elevation basin. Here we describe a new species of twisted-horned antelope, Gazellospira tsaparangensis, with a heteronymous spiral. Its small size and primitive morphology, such as relatively short horncore with less twisting, thin frontal bones, a lack of frontal and horncore sinuses, small size of supraorbital foramina, and lack of an anterior keel, helps to place it at the base of genus Gazellospira, substantially more stem-ward than the type species G. torticornis from the Plio-Pleistocene of Europe and western Asia. With an estimated age of 3.62 Ma, this also places G. tsaparangensis as one of the early occurrences in Eurasia, although some fragmentary records in Turkey may be slightly earlier. Considering this early appearance and primitive morphology, G. tsaparangensis once again may be a case of the ‘out-of-Tibet’ model of megafauna origin, with earlier progenitors adapted to cold environments in high Tibet before expanding their range to the rest of Eurasia.

Abstract Locomotor preferences and habitat types may drive animal evolution. In this study, we speculated that locomotor preference and habitat type may have diverse influences on Bovidae mitochondrial genes. We used selection pressure and statistical analysis to explore the evolution of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) protein-coding genes (PCGs) from diverse locomotor preferences and habitat types. Our study demonstrates that locomotor preference (energy demand) drives the evolution of Bovidae in mtDNA PCGs. The habitat types had no significant effect on the rate of evolution in Bovidae mitochondrial genes. Our study provides deep insight into the adaptation of Bovidae.

Fossil gazelles have been discovered from the late Miocene to the late Pleistocene in China, but the Neogene gazelles were much more documented. The gazelle specimens unearthed from the early Pleistocene at Tianzhen are described and classified into three species: Gazella sinensis, G. blacki and Procapra cf. przewalskii. Based on the observation of extant Gazella subgutturosa and Procapra, we summarised the differential morphological characters of these species. Meanwhile, we reviewed and revised two diagnostic characters, morphology of p4 and size of horn cores, and we suggest that these should be used carefully in classification. Based on the new diagnostic characters, the Gazella cf. subgutturosa identified by Teilhard de Chardin and Piveteau in 1930 should be reassigned to G. sinensis. Partial materials of G. paragutturosa described by Bohlin in 1938 may be moved from Gazella to Procapra as P. gutturosa. We infer that the lectotype of G. blacki and other materials described by Chen in 1997 belong to the juvenile individuals based on the internal morphology of their horn cores. The different characters of the early Pleistocene G. sinensis and G. blacki are summarised after reviewing all materials classified into these two species in the previous works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we describe new bovid remains from the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene of Padhri in the Potwar Plateau of Pakistan. A comparison with the closely allied genera from the Siwaliks revealed that a maxillary fragment and a hemimandible belong to Tragoportax punjabicus, two isolated teeth can be assigned as cf. Tragoportax sp. and a mandible fragment belongs to Gazella lydekkeri. We suggest that Tragoportax is represented by two valid species and Gazella by three species. The extinction of Tragoportax and Gazella from the Siwaliks during the Early Pliocene could be associated with habitat loss, as these used to live in forest and shrublands respectively which were replaced with the grassland towards the beginning of the Pliocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extinction of megafauna, such as rhinos, from tropical Asian forests may have detrimental effects on the regeneration of plant species that rely heavily on their dispersal services. Understanding the potential of other animals to substitute the ecological function of megafauna is important for predicting ecosystem change following declines or extirpation of megafauna. Anthropogenic activities have led to the presence of domestic bovids in many tropical habitats, and these animals could be capable of substituting seed dispersal roles of megafauna. Here, we conducted feeding trials, germination tests, and collected movement data on greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) and domestic bovids (Bos primigenius; Bubalus bubalis) in the national parks of Chitwan and Shuklaphanta, Nepal. Our aim was to investigate whether domestic bovids can serve as effective substitutes for rhinos in dispersing the megafaunal-fruited Mallotus nudiflorus, which are specialized for rhino dispersal. Specifically, we assessed the long-distance seed dispersal capabilities of rhinos and bovids by combining gut passage times and movement patterns. Additionally, we compared the seed germination success rates among rhinos, bovids and other dispersal modes (e.g., deer and water dispersal). We found that rhinos dispersed 80 percent of seeds over distances greater than 1 km, with potential dispersal distances of up to approximately 5.4 km within their maximum gut passage time. In contrast, cattle dispersed 20 percent of seeds over 1 km, with a maximum distance of around 2.2 km, while buffaloes dispersed 15 percent of seeds over 1 km, with a maximum distance of around 1.4 km. Seeds consumed by rhinos exhibited similar or better germination rates compared to seeds retrieved from cattle and buffalo dung, as well as other dispersal modes. These findings indicate that rhinos provide a functionally unique dispersal service for this megafaunal fruit, especially in long-distance dispersal. While domestic bovids can partially substitute the seed dispersal functions of rhinos, they cannot fully compensate for the loss of seed dispersal that occurs with the disappearance of rhinos.

Background Gaur (Bos gaurus) is listed as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List of threatened species due to the rapid population decline caused by human pressures in their habitats. To develop successful conservation plans, it is essential to understand the relationship between Gaur and their habitats. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing Gaur habitat use and identify and rank conservation threats in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Methods Using line transect surveys, we recorded Gaur’s presence via direct sightings and indirect signs (dung, footprints, horns) over an area of 176 km2 in July and August 2022. We used binary logistic regression models to determine the collected ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing the occurrence of Gaur and the relative whole-site threat ranking method to rank conservation threats. Results The results revealed that the probability of Gaur occurrence increases with moderate to high canopy cover, riverine and Shorea robusta dominated forests, and nearest distance to road/path/firelines, while decreasing with the presence of predators. Uncontrolled fire, invasive species, human disturbances, and climate change were ranked as the most prevailing threats to Gaur in our study area. Conservation managers should implement effective habitat management interventions, such as construction of waterhole, firelines maintenance, grassland management, and control of invasive species in the potential habitats, to safeguard and maintain the sustainability of Gaur populations and associated herbivores. Future studies should consider larger geographical settings and multiple seasons, and habitat suitability assessments should be conducted to determine current and future suitable habitat refugia for Gaur and other threatened wildlife species at the landscape level.

Well adapted to extremely cold winters (hypothermia) and low oxygen (hypoxia), the Tibetan antelope (or chiru), Pantholops hodgsonii Abel, is an iconic species in the Tibetan Plateau. Its extinct relative, Qurliqnoria Bohlin, represents the earliest endemic Tibetan mammal going back to the late Miocene, suggesting a long process of adaptations within Tibetan Plateau for ~ 10 million years. We reexamine holotype materials of Q. hundesiensis (Lydekker) from the British Museum, originally discovered by British explorers in the Himalayas in the early 1800s, and new materials recently discovered in the Pliocene strata of Zanda Basin, southwestern Tibet. We refer additional horncore and dental materials from the Kunlun Pass Basin at 4,700–4,900 m asl, and leverage these new data to place Q. hundesiensis within modern biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental frameworks. Although Qurliqnoria remains the best candidate of a distant sister-group of living Pantholops, the Pliocene representatives offer no sign of transitions to living chiru. We infer that the Qurliqnoria lineage has persisted throughout late Miocene and Pliocene of the Tibetan Plateau in a chronospecies succession, i.e., Q. cheni to Q. hundesiensis. The Pliocene Qurliqnoria probably did not directly give rise to Pantholops, suggesting that a direct ancestor of Pantholops is yet to be found. We discuss the paleoenvironmental and paleoelevational implications of the new Qurliqnoria materials and analysis for Tibetan Plateau faunal evolution.

Africa's fossil record of late Cenozoic mammals documents considerable ecological and evolutionary changes through time. Here, we synthesize those changes in the context of the mechanisms proposed to account for them, including bottom-up (e.g., climate change) and top-down (e.g., hominin impacts) processes. In doing so, we (a) examine how the incompleteness of the fossil record and the varied spatiotemporal scales of the evidence complicate efforts to establish cause-effect relationships; (b) evaluate hypothesized drivers of long-term ecological and evolutionary change, highlighting key unknowns; and (c) synthesize major taxonomic and functional trends through time (e.g., downsizing of faunal communities) considering the proposed drivers. Throughout our review, we point to unresolved questions and highlight research avenues that have potential to inform on the processes that have shaped the history of what are today the most diverse remaining large mammal communities on Earth. The study of late Cenozoic African mammal communities is intertwined with questions about the context, causes, and consequences of hominin evolution. The fossil record documents major functional (e.g., loss of megaherbivores) and taxonomic (e.g., rise of the Bovidae) changes over the past ∼7 Myr. Complexities inherent to the fossil record have made it difficult to identify the processes that drove ecological and evolutionary changes. Unanswered questions about the drivers of faunal change and the functioning of past ecosystems represent promising future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the evolutionary drivers of sexual signal complexity is a key challenge in the study of animal communication. Among mammals, male bovids and cervids often perform elaborate gestural displays during courtship, consisting of ritualized movements of various parts of the body but the causes underlying interspecific variation in complexity of such displays remain poorly understood. Here we apply the comparative method to investigate which factors may have either promoted or constrained gestural repertoire size. We found that sexual selection was a strong predictor of gestural display complexity in male bovids and cervids. Repertoire size was positively correlated with breeding group size, an indicator of the intensity of sexual selection in males. Moreover, repertoires were larger in species adopting nonterritorial and lek breeding mating systems than in species adopting resource-defence territoriality, a finding that can be explained by more emphasis on direct benefits than indirect benefits in resource-defence systems, where male mating success may also be less skewed due to difficulty in monopolizing mates. The results also indicate that gestural repertoire size was positively correlated with the number of closely related species occurring in sympatry. This is consistent with display complexity being selected to facilitate species recognition during courtship and thereby avoid interspecific hybridization. At the same time, repertoire size was negatively associated with male body mass, possibly due to the energetic and mechanical constraints imposed on movements in very large species. By contrast, we found no evidence that the habitat drives selection for complex gestural courtship displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetal tumours in domestic animals are considered rare. Congenital lipomatous changes have been sporadically reported in fetal, neonatal and young bovids. Their prognosis is often guarded compared with benign lipocytic tumours and depends on their location and degree of infiltration. They can infiltrate the subcutis, deeper musculature and even the skeleton. Four cases of congenital infiltrative lipomatosis have been described in bovine fetuses and young calves. In this report we describe an additional two cases in a neonatal Belgian Blue White calf and a fetal dairy calf. A potential role in bovine abortion needs further investigation. Furthermore, a suggestion is made to adapt the nomenclature from infiltrative lipoma to lipomatosis in order to emphasize the poor prognosis due to the local infiltrative behaviour of these lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peste-des-Petits Ruminants Virus (PPRV) causes a highly contagious and severe infectious disease known as Peste-des-Petits Ruminants (PPR), resulting in significant mortality in both domestic and wild ruminants. An in-depth understanding of the molecular relationship between PPRV and susceptible hosts is essential for the prevention of PPR. The signaling lymphocytic-activation molecule (SLAM) acts as a key receptor in susceptible host species, mediating interactions with PPRV and triggering PPR in ruminants. This study offers an in-depth analysis of PPRV-susceptible host species as well as the identified SLAM amino acid sequences to date. Investigation reveals that nine families—Bovidae, Camelidae, Cervidae, Elephantidae, Suidae, Felidae, Canidae, Muridae, and Ceratopogonidae—have been affected by PPRV infection. Furthermore, a bioinformatics-based approach was proposed to screen the least common amino acid patterns (LCAP) in important SLAM receptor regions of known PPRV-susceptible species. Research findings reveal that 14 least common amino acid sites (LCAS) in SLAM amino acid sequences (I61, I63, S60, S70, K76, K78, I79, S81, L82, E123, N125, S127, V128, and F131) exhibit a prevalent similarity to LCAP across all known susceptible species. Comparative analysis of these 14 LCAP with SLAM nucleotide sequences from unknown susceptible ruminants to identify species at heightened risk of PPRV. In the result, 48 species from 20 different families across six orders were at potential risk of being infected with PPRV. This exploration suggests the feasibility of assessing potential hosts at high risk of PPRV infection through the LCAS screening technique. Moreover, it offers a means to anticipate and issue warnings regarding the likelihood of interspecies transmission. In conclusion, this study integrates molecular biology and bioinformatics, shedding light on PPRV infection dynamics and paving the way for predictive strategies to prevent the spread of this devastating disease among ruminant populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last two decades, the bovine A1 variant of beta-casein has attracted attention in the dairy industry as a source of beta-casomorphin-7, an opioid-like peptide with potentially harmful effects on human health. Because the origin of this variant is unknown, the aim of the study was to investigate its occurrence in different species of the Bovidae family. Blood samples were taken from 137 animals belonging to 17 Bovidae species. All animals were genotyped for the beta-casein locus using the Illumina Bovine MDv2 Chip. The results showed that the A1 allele was present in Bos taurus cattle, including primitive cattle (Watussi and Ukrainian Grey) and a modern dairy breed (Holstein). In Dahomey cattle, two heterozygous A1A2 individuals were found. In all remaining species, no animal carrying the A1 allele of beta-casein was identified. It can be concluded that the A2 allele is ancestral to the A1 allele and was spread especially among modern dairy cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the application of Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) to osseous Longobard artifacts from the collection of the "Musei Reali di Torino" (MRT; Torino, Italy). Like most archaeological items made of worked bone/antler in museum collections, the raw material of such specimens is usually attributed to deer, often without accurate taxonomic attribution. Therefore, the main aim of the present investigation was to shed light on taxonomical aspects using biomolecular approaches. We first examined the collagen preservation of the artifacts, then we compared three sampling methods (invasive, eraser‐based, and bag‐based), and we evaluated the quality of the collagen fingerprint obtained. Overall, we found a good, albeit not optimal, biomolecular preservation status, even in heavily restored objects coming from the 19th‐century collections. Out of 37 specimens analyzed through matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight–mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) and nanoHPLC‐tandem MS, 31 yielded usable data. The results confirmed the widespread use of cervid as the osseous raw material for comb‐making in Longobard times in Piedmont, but we also found that bovine bones (Bos but also other taxa belonging to family Bovidae, such as caprines) and equid bones were exploited—demonstrating opportunistic use of animal resources. As far as the method is concerned, the ZooMS peptide markers useful to distinguish between bovids and cervids (m/z 1580 vsm/z 1550) (Buckley et al., 2009) are more frequently detected when analyzing bone chips, that is, with the invasive sampling method, rather than collagen extracts obtained using non‐invasive techniques. Nonetheless, the eraser method (eZooMS) seems to be a good trade‐off between invasivity and quality of the information obtained: eZooMS sampling does not leave visible marks on the object and therefore can contribute to facilitating the routine application of biomolecular methods in the daily practice of museum conservation laboratories. Indeed, an important outcome of the present study has been the establishment of a close collaboration between museum and biomolecular specialists. Taken together, our results suggest that the Longobards had a preference towards locally available resources, although this work did not highlight a clear association between raw material (deer, cattle, and other bovids) and object typology (in the case of combs) or function, except for buttons. The overall information obtained by this study confirms the potential of biomolecular approaches for reconstructing the biography of museum objects with a long and complex life and demonstrates the value of zooarchaeological study of museum collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe here the Bovidae from the early Middle Miocene site of Maboko, Kenya, known for its rich and highly diverse assemblage of Primates. They are attributed to two taxa of slightly different sizes, Turcocerus africanus n.sp. and Kubanotragus pickfordi. In addition to Kenya, Turcocerus ranges through the Middle Miocene from Turkey to China; it might have originated in Africa but the lack of precise dating weakens any phylogeographic hypothesis. Kubanotragus has similar chronological and geographic ranges. Both Maboko species retain low levels of hypsodonty compared to their northern relatives and may have been less specialised for grazing than Eurasian taxa. The Maboko Bovidae illustrate an early diversification of the family in Africa that appears to pre-date the major diversification of Bovidae and appearance of the diverse clades that are characteristic of modern African pecoran faunas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The palaeontological material from the Dacian Basin provides a complete and well-represented record of faunal succession during the important faunal turnover called the Pachycrocuta event. The present study describes fossil remains of ruminants (Cervidae, Bovidae, Giraffidae) from the Early Pleistocene of Valea Grăunceanului, Fântâna lui Mitilan and other smaller sites from the Olteț River Valley. The article discuss the taxonomic context, eco-morphology and functional morphology of the described taxa and dynamics of biogeographic distribution. The commutity of ruminant species from the Dacian Basin before the Pachycrocuta event is dominated by Pliocene holdovers: Pliotragus ardeus, Gazellospira torticornis, Rucervus radulescui, Metacervocerus rhenanus and Mitilanotherium inexspectatum. This assemblage also contains new forms for Western Eurasia as Dama eurygonos, Eucladoceros dicranios, Eucladoceros ctenoides, Alces sp. and Bison (Eobison) sp. This specific regional fauna of ruminants became extinct during the Pachycrocuta faunal turnover and was replaced by a more cold-adapted assemblage of ruminants (Megalovis latifrons, Eucladoceros sp., Dama sp., Praemegaceros obscurus and its specialised diminished form Praemegaceros cf. mosbachensis) that show a greater affinity with coeval Levant faunas. The revealed dynamics of paleobiogeographic zones from the Early Pleistocene of southeastern Europe supports the hypothesis of early hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia via Balkan-Anatolia path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population structure and herd pattern of the blackbucks were investigated in a semi-arid area of village Badopal, Fatehabad, Haryana, which is surrounded by human settlements and agricultural intensification. Fortnightly, 25 field visits were conducted from September 2019 to August 2020 during four different season(s) and data was recorded by Scan sampling and line transect method in morning and evening hours. Total of 1900 individuals were screened which were divided into six herd categories with six age groups of both sexes. The adult male to adult female ratio during study period was recorded 25.02 with maximum 51.10% contribution in the population from adult females. Out of the total 133 groups screened, maximum 45 groups were sighted in autumn and minimum 14 in summer and overall annual group mean was 14.54 ± 2.43 with a mean crowding of 26.39. Out of the total six herd categories sighted at the site, maximum number was 42 for harem herd (HH = 42) and minimum was 9 for female herd (FH = 9) and the species exhibited partial social organization because both herd and solitary animals were observed. On the basis of seasonal and annual means, the DMRT test revealed that the size of harem herd (HH) was statistically maximum (P < 0.05) among all other categories. It is practically difficult to make a species-specific efficient conservation plan without regular monitoring of population size and knowledge of a species' sociality. Present study provide an insight of population structure and social behavior of blackbuck among a human dominating landscape, therefore, it can be implemented for long term habitat management of this isolated fragmented population and many such small populations throughout the western Haryana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The casein gene cluster spans 250 to 350 kb across mammalian species and is flanked by non-coding DNA with largely unknown functions. These regions likely harbor elements regulating the expression of the 4 casein genes. In Bovidae, this cluster is well studied in domestic cattle and to a lesser extent in zebu and water buffalo. This study used a cattle-specific SNP microarray to analyze 12 Bovidae taxa and estimate casein gene cluster variability across 5 bovid subfamilies. Genotyping identified 126 SNPs covering the entire casein gene cluster and 2 Mb of upstream and downstream regions. Dairy cattle, watusi, and zebu showed the highest polymorphism: 63.7–68.2% in the 5′-upstream region, 35.6–40.0% in the casein cluster, and 40.4–89.4% in the 3′-downstream region. Among wild bovids, only a ‘semi-aquatic’ lechwe revealed high polymorphism similar to cattle. Other species exhibited lower variability, ranging from 9.1–27.3% in the 5′-upstream, 8.9–20.0% in the casein, and 4.2–10.6% in the 3′-downstream regions. For the first time, genome variability data were obtained for impala, waterbuck, and lechwe. It appears that higher variability in cattle’s casein gene cluster may relate to its intense expression. This study confirms the effectiveness of cattle-derived microarrays for genotyping Bovidae.

Assumptions about factors such as climate in shaping species' realized and potential distributions underlie much of conservation planning and wildlife management. Climate and climatic change lead to shifts in species distributions through both direct and indirect ecological pressures. Distributional shifts may be particularly important if range overlap is altered between interacting species, or between species and protected areas. The cattle family (Bovidae) represents a culturally, economically, and ecologically important taxon that occupies many of the world's rangelands. In contemporary North America, five wild bovid species inhabit deserts, prairies, mountains, and tundra from Mexico to Greenland. Here, we aim to understand how future climate change will modify environmental characteristics associated with North American bovid species relative to the distribution of extant protected areas. We fit species distribution models for each species to climate, topography, and land cover data using observations from a citizen science dataset. We then projected modeled distributions to the end of the 21st century for each bovid species under two scenarios of anticipated climate change. Modeling results suggest that suitable habitat will shift inconsistently across species and that such shifts will lead to species-specific variation in overlap between potential habitat and existing protected areas. Furthermore, projected overlap with protected areas was sensitive to the warming scenario under consideration, with diminished realized protected area under greater warming. Conservation priorities and designation of new protected areas should account for ecological consequences of climate change.

Introduction: The Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) is a remarkable mammal thriving in the extreme Qinghai-Tibet Plateau conditions. Despite the availability of its genome sequence, limitations in the scaffold-level assembly have hindered a comprehensive understanding of its genomics. Moreover, comparative analyses with other Bovidae species are lacking, along with insights into genome rearrangements in the Tibetan antelope. Methods: Addressing these gaps, we present a multifaceted approach by refining the Tibetan Antelope genome through linkage disequilibrium analysis with data from 15 newly sequenced samples. Results: The scaffold N50 of the refined reference is 3.2 Mbp, surpassing the previous version by 1.15-fold. Our annotation analysis resulted in 50,750 genes, encompassing 29,324 novel genes not previously study. Comparative analyses reveal 182 unique rearrangements within the scaffolds, contributing to our understanding of evolutionary dynamics and species-specific adaptations. Furthermore, by conducting detailed genomic comparisons and reconstructing rearrangements, we have successfully pioneered the reconstruction of the X-chromosome in the Tibetan antelope. Discussion: This effort enhances our comprehension of the genomic landscape of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repetitive sequences form a substantial and still enigmatic part of the mammalian genome. We isolated repetitive DNA blocks of the X chromosomes of three species of the family Bovidae: Kobus defassa (KDEXr sequence), Bos taurus (BTAXr sequence) and Antilope cervicapra (ACEXr sequence). The copy numbers of the isolated sequences were assessed using qPCR, and their chromosomal localisations were analysed using FISH in ten bovid tribes and in outgroup species. Besides their localisation on the X chromosome, their presence was also revealed on the Y chromosome and autosomes in several species. The KDEXr sequence abundant in most Bovidae species also occurs in distant taxa (Perissodactyla and Carnivora) and seems to be evolutionarily older than BTAXr and ACEXr. The ACEXr sequence, visible only in several Antilopini species using FISH, is probably the youngest, and arised in an ancestor common to Bovidae and Cervidae. All three repetitive sequences analysed in this study are interspersed among gene-rich regions on the X chromosomes, apparently preventing the crossing-over in their close vicinity. This study demonstrates that repetitive sequences on the X chromosomes have undergone a fast evolution, and their variation among related species can be beneficial for evolutionary studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) is an antelope widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa that varies greatly in body size, horn length and coat patterning. Recent taxonomic work has suggested reclassification as two or more species. Molecular studies have shown a deep mitochondrial divergence between north-western (scriptus) and south-eastern (sylvaticus) bushbuck populations, and morphological assessments, based largely on coat patterning, have divided the bushbuck into as many as eight species and 32 subspecies. Molecular and morphological approaches have, to date, not been brought together in a single integrative study. Using 43 museum cranial specimens, we sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes and used three-dimensional geometric morphometrics to compare genetic and phenotypic divergence between the two main subclades of the T. scriptus species complex. We found a significant but weak relationship between phenotypic and genetic distances. Mean body size differed between males of each subclade, but morphological differences attributable to sexual dimorphism within subclades were greater than differences between subclades. Despite a mitochondrial divergence of nearly 3 Myr, cranial morphological differences between subclades were minor and could be accounted for largely by minor size differences between males (size–shape allometry). These results support the recognition of a single bushbuck species, as indicated by nuclear genetic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) is a Vulnerable bovid endemic of North Africa. Although legally protected in almost every country of its native distribution, the aoudad continues to be hunted for meat and trophy in both North Africa and the countries where it has been introduced. The species was subject to past translocations planned irrespectively of the genetic diversity and local adaptations of source and receiving populations, and no management or conservation units have ever been designed. We aim to provide here important insights on the taxonomy of the aoudad subspecies and the genetic diversity of most of its wild and captive populations. We collected 127 invasive and non-invasive samples from five of the six subspecies of aoudad recognized to date. We could successfully retrieve genetic data for 74 samples. Of those, 36 provided both nuclear (11 microsatellites) and mitochondrial (Cyt-b) data, 31 just nuclear data, and six just mitochondrial data. We implement Bayesian approaches to infer the population structure and phylogenetic relationships between the different populations/subspecies and backtrack the maternal lineages of introduced individuals in European populations. Our results support the presence of four genetically different wild populations, corresponding to three distinct mitochondrial lineages plus a fourth group restricted to Egypt identified by the nuclear markers. We also provide genetic evidence on the affiliation of some introduced European populations with respect to the native ones. The genetic diversity instead of variation within all wild populations was low. This might be a consequence of small effective population size and/or high inbreeding degree, probably related to hunting, decline in habitat availability and quality (i.e. overgrazing, and frequent drought), and high inbreeding degree. Our results provide important information for the aoudad conservation, including reintroductions and reinforcement actions of wild populations, and the exchange of individuals among captive stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil 'ovibovin' bovids are described from the Upper Miocene of Çorakyerler (north-central Anatolia). Two taxa have been recognized: the predominant Criotherium argalioides, known by several craniodental remains, and the less common Hezhengia? cf. inundata, documented by a few dentitions. A review of C. argalioides records from Samos and Kemiklitepe D and a thorough comparison with the Çorakyerler sample provides new data on the morphological and metric variability of this taxon, as well as its chronological and geographic range. Hezhengia? cf. inundata from Çorakyerler reveals important similarities with the Garkin (Turkey) taxon, which, in contrast to previous studies, we find more similar to the Chinese Hezhengia than to the Chinese Plesiaddax as originally suggested. The same is true for "Plesiaddax" simplex from Kayadibi (Turkey), which is referred to as Hezhengia? simplex. The co-occurrence of two 'ovibovin' bovids of similar size in the same assemblage was previously suspected but never before documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buffalo and cow, both are vital to global agricultural landscapes; possess distinct traits that shape their roles in farming. Despite belonging to the Bovidae family, buffaloes excel in resilience and adaptability to harsh environments, while cows thrive in temperate climates. Their evolutionary history reveals separate domestication events, with buffaloes originating later, around 3,000-7,000 years ago. Their chromosome numbers and breeding patterns reflect their genetic differences. Anatomically, buffaloes exhibit unique digestive, reproductive, and thermoregulatory adaptations, influencing productivity. Buffalo milk, richer in fat and solids, surpasses cow milk in nutritional value, driving its prominence in global dairy markets. FAO data indicates a notable surge in buffalo milk production, outpacing that of cows global. This perspective review discusses the diverse benefits of buffalo and highlights the importance of distinguishing between buffaloes and cows in order to comprehend their crucial contributions to agricultural livelihoods and global culinary traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we investigate the relationship between relative brain size and sexual weapons in ruminants. In most cases, sexual weaponry is heavily male-biased, and costs resulting from growing, maintaining, or wielding weapons are suffered primarily by males. We used phylogenetic comparative analyses to test whether increased investment in sexual weapon size (tusks, antlers, and horns) across four families (Tragulidae, Moschidae, Cervidae, and Bovidae) was associated with decrease in relative brain size and whether the difference in weapon investment relative to conspecific females led to sexual differences in relative brain size. We found no relationship between relative brain size and relative weapon size within males or females, but when we compared males directly to conspecific females, we found that as males invested more in larger weaponry relative to females, they had smaller brain sizes relative to females, regardless of weapon type. Our findings suggest greater investment in some types of elaborate weapons in males, and larger brain sizes in females. We discuss the possibility that larger brain sizes in females could be due to female sociality, lower investment in weaponry, or enhancing female assessment of male traits. Significance statement: We took measurements of antlers, horns, and tusks from skulls of both males and females, as well as brain volume and looked at the relationship between relative weapon size and relative brain size. Our work found support that bearing large, exaggerated sexually selected weapons results in a sexually dimorphic relationship with relative brain size: when males invest more in sexual weaponry, females invest more in relative brain size. Given that most studies largely are focused on tradeoffs solely within one sex, our study compares the relationship between sexes to measure sexual dimorphic investment. The evolution of weaponry in ruminants is one of the most widely studied topics of the last 70 years and this study yields new support for the possible presence of sexual dimorphic trade-offs amongst sexually selected traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Oman, the Arabian Gazelle Gazella arabica is known to be distributed in the Hajar mountains of the north, desert plains in central of Oman, and Jabal Samhan foothills & Nejd area in the south. We report the first confirmed record of the Arabian Gazelle on Masirah island, 15 km off the mainland of eastern Oman. This finding was part of a national survey of biodiversity in Oman in which 29 camera traps were set to survey the majority of the island which covers about 400 km2. Only two camera traps detected Arabian Gazelle, in an area covering only 22 km2. The survey on the island suggests that the population is small and isolated. Future research studies are required both in the field of ecology and genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An m3 tooth of a large bovid (Bos) was found at the Late Holocene (Subatlantic period 1) archaeological site of Abylay (49.15° N, 75.07° E) in Kazakhstan. The tooth, 47.3 mm in length, was compared to the size of similar teeth of the Holocene aurochs (Bos primigenius) from Europe and cattle (Bos taurus) from Eastern Europe and Western Siberia of the Middle and Late Holocene (Subboreal and Subatlantic periods; Eneolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Middle Ages). Our results show the size of the tooth from Abylay as being noticeably larger than that of the cattle and similar to the size of the teeth of the aurochs. Based on this result, we came to the conclusion that the tooth belonged to an aurochs. This observation suggests that the aurochs lived in the area of the Kazakh Uplands during the Late Holocene (Subatlantic 1). This seems to have been the last area inhabited by aurochs in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mongolian subspecies of Goitred Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa hillieriana) belongs to Artiodactyla and Bovidae. It is widely distributed in the deserts of Inner Mongolia and Ningxia. At present, there are no studies on the genetic information characteristics of Mongolian subspecies. We determined the whole mtDNA genome of the Goitered Gazelle (G. s. hillieriana) from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China. The complete mitochondrial genome is 16 435 bp in length and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 control region (D-loop). The nucleotide composition is 33.90% A, 27.30% T, 13.20% G, and 25.60% C. Phylogenetic analysis results showeda close genetic relationship between G. s. hillieriana and Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa. This study provides basic data for the subsequent genetic analysis of bovid, and is expected to fill the gap in genetic information of G. s. hillieriana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ever since the discovery of the first remains of Macrauchenia patachonica by Charles Darwin in 1834, this taxon has puzzled researchers with its peculiar anatomy. Being the best-known member of the family Macraucheniidae and with fossil records in extensive areas of South America between the Middle to Late Pleistocene/earliest Holocene, M. patachonica has been extensively studied over decades, and recently even included in molecular studies. However, there are some elements of its skeleton that have been inadvertently unstudied. One of these elements is the atlas of M. patachonica that due to a misidentification made 159 years ago by the prominent zoologist Hermann Burmeister, was not examined or illustrated by later researchers even with access to excellent specimens. Here, we describe and illustrate the atlas of M. patachonica for the first time, correcting Burmeister’s mistake. Overall, the anatomy of the atlas of M. patachonica is consistent with the anatomy of older macraucheniids. The atlas described by Burmeister as being M. patachonica probably corresponds to that of a bovid. It is noteworthy that most mounted skeletons of M. patachonica present today in museum exhibitions, display a correct atlas derived from a more complete specimen discovered ca. 1904 by the prominent palaeontologist Santiago Roth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding efficiency of mammalian herbivores is associated with skull traits known to differ between feeding guilds. As climate is known to affect the architecture and functional traits of plants, skull morphology may change as plant traits change along climate gradients. We tested whether skull traits of more than 70% of the extant bovid and cervid species are related to aridity, and whether these relationships differ across feeding guilds (browser, grazer, mixed feeder). We used muzzle width to represent food ingestion and masseteric fossa length to represent oral processing. For the models without phylogeny, both muzzle width and masseteric fossa length increased towards wetter climates for grazers, but not for mixed feeders or browsers. These patterns suggest that grazer diets may change more dramatically across aridity gradients than the other two groups, possibly linked to changes in both the architecture and toughness of grasses. In models accounting for phylogeny, no changes in either trait across aridity gradient were found, which appeared to be due to subfamily differentiation along the aridity gradient. Our results suggest that deeper insights into the evolution of herbivore skulls may be achieved by using quantified diet data to directly test plant trait effects on skull morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective analytical identification methods are still a minority in the praxis of paleobiological sciences. Subjective interpretation of fossils and their modifications remains a nonreplicable expert endeavor. Identification of African bovids is a crucial element in the reconstruction of paleo‐landscapes, ungulate paleoecology, and, eventually, hominin adaptation and ecosystemic reconstruction. Recent analytical efforts drawing on Fourier functional analysis and discrimination methods applied to occlusal surfaces of teeth have provided a highly accurate framework to correctly classify African bovid tribes and taxa. Artificial intelligence tools, like computer vision, have also shown their potential to be objectively more accurate in the identification of taphonomic agency than human experts. For this reason, here we implement some of the most successful computer vision methods, using transfer learning and ensemble analysis, to classify bidimensional images of African bovid teeth and show that 92% of the large testing set of images of African bovid tribes analyzed could be correctly classified. This brings an objective tool to paleoecological interpretation, where bovid identification and paleoecological interpretation can be more confidently carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report the novel, complete mitochondrial genomes of two dwarf African antelope species: Raphicerus melanotis (Cape grysbok) and R. sharpei (Sharpe’s grysbok). The circular mitogenomes were 16,384 and 16,392 base pairs in length, respectively, and each contained the expected 37 genes typically found in mammalian mitogenomes. The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis placed R. sharpei as the sister lineage to R. campestris, known as steenbok, which is the only other member of the Raphicerus genus, with 83% bootstrap support, to the exclusion of R. melanotis (100% bootstrap support). This corroborated previous findings based on the cytochrome b gene only. The number of base differences per site between the coding regions of the mitogenomes of R. sharpei and R. campestris was 0.0519, while it was 0.0701 between R. sharpei and R. melanotis and 0.0709 between R. melanotis and R. campestris. The novel grysbok mitogenomes will be valuable resources in future phylogenetic analyses, and phylogeographic and conservation genetics studies.

Indian Blackbuck's social system is fluid and composed of distinct groups. Information on age-sex association, temporal stability, and socio-ecological correlates are scarce. For establishing a baseline information on these, we studied the Blackbuck population at Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, southern India, aimed at understanding the (i) social structure, (ii) association patterns, temporal stability and (iii) socio-ecological correlates related to predation, season, and anthropogenic covariates. Focal herds were observed following scan sampling during 2017-2019. Female herds and territorial pseudo-harems spread tightly, while mixed herds were spread in different degrees. Bachelor herds were loose or scattered with small herds. Dyadic associations of female herds were stronger and more stable than mixed-sex herds and pseudo-harems, but males were in flux. Both grasslands and habitat openness were associated with higher levels of female sociality, indicating their importance in foraging, sociality, and predator vigilance, to which proliferating invasive Prosopis juliflora poses a detrimental effect. The presense of sympatric invasive species and lower level of anthropogenic activity was another significant covariate that influenced resource choice grouping, fission-fusion, and ultimately association dynamics. To help answer broader questions about the blackbuck's sociality, and its socio-ecological environment that drive its association patterns, we present here some baseline data on the species from a coastal forest. We suggest control of invasive species and more detailed societal studies to arrive at conservation and management clues through understanding evolutionary and ecological basis of sociability of the antelope species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Cervids and bovids have antlers and horns respectively, which serve important functions. Bovids horns grow continuously, while almost all cervids cast antlers annually. Aims: We compared some measurements of the cervid antlers with the bovid horns to show the possible morphological and mechanical reasons for antler casting. Methods: We measured the weight and the length of 59 cervid antlers and 35 bovid horns. Then, we calculated the ratio of antler (or horn) weight to bodyweight, as well as the torque of the antler and horns. We used general linear model to test the difference of these four variables between cervids and bovids. Key results: Our results showed that (1) the weight of cervid antlers was significantly higher than that of bovid horns, (2) the ratio of antler (or horn) weight to bodyweight showed no significant difference between cervids and bovids, (3) the distance from the centre of gravity to the base of the antler or horn differed significantly between bovids and cervids, and (4) the torque of cervid antlers was significantly greater than that of bovid horns. Conclusions: We assumed that the antlers exert more burden on the head of cervids than do horns on the head of bovids. Antler casting could be the evolutionary strategy of deer to relieve the burden of antlers. Implications: Unpacking the burden of antler could be one of the ultimate causes for antler casting in cervids. Cervids and bovids all have antlers and horns. Bovids' horns grow continuously, while almost all cervids cast antlers annually. After mechanical analysis, we found that the weight of cervid antlers, the distance from the centre of gravity to the base of the cervid antler, and the torque of cervid antlers were significantly higher than those of bovid horns. The antlers exert more burden on the head of cervids than do horns on the head of bovids. Antler shedding could be the evolutionary strategy of deer to relieve the burden of antlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sites of Chinji type locality, Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon, Lawa and Markhal are highly fossiliferous in the Chinji and Dhok Pathan formations, dated from middle and late Miocene (15.97–5.33 Ma), in the Lower and Middle Siwalik subgroups of the Pakistan. In these studied localities fossils of suids, tragulids, bovids (including caprins), giraffids, proboscideans, and rhinocerotids are reported. The main focus of current study is on family Suidae and the collected specimens show strong similarities with the previously discovered species of Listriodon pentapotamiae, Conohyus sindiensis, Propotamochoerus hysudricus, and Propotamochoerus sp. Here we present comparative data of suids from the Siwaliks and we notably present first remains of L. pentapotamiae incisors and C. sindiensis from Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon; P. hysudricus from Markhal and Propotamochoerus sp. from Chinji type section. The material described here enhances our knowledge about the diversification and evolution of suid fossil species in the Siwaliks of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk is a complex biological fluid that has high-quality proteins including growth factors and also contains extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are a lipid bilayer containing vesicles that contain proteins, metabolites and nucleic acids. Several studies have proposed that EVs in cow milk can survive the gut and can illicit cross-species communication in the consuming host organism. In this study, we isolated and characterized extracellular vesicles from the raw milk of the four species of the Bovidae family, namely cow, sheep, goat and buffalo, that contribute 99% of the total milk consumed globally. A comparative proteomic analysis of these vesicles was performed to pinpoint their potential functional role in health and disease. Vesicles sourced from buffalo and cow milk were particularly enriched with proteins implicated in modulating the immune system. Furthermore, functional studies were performed to determine the anti-cancer effects of these vesicles. The data obtained revealed that buffalo-milk-derived EVs induced significantly higher cell death in colon cancer cells. Overall, the results from this study highlight the potent immunoregulatory and anti-cancer nature of EVs derived from the milk of Bovidae family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asiatic wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee Kerr), an endangered species featured on the IUCN Red List, is distributed across Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Thailand. This investigation delves into the reproductive and certain social behaviors exhibited by Bubalus arnee across distinct habitats and herd types within Nepal's Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) and Chitwan National Park (CNP) during the premonsoon and postmonsoon spans of 2018. The data were amassed through direct observations employing focal animal sampling, continuous sampling, and scan sampling methodologies. Eight primary behavioral activities were noted: chasing, courtship, grazing, mating, mowing, sniffing, urination, and wallowing. We carefully structured the gathered data and input it into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to facilitate analysis. For a more comprehensive visualization of reproductive behavior, we utilized the ggplot2 package within R-studio, enabling the creation of informative graphical depictions. During the premonsoon phase, Bull A exhibited six reproductive behaviors in KTWR. Notably, sniffing was the most frequently observed behavior, recorded six times (37.5%) daily, succeeded by fighting and urination with four (25%) and three (18.35%) daily observations, respectively. Chasing, mating, and courtship were each observed once (6.25%) daily. In contrast, during both seasons, Bulls B, M, and J were not observed partaking in mating activities. When analyzing the postmonsoon reproductive behavior of the observed B. arnee in KTWR and CNP, a notable distinction emerged. In KTWR, there were four more instances of sniffing behavior compared to CNP. In addition, courtship behavior was slightly more frequent in KTWR, occurring three times, whereas it was observed only twice in CNP. Similarly, urination activity was recorded twice as often in KTWR as compared to CNP. As a suggestion for future research, exploring the specific factors influencing the observed variations in reproductive behaviors and habitat preferences of Bubalus arnee could provide valuable insights into the conservation and management of these endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of recognised taxa tends to change continually over time in many groups of animals. It can be hypothesised, however, that non-elusive, relatively large taxa of great appeal to humans would show a high taxonomic stability over time. We test this hypothesis using the former order Artiodactyla (now Cetartiodactyla) as a case study. To do so, we compare the main checklists of known mammalian species published over time, analysing the temporal changes and the underlying reasons for the observed patterns. Our study revealed (i) the occurrence of four peak phases of new species descriptions in Cetartiodactyla between 1758 and 2020; and (ii) a prominent peak of new descriptions for the family Bovidae (and, to a lesser extent, Cervidae) from 2005 to 2020, with the number of species increased by more than 95%. New taxa came almost exclusively from splitting (= revisions of the existing taxa) and very rarely from newly discovered species. So, the new taxonomic arrangements were essentially due to revisions of the existing taxa. Overall, our study only partially confirms the above-mentioned hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Seminal plasma is a complex secretion that is produced in various organs of the male reproductive system. It is rich in proteins that play an essential role in the proper functioning of spermatozoa. Proteins found in seminal plasma are involved in processes such as sperm capacitation, the acrosome reaction, and providing antioxidant and immunological protection to spermatozoa. Differences in seminal plasma protein abundance may be linked to changes in the reproductive parameters of bulls. To investigate this possible association, we analyzed the proteomic profile of the seminal plasma of young Nellore bulls and its relationship with the results of the Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BSE). This study aimed to establish a link between the differential protein profile and the phenotypic characteristics of the semen of young bulls approved and not approved for reproduction. This study aimed to evaluate the proteomic profile of seminal plasma from young Nellore bulls. We used 20 bulls aged between 19.8 and 22.7 months, divided into two groups according to the results of the Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BSE): approved (FIT n = 10) and not approved (UNFIT n = 10). The scrotal perimeter was measured and a semen collection was performed through electroejaculation. The percentage of sperm motility, mass motility, and sperm vigor were calculated using conventional microscopy, and the percentage of sperm abnormalities was calculated using phase-contrast microscopy of all ejaculates. Seminal plasma was separated from spermatozoa using centrifugation and processed for proteomic analysis by LC-MS/MS. Seminal plasma proteins were identified using MASCOT Daemon software v.2.4.0 and label-free quantification analysis was carried out by SCAFFOLD Q+ software v.4.0 using the Exponentially Modified Protein Abundance Index (emPAI) method. Functional classification of proteins was performed based on their genetic ontology terms using KOG. Functional cluster analysis was performed on DAVID. There were no differences in scrotal perimeter and physical semen characteristics between FIT and UNFIT groups of bulls. The percentage of sperm abnormalities was higher (p < 0.05) in the UNFIT group of bulls. A total of 297 proteins were identified for the two groups. There were a total of 11 differentially abundant proteins (p < 0.05), two of them more abundant in FIT bulls (Spermadhesin-1 and Ig gamma-1 chain C region) and nine in UNFIT bulls (Vasoactive intestinal peptide, Metalloproteinase inhibitor 2, Ig lambda-1 chain C regions, Protein FAM3C, Hemoglobin beta, Seminal ribonuclease, Spermadhesin 2, Seminal plasma protein BSP-30kDa, and Spermadhesin Z13). Spermadhesin-1 was the protein with the highest relative abundance (36.7%) in the seminal plasma among all bulls, corresponding to 47.7% for the FIT bulls and 25,7% for the UNFIT bulls. Posttranslational modification, protein turnover, and chaperones were the functional categories with the highest number of classified proteins. Protein functional annotation clusters were related to Phospholipid efflux, ATP binding, and chaperonin-containing T-complex. The differentially abundant proteins in the group of FIT bulls were related to sperm capacitation and protection against reactive species of oxygen. In contrast, differentially expressed proteins in the group of UNFIT bulls were related to motility inhibition, intramembrane cholesterol removal and oxidative stress. In conclusion, the proteomic profile of the seminal plasma of FIT bulls presents proteins with participation in several biological processes favorable to fertilization, while the proteins of the seminal plasma of UNFIT bulls indicate a series of alterations that can compromise the fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa. In addition, the relative abundance of spermadhesin-1 found in the seminal plasma of young Nellore bulls could be studied as a reproductive parameter for selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report the novel, complete mitochondrial genomes of two dwarf African antelope species: Raphicerus melanotis (Cape grysbok) and R. sharpei (Sharpe's grysbok). The circular mitogenomes were 16,384 and 16,392 base pairs in length, respectively, and each contained the expected 37 genes typically found in mammalian mitogenomes. The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis placed R. sharpei as the sister lineage to R. campestris, known as steenbok, which is the only other member of the Raphicerus genus, with 83% bootstrap support, to the exclusion of R. melanotis (100% bootstrap support). This corroborated previous findings based on the cytochrome b gene only. The number of base differences per site between the coding regions of the mitogenomes of R. sharpei and R. campestris was 0.0519, while it was 0.0701 between R. sharpei and R. melanotis and 0.0709 between R. melanotis and R. campestris. The novel grysbok mitogenomes will be valuable resources in future phylogenetic analyses, and phylogeographic and conservation genetics studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]