What is the genus Capra?
Capra is a genus of mammals, the goats, comprising ten species. It includes the markhor, several species known as ibexes, and the domestic goat.
Questions about Capra (genus)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many species are in the genus Capra?
The genus Capra is usually accepted to contain nine wild species along with the domestic goat. Some authors have instead recognized only two species, separating the markhor from all other forms.
When and where was the domestic goat first domesticated?
According to archaeological evidence, the domestic goat was first domesticated in Iran around 10,000 calibrated calendar years ago. This makes it one of the oldest domesticated species of animal.
What did the domestic goat descend from?
The domestic goat, Capra hircus, is derived from the bezoar ibex, Capra aegagrus aegagrus, a subspecies of the wild goat. People kept goats primarily for easy access to their hair, meat, and milk.
How can you tell a goat in the genus Capra from a sheep?
Members of Capra differ from the genus Ovis, the sheep, by having scent glands near the feet, in the groin, and in front of the eyes, and by lacking other facial glands. Some specimens also have a beard and hairless calluses on the knees of the forelegs.
Can different Capra species interbreed?
In captivity, all Capra species can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. In the wild, the few species whose ranges overlap do not usually interbreed, because almost all wild goat species are geographically separated.