Gaur is a representative of the genus of real bulls. This ruminant is considered one of the rarest animals on our planet.

The largest number of gaurs is observed in India. About 30 thousand of these bovids live in this country. In other countries, there are only a few hundred of them. For example, about 800 individuals live in China.

Appearance of Gaurs

Gauras are one of the largest animals on Earth. In length, they reach 2.5-3.3 meters.

The height at the withers varies from 1.7 to 2.2 meters. The tail is also long, about 70-105 centimeters. Weight ranges from 700-1000 kilograms. The weight of large individuals can reach 1.3-1.5 tons, but such giants are not common. Females are a quarter lighter than males.

Horns up to 90 centimeters in size are shaped like a crescent. Between the horns, on the forehead, there is a noticeable bulge. The back will be crowned with a ridge stretching from the shoulders to the middle of the body. The ears are large, the hooves are narrow.

Gauras are the largest bulls on Earth.

The coat is thin and short. In adult males, the skin has a dark brown color, in older representatives of the species, the coat is almost black. In young animals and females, the color is paler. Sometimes the skin has a reddish tint. Most often, this shade is found in gaurs inhabiting dry and open areas.

The top of the head may be off-white or ash gray. The lower parts of the limbs are light, yellow or pale green in color, while the tips are always black.

Places where gaurs live

Gaur lives in Southeast and Central Asia - in Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Gaurs are also found in Vietnam, China, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

Behavior and nutrition of gaurs

Gauras are active during the daytime, but in places inhabited by people, these animals prefer to be nocturnal. Herds are formed by females with calves, and males, as a rule, lead a solitary lifestyle.

Despite its large size, the gaur is a herbivore.

The herd most often consists of 10-12 individuals. During the mating season, the males join the herds. Some males move from one herd to another. At the end of the mating season, males live alone.

As a habitat, gauras prefer deciduous and evergreen forests. Namely, hilly areas and vast massifs with a lot of food, with the presence of reservoirs and rivers. Gauras live at an altitude of no more than 1800 meters above sea level.

The diet consists of grass, leaves, young shoots and fruits. The diet largely depends on the time of year. Most actively, gaurs feed in the early morning and before dusk. In the heat, the bulls seek the shade of large trees.

Reproduction and lifespan

The gestation period is about 9 months. The female, more often, gives birth to one calf, less often - two. The mother feeds the milk of calves for 12 months.

Bulls (lat. Bovini) - a group of bovid artiodactyl mammals, currently having a taxonomic rank of a tribe in the subfamily Bovinae. Previously, bulls were the only representatives of the Bovinae subfamily, but after new genetic studies, the markhorn antelope was also included in it. There are 13 species of bulls, of which one lives in Europe (another one has already died out in the wild), one in Africa, one in North America, and the rest in Asia.

Real bulls (lat. Bos) - a genus of bovid artiodactyls, including wild and domesticated cattle. It is sometimes divided into four subgenera Bos, Bibos, Novibos and Poephagus, but this division remains controversial. To date, five species belong to the genus of true bulls, or seven if domesticated varieties are considered separate species.

Origin and distribution

It is believed that all modern species of real bulls are descended from a single ancestor - the tour (Bos primigenius). This species lived in Eurasia until the 17th century, when intense hunting drove it to extinction. There are about 1.3 billion livestock in the world today and they are one of the largest groups of mammals. Representatives of this genus are found all over the world, and their wild forms are found in various biocenoses: in prairies, tropical forests, savannahs and temperate latitudes.

Life cycle

The life expectancy of real bulls is 18 - 25 years in the wild and up to 36 years at home. Pregnancy lasts, depending on the species, from nine to eleven months. One, occasionally two, cubs are born, mainly in spring.

There are more than a thousand different breeds of cattle in the world, most of which are domestic animals. Many of them do not exceed more than 1.5 meters in height, and do not gain more than 750 kilograms in weight. But among them there are species that are truly giants, and can be compared with elephants of medium size. The top 10 includes the largest bulls in the world. The list includes both domesticated individuals and representatives of the wild.

10 Tour Height 1.8 m

Opens the top ten largest bulls in the world, an extinct species from the genus of real bulls - tour. The species is considered the progenitor of cattle. Turs became extinct in the 17th century due to the raging epidemic to which they were subject. These were quite massive and large animals, which reached 180 centimeters at the withers, and gained up to 800 kilograms in weight. The closest relatives of the tour are considered to be the Watussi breed, bred in Africa. Massive and very long horns, which can grow up to 1.8 meters and weigh up to 100 kilograms, are distinguished from relatives of Watussi.

9 Chianine Height 1.9 m

The Chianine is the largest domestic bull breed from Italy. Another name is porcelain bull. The largest representatives reach 1.8 meters at the withers, and in mass gain up to 1 ton or more. As a rule, porcelain bulls are white or cream in color. Large artiodactyl animals have well-developed muscle mass. They are incredibly strong and powerful, so it’s better not to get in the way of an angry kyanina. However, aggressiveness is not characteristic of this animal, on the contrary, they are very good-natured towards people. The record holder among the breed was a bull named Donneto, weighing 1700 kg with a height of 190 cm.

8 Kouprey Height 1.8 m

Kouprey is an extinct species that was one of the largest bulls in the world. The growth of an adult individual reached 180 centimeters at the withers, and the body weight was about 800 kilograms. The horns of large males grew up to 80 centimeters. This species has been poorly studied by humans, as these artiodactyls preferred a secretive lifestyle in the rainforests of Asia. Presumably, the kouprey was a hybrid of banteng and gaur, as it had a lot of similarities with them. A distinctive feature of males from females was a large, long tuft of hanging hair in the neck.

7 African buffalo Height 1.8 m

6 Bison Height 2.7 m

In sixth place among the largest bulls in the world is a representative of the bovine subfamily - bison. The species is considered the last representative of wild bulls and the largest land mammal in Europe. At the withers, males grow up to 188 centimeters, and the length of the body can reach 2.7 meters. At the same time, bison weigh about 1 ton. A small population of bison is found in Spain, Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia and Germany. In Russia, the species is on the verge of extinction and is kept in bison reserves. A sharp decline in the population is associated with intensive hunting for artiodactyls since ancient times.

5 Banteng Height 2.5 m

The top ten largest bulls in the world included a species called banteng. The largest representatives reach 190 centimeters in the shoulders, and 2.5 meters in length. Some individuals gain weight up to 900 kilograms. Bantengs have curved horns up to 70 centimeters long. Wild representatives of the species live on the islands of Borneo and Java, as well as in Southeast Asia. Domesticated banteng are common in Indonesia. In nature, artiodactyls prefer to live in groups, in which there can be up to forty females and only one bull. On average, they live no more than 25 years.

4 Bison Height 2 m

The bison, belonging to the tribe of bulls, is one of the largest among its closest relatives. Males grow up to 2 meters, and in length up to 3 meters. The weight of large individuals can reach 1.2 tons. In the United States, Canada, and Mexico, bison are found both in the wild and in agriculture.

3 Asian buffalo Height 2 m

2 Yak Height 2 m

The yak is one of the largest bull species in the world. In Russia, the breed is also called Sarlyk, which means "grunting bull". These are the only representatives of the genus of real bulls who know how to grunt when they are not happy. The largest yaks grow up to 2 meters at the withers, and in body weight they can gain up to 1 ton. Old males reach a length of more than 4 meters. Long widely spaced horns with bends, if straightened, will be almost 1 meter long. The appearance of the yaks is truly formidable. The artiodactyl is distinguished from its relatives by its long, shaggy coat, which hangs down and almost completely covers the legs. Yaks are common in the republics of Tyva, Buryatia and Altai. The animal is popular in the countries of Tibet, Tajikistan, India and China.

1 Gaur Height 2.3 m

Gaur is the largest bull in the world, which grows up to 2.3 meters at the withers, and gains weight up to 1.5 tons. In length, the animal's body usually does not exceed 3 meters. The crescent-shaped horns grow on average up to 90 centimeters. Gauras are common in the dense forests of India, Pakistan, Thailand and Bangladesh. Wild animals are usually active during the day, but if they settle near human dwellings, they prefer to lead a nocturnal lifestyle. The species is under the threat of extinction: in the wild there are about 20 thousand individuals.

There are more than a thousand different breeds of cattle in the world, most of which are domestic animals. Many of them do not exceed more than 1.5 meters in height, and do not gain more than 750 kilograms in weight. But among them there are species that are truly giants, and can be compared with elephants of medium size.

The top 10 includes the largest bulls in the world. The list includes both domesticated individuals and representatives of the wild.

10. Tour | Height 1.8 m

Opens the top ten largest bulls in the world, an extinct species from the genus of real bulls -. The species is considered the progenitor of cattle. Turs became extinct in the 17th century due to the raging epidemic to which they were subject. These were quite massive and large animals, which reached 180 centimeters at the withers, and gained up to 800 kilograms in weight. The closest relatives of the tour are considered to be the Watussi breed, bred in Africa. Massive and very long horns, which can grow up to 1.8 meters and weigh up to 100 kilograms, are distinguished from relatives of Watussi.

9. Chianine | Height 1.9 m

It is the largest domestic bull breed from Italy. Another name is porcelain bull. The largest representatives reach 1.8 meters at the withers, and in mass gain up to 1 ton or more. As a rule, porcelain bulls are white or cream in color. Large artiodactyl animals have well-developed muscle mass. They are incredibly strong and powerful, so it’s better not to get in the way of an angry kyanina. However, aggressiveness is not characteristic of this animal, on the contrary, they are very good-natured towards people. The record holder among the breed was a bull named Donneto, weighing 1700 kg with a height of 190 cm.

8. Kouprey | Height 1.8 m

An extinct species that was one of the largest in the world among bulls. The growth of an adult individual reached 180 centimeters at the withers, and the body weight was about 800 kilograms. The horns of large males grew up to 80 centimeters. This species has been poorly studied by humans, as these artiodactyls preferred a secretive lifestyle in the rainforests of Asia. Presumably, the kouprey was a hybrid of banteng and gaur, as it had a lot of similarities with them. A distinctive feature of males from females was a large, long tuft of hanging hair in the neck.

7. African buffalo | Height 1.8 m

6. Bison | Height 2.7 m

In sixth place among the largest bulls in the world is a representative of the bovine subfamily -. The species is considered the last representative of wild bulls and the largest land mammal in Europe. At the withers, males grow up to 188 centimeters, and the length of the body can reach 2.7 meters. At the same time, bison weigh about 1 ton. A small population of bison is found in Spain, Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia and Germany. In Russia, the species is on the verge of extinction and is kept in bison reserves. A sharp decline in the population is associated with intensive hunting for artiodactyls since ancient times.

5. Banteng | Height 2.5 m

The top ten largest bulls in the world included a species with the name. The largest representatives reach 190 centimeters in the shoulders, and 2.5 meters in length. Some individuals gain weight up to 900 kilograms. Bantengs have curved horns up to 70 centimeters long. Wild representatives of the species live on the islands of Borneo and Java, as well as in Southeast Asia. Domesticated banteng are common in Indonesia. In nature, artiodactyls prefer to live in groups, in which there can be up to forty females and only one bull. On average, they live no more than 25 years.

4. Bison | Height 2 m

Belonging to the tribe of bulls, it is one of the largest among its closest relatives. Males grow up to 2 meters, and in length up to 3 meters. The weight of large individuals can reach 1.2 tons. In the United States, Canada, and Mexico, bison are found both in the wild and in agriculture.

3. Asian buffalo | Height 2 m

2. Yak | Height 2 m

Yak is one of the largest bull species in the world. In Russia, the breed is also called Sarlyk, which means "grunting bull". These are the only representatives of the genus of real bulls who know how to grunt when they are not happy. The largest yaks grow up to 2 meters at the withers, and in body weight they can gain up to 1 ton. Old males reach a length of more than 4 meters. Long widely spaced horns with bends, if straightened, will be almost 1 meter long. The appearance of the yaks is truly formidable. The artiodactyl is distinguished from its relatives by its long, shaggy coat, which hangs down and almost completely covers the legs. Yaks are common in the republics of Tyva, Buryatia and Altai. The animal is popular in the countries of Tibet, Tajikistan, India and China.

29 8

Animals, medium and large sizes.

Characteristics of the genus real bulls

Animals of large size. The withers are not high and are not raised in the form of a hump. The spinous processes of the first thoracic vertebrae are slightly elongated compared to others. The height at the rump is only slightly less than the height at the withers, and sometimes equal to the latter. There is no dewlap of long hair on the underside of the neck and head.

The skull is relatively narrow and elongated in length. The eye sockets protrude moderately to the sides. The greatest width of the skull is less than 60% of the main length of the skull. The frontal surface, except for the postorbital constriction, has the shape of an elongated rectangle, its width in front of the bases of the horn rods is approximately equal to the width of the forehead in the region of the orbits. The postorbital width of the forehead (at the narrowest point between the horns and the orbits) is less than the maximum width of the skull at the zygomatic arches. The posterior margin of the forehead, in the form of a well-developed ridge, protrudes strongly backward and is sharply demarcated from the parietal surface of the skull. The latter does not take part at all in the formation of the roof of the brain box. The dorsal surface of the posthorn skull is pushed back, placed at an acute angle to the plane of the forehead and at an obtuse angle to the plane of the occiput, hanging over the latter. When looking at the skull from above, the posterior exits of the temporal cavities are not visible. The distance between them is greater than the distance between the outer edges of the occipital condyles. The horns extend from the posterior corners of the forehead along the edges of the interhorn ridge (in a living, calmly standing animal at the very top of the head). The distance between the orbit and the base of the horn process is much greater than the diameter of the orbit. The cross section of the horn processes approaches round, but is always noticeably flattened at the bases in the dorsoventral direction. Longitudinal ribs (keels) on the surface of the horn rods, in contrast to a number of other genera of the subfamily, are absent.

There are 13 thoracic vertebrae and 13 pairs of ribs in the skeleton.

Habitat and distribution of real bulls

The roots of the genus real bulls lead to the genus Urmiabos Bartscti., known from the Lower Pliocene fauna of Maraga in Iranian Azerbaijan and possessing a set of features that allow us to consider it an ancestral form not only for bulls, but also for yaks (Poephagus Gray). Remains, obviously related to the genus Bos, appear only in the Upper Pliocene. At that time, the long-horned B. acutifrons Lyd. lived in India, which still had a poorly developed interhorn ridge. Remains of the same geological age, leaving no doubt that they belong to the genus of bulls, are known from northern Africa.

The time of the initial appearance of aurochs in Europe is not known for certain, but, apparently, they penetrated here through Asia Minor and Central Asia also no later than the Upper Pliocene or Lower Pleistocene. N. Vassoevich, among other finds from the Lower Quaternary deposits of the Taman Peninsula, mentions the horn process of Bos. However, no description of this horn process was given, its location is currently unknown, and there is no certainty that it belonged to a bull, and not to a primitive bison found in the Taman fauna.

The remains of real bulls are known from the pre-glacial quarter of the lower Volga and from the Pliocene or Upper Pliocene deposits of the river. Psekupsa in the North Caucasus.

The range of the genus Bos was very extensive. At one time, aurochs inhabited, in addition to northern Africa, most of Eurasia, including the British Isles and southern Sweden. To the north, the distribution area extended to 57-60 ° N. sh. In contrast to the primitive bison, primitive bulls never entered the territory of the New World. Apparently, there were none in Ireland either.

Classification of the genus real bulls

The taxonomy of the genus Bos is confused. A significant number of forms are described, sometimes taken as subspecies, sometimes as independent species. V. I. Gromova made a detailed revision of the genus, and reduced all the variety of Quaternary forms of aurochs to two species: the large glacial Bos trochoceros Meyer and its somewhat smaller descendant, the Late Pleistocene and Holocene B. primigenius Boj. The latter existed on the territory of Central and Eastern Europe, and possibly also Central and Asia Minor already in historical times and finally died out at the beginning of the 17th century. N. I. Burchak described from the Upper Pleistocene fauna of the Binagads on the Apsheron Peninsula (Wurm) a new species of bull B. mastan-zadei Burtsch., craniologically close to the Pleistocene Indian species B. namadicus Falc. However, the species independence of the form described by N. I. Burchak is questionable, since V. I. Gromova takes B. namadicus only as a subspecies of B. trochoceros.

Findings of remains of diluvial aurochs (Bos trochoceros) in Europe are rare.

The issue of dwarf forms of aurochs remains controversial and unclear: B. longifrons Ow., B. minutus Malsb., B. brachyceros europaeus Adam. The dimensions of the skull in these forms in some cases do not exceed those of the skulls of small races of livestock. However, belonging to the latter is ruled out in some cases by the geological age of the finds, in others by the morphological features of the dwarf aurochs. Some researchers take small skulls for the skulls of females B. primigenius Boj. However, it should be borne in mind that some of the finds of dwarf aurochs are of Pleistocene age. Consequently, even if we accept the strongly pronounced sexual dimorphism in size in aurochs, it is difficult to recognize these finds as the skulls of females, while the skulls of diluvial males are gigantic.

Within Europe, the remains of dwarf tours were found in Armenia in the bottom sediments of Lake. Sevan and in the river basin. Ural. The question of the systematic position of pygmy aurochs is important in connection with the problem of the origin of certain groups of domestic cattle.

At present, the genus of real bulls is represented only by the domestic form, cattle B. taurus L., but already in historical times on the territory of the USSR the primitive bull, or tour B. primigenius Bojanus, was found in the wild.

Infraclass - placental

Subfamily - bulls

Narodrod - bulls and buffaloes

Genus - real bulls

Literature:

1. I.I. Sokolov "Fauna of the USSR, Ungulate animals" Publishing house of the Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1959.

Gaur- the largest artiodactyl representative of cattle, originally from India. The rarest animal of our time. Since historical times, it has remained a giant among real wild ones. Unfairly, this unique inhabitant of the planet is rarely remembered.

Description and features of gaura

Gaura compared in size with the more famous natural giant. But each is the first in its category: the bison leads in weight, and the gaur in size.

In length, the mighty bull reaches 3-3.2 m, the weight of large representatives is up to 1.5 tons. Horns up to 90 cm long in the shape of a crescent are curved upwards. Between the horns is a bulge on the forehead and a curly tuft of hair.

The height of an average bull is 2 m. The skull, up to 70 cm long, is the largest among relatives. Females are inferior in size and weight to males by a quarter.

Mighty strength and beauty of greatness are inherent gaura. Athletic neck, shoulders, strong legs. Wide forehead on a massive head with large ears. The back of the body is much narrower than the front.

The body is protected by short, hard brown hair with a black or reddish tint. Old individuals are darker in color compared to young ones. In dry areas gaurs have a reddish hue.

The population of wild bulls is endangered due to epidemics and poaching. In India, the largest number of animals is preserved, in other places the situation for Gaurs critical.

Natural enemies for giants can only be and. Attacks occur on the condition that the bull does not exceed the average size or belongs to the young.

Despite the size, the gaur is domesticated by man and is called gayal or mitan. Individuals are kept for work and as a source of meat. Domestic gaurs smaller in size, calmer in character. Local residents cross gayals with.

Gaura lifestyle and habitat

The area of ​​distribution of gaura in Central, Southeast Asia. Most bulls live in India, several tens of thousands of heads. Hundreds of individuals are found in the territories of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Nepal.

Indian bull gaur prefers deciduous or evergreen forests with ponds. Occasionally appears in open glades in search of food, but, in general, avoids going out into open areas. In the forests, a rare forest stand suits him, without thickets and dense windbreaks. It rises to hilly and mountainous areas, up to 2800 m high.

Natural activity is manifested in the daytime, when herds, numbering 10-12 heads, graze among the greenery. Animals are kept in groups of 1-2 males, 5-6 females with calves and young bulls.

If human settlements are nearby, gaur bulls change their lifestyle to nocturnal, only if necessary they leave their hiding places, showing caution and foresight.

The herd is usually led by the most experienced female. If the herd is moving, she, as the leader, is in front or closes the retreat. At threat signals in the form of a shrill snort, the members of the herd stop and freeze.

After determining the danger, the animals take up battle formation. Although the gaur look formidable, they do not attack first. In relation to other animals, bulls are very peaceful, do not enter into conflicts, move deep into the forest, moving surprisingly quietly.

If the danger cannot be avoided, they attack with a special side blow so that the enemy falls on the horn or is thrown dead from the blow for a considerable distance. In old gaurs, one horn is usually more worn than the other due to this method of defense.

The number of heads in large herds can approach 4-5 dozen by combining several family groups. Small herds of young males are not uncommon. Old individuals live as hermits.

Domesticated individuals have a complaisant and calm disposition, for which they are especially appreciated. The fate of wild gaurs depends on a person who brings many threats to animals: reduction of plots, infections from livestock, greed through the extermination of large individuals. Even the inclusion in the Red has not yet prevented the gradual disappearance of a rare species of animals.

Gaur nutrition

It is striking that the giant bull gaur is a herbivore. Its strength and power are based on a simple diet of forbs, plant leaves, young shoots, bamboo sprouts, shrub greens.

Animals go out for feeding, as a rule, in the early morning and at dusk, before sunset. They love water very much, drink a lot and bathe often.

In the heat, they hide in the shade of large trees and look for food saturated with moisture. domestic gaura bulls roam free. When you want to lure an animal, tie a piece of rock salt for bait.

Reproduction and lifespan of gaur

The rut time of the gaur has no clear seasonal boundaries. The period from the beginning of November to the end of April is more often observed. During this period, single males adjoin the herds. Loud invocative sounds are heard, similar to the roar of deer, and audible at a distance of 1-2 km.

In gaura fights, a show of strength occurs when the bulls turn sideways, showing a huge silhouette, and snort menacingly. The head is tilted low and one horn is directed towards the opponent. Basically, the duel ends with such a demonstration. Fights happen very rarely, animals do not injure rivals.

Pregnancy of females lasts 9 months. The expectant mother goes into the bushes and retires. One calf is born, less often twins are born. Return to the herd occurs with offspring.

At first, the female is very cautious and aggressive in protecting the calf. Milk feeding lasts from 7 to 12 months. Babies are constantly under the care of their mother.

Pictured is a gaur cub

Sexual maturity occurs at 2-3 years of age. Young bulls often unite temporarily in one herd, and then create their own. The life expectancy of a gaura is approximately 30 years.

You can see gaurs in the largest zoos and reserves. The preservation of the species in wildlife, given the threat of extinction of giants, remains the most important task of zoologists.