Recently, paleontologists unearthed an exotic relative of the giraffe in Spain - with saber fangs and three horns. The middle horn reminded scientists of the hairstyle of Queen Amidala from Star Wars (after her the beast got its name). Further in the article, a list of fossil mammals with incredibly bizarre horns, whose portraits were created by the artist Lucas Lima(Lucas Lima).
Giraffe Xenokeryx amidalae
Two horn processes were located above his eyes, and the third, T-shaped, was on the top of his head. The central horn is similar to Queen Amidala's hair from Star Wars, which is why the animal was named Xenokeryx amidalae ("Amidala's strange-horned alien").
He lived in the Miocene era (15.5 million years ago) and belonged to a group of extinct horned ruminants, from which only okapi and giraffes have survived to this day.
Sivatherium (Sivatherium)
Of the ancient giraffes, they lasted the longest - their images are marked on frescoes that are only eight thousand years old. They lived from Africa to South Asia. They got their name, probably, in honor of the Indian god Shiva.
The head of the sivatherium is laterally compressed by two pairs of horns: the anterior ones are small, conical in shape, directed forward; the hind horns are massive, flat, branched, similar in shape to the horns of a modern elk. The horns, probably, like those of all giraffes, were covered with skin and hair.
Elasmotherium (Elasmotherium)
The hairy rhinoceros of Eurasia became extinct about 50,000 years ago. Perhaps primitive people managed to draw it on the walls of Spanish caves. It weighed up to four tons and was a herd animal: whole herds of elasmotherium grazed on the Siberian plains.
The animal had a massive protruding bony forehead: it is assumed that it had a powerful horn up to one and a half meters long. The horns themselves have not yet been found (apparently, they consisted of proteins, and not of bone) - their presence is judged by indirect signs.
The bony outgrowth on the forehead has numerous grooves and depressions - traces of many blood vessels necessary for the intensive activity of tissues that generate the production of keratin, which, in turn, forms a long keratin horn.
Horned ground squirrel (Ceratogaulus)
The smallest horned mammal - and the only horned rodent. He lived several million years ago on the Great Plains of North America and, most likely, in holes (this is indicated by poor eyesight and powerful claws on paws similar to oars).
Large double rodent horns protruded from the bridge of the nose. Scientists are still arguing why the animal needed such strange devices - to dig the ground, attract females, or defend itself from predators. The location of the horns makes the first version unlikely, and their presence in animals of both sexes speaks in favor of a protective function.
Synthetoceras (Synthetoceras tricornatus)
Real Cenozoic Triceratops! These animals roamed the plains of the wild American West in the late Miocene, and no less than the mustang deserve the honor of becoming its symbol: from a gun mounted on a “slingshot” on the snout of Synthetoceras, one could easily shoot enemies.
However, in fact, this draft of a unicorn belonged to the family of corns (Protoceratidae) - probable relatives of camels. It is not clear whether the processes were covered with a cornea, but, apparently, they were not shed annually (as modern deer do).
Brontotherium (Brontotherium)
Huge, powerful omnivorous odd-toed ungulates. They lived in North America and became extinct about 30 million years ago. They were only slightly larger than modern rhinos. Brontotheres had a relatively small head on a short powerful neck and close-set eyes.
On the nose of the brontotherium was a large bone process, the surface of which was covered with strong skin. Such a process, formed by overgrown nasal bones, was flat, like a shovel, and in representatives of some species it bifurcated at the end.
Bramaterium (Bramatherium)
Another representative of the giraffe family, a relative of Sivatherium (only small). Lived in the Miocene-Pliocene in Asia, from India to Turkey. The bramater had some resemblance to the okapi (Okapia johnstoni).
But, unlike the okapi, he had not two, but five horns on his head. In sivatherium (Sivatherium), large posterior ossicons are usually more developed, and in bramateria, the anterior ones.
Apparently, such horns had a demonstration function, but they could also be used in fights between males. The individuals hit each other with the help of the massive base of the ossicons and the rear pair directed to the sides.
Arsinotherium (Arsinoitherium zitteli)
In appearance, the beast resembled a rhinoceros, although in terms of the structure of the skeleton and limbs it was closer to an elephant. Two large bone horns on the muzzle were not located one behind the other, like a rhinoceros, but side by side. Apparently, they were covered with a horny sheath of keratin, like in modern cows.
The horns were not intended for battle, as they were hollow inside. There is speculation that they were used to create loud trumpet sounds so that males could attract females with their help.
Arsinotherium is the only family in the extinct order of embryopods. This is a very unusual group of animals of unknown origin, having no descendants. Remains of Arsinoitherium zitteli have been found only in the Oligocene deposits of the Fayum Basin in Egypt.
Bighorn deer (Megaloceros)
The well-known bighorn deer (Megaloceros) is practically a contemporary of humans: it lived until the end of the last ice age.
It was distinguished by huge (up to 5.2 meters in span) horns, greatly expanded at the top in the form of a shovel with several processes. He lived, apparently, in the meadows, since in the forest a male with such horns would not be able to move.
Samotherium (Samotherium)
One of the oldest giraffes lived from 10 to 5 million years ago (Miocene).
It was a large animal (height at the withers more than two meters, length about three meters), which lived in tall grass savannahs and valley forests from Western Europe to China and North Africa. The first fossils were found on the island of Samos in the Aegean Sea (hence the name).
Fully official, indisputable TOP 10 best horns in the animal kingdom.
First of all: you won't find the red elk on this list. It's not that the elk isn't majestic enough. It is excluded because the elk has specific antlers (it would even be better to call them appendages). Moose have antlers made from dead bone that is shed and grows back every year. Horns in other animals are extensions of the skull and remain with them for life. Deer and deer relatives, like moose, have "changeable antlers"; goats, antelopes and cow relatives have "static horns". This seems like an overly strict distinction, and the difference between static horns and interchangeable horns may not make for good conversation at a party. But the bottom line is that you should only go to parties where the difference between the horns encourages good conversation.
Now to the horns! Oh yes, those are very good horns.
The markhorn goat lives in the mountains of Central Asia, skilfully climbing rocky cliffs with the grace of a North American mountain goat. This is very dangerous, especially considering that there are about 2500 of these animals left in the wild. They are disappearing in part due to the hunting of his absurdly spectacular horns, which can grow to over 1.5 m in length.
Their homeland is the dusty steppes of Kazakhstan, Russia, and sometimes Uzbekistan during migrations. Saiga is a truly absurd and delightful animal. Its fleshy nose is shotgun-like and is used to filter dust in its habitat. Its spiral horns are light, dark pink, with a sheen of jade. Saiga, unfortunately, are also endangered.
The giant, curling horns of the Nubian goat are even more impressive when you realize he uses them to fight male rivals on the mountaintops of North Africa and Arabia. There are several different types of ibex and no one is sure if they are the same species or not, so please, ibex fans, don't be discouraged that we've listed the Nubian species.
According to authoritative sources, these rams are known precisely as blue because of the shade of their fur. In the interests of objectivity, we have spent quite a bit of time researching their photographs on the Internet and sadly state that these rams are not actually blue. But! They have very good horns. Ram horns are wider and smoother than the narrow, gnarled horns of goats.
Addax is also known as the screw-horned antelope. And it's the perfect title. You see, it's an antelope, and it has horns, and the horns have sharp curves, like a screw. Good job, whoever names this animal. "Addax" is also a cool name. They are mostly extinct in their native Sahara, but live surprisingly well in captivity, which is why they have become commonplace in zoos.
It is believed that the mouflon is the ancestor of modern, very familiar domestic sheep. Sometime during the domestication process, the mouflon lost its absolutely stunning horns - large, stiff, curved loops.
Harna roams and jumps in the wild of India. Because of the excellent horns and the cool coat pattern, it was a favorite target for very wealthy hunters until someone noticed that there were almost no animals left.
The Saharan oryx is a buffalo in North Africa. It used to be widespread and roamed the savannah in huge herds. They were hunted (more for horns than meat) and disappeared. Oryx is extinct in the wild and exists only in zoos. This is not a huge animal, but the horns can reach 1.2 m.
Native to central Africa, the western eland is the largest antelope in the world. But in this list, she is not because of her long beard, but because of her beautiful horns: denser at the head and straightening to the tips. Very stylish.
Haha! Nice trick! You expected to see another goat, sheep or antelope, didn't you? Jackson's chameleons, although they come from the mountains of East Africa, can now be found all over the islands of Hawaii. This is probably due to the exotic pet trade. The horns on their heads are real living bone horns, just like those of an addax, goat, or western eland. And he uses them for the same purpose - fighting other males during the breeding season.
Recall earlier Aggeek wrote about being poachers.
Horns bony, covered with hair or stratum corneum, or naked appendages of the skull. They are found mainly in mammals, although it is likely that some fossil reptiles also had them. Thus, a fossil form recently found in Scotland (Elginia mirabilis) had a skull equipped with several pairs of bony protrusions. Likewise, some Dinosauria fossils had lateral bony protrusions, and sometimes unpaired ones, on the nasal bones. It is quite possible that on these protrusions the horny layer of the skin received enhanced development and thus a complete resemblance to R. was obtained. The tendency to form R. in reptiles, the closest ancestors of mammals, is already interesting because it explains to us the ugly appearance of R. in horses and other mammals, which are not only deprived of these organs themselves, but also in the closest ancestors of which we cannot assume their existence. R. in a horse, for example, can by no means be considered a return to ancestors, since its now well-known ancestors did not have R. But this anomaly will become partly understandable if we recall that the most distant ancestors of all mammals - reptiles - already had a tendency to develop R and that this tendency may be common to all mammals. The simplest form of R. is now represented by giraffes, in which R., characteristic of both sexes, are bony appendages of the skull, covered with skin and hair. R. these do not change. R. deer differ from R. giraffes in the following features: they fall off annually and are replaced by new ones, and the number of branches increases from year to year; they are covered with skin and hair only at the beginning, while they are soft, filled with blood; and then, when the bone substance that forms them hardens, is impregnated with lime, the skin dies and falls off, and the bone is exposed; finally, with the exception of only the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), in which both males and females are supplied with R., in deer R. are characteristic only of males. Both in deer and in giraffes, R. are formed due to the subcutaneous connective tissue and then adhere to the tubercles on the skull. R. appear in the first year of life, but only from the third year they receive an additional branch (Fig. 1). Sometimes R. remains with only one branch (Indian Cervulus or deer), but most often the number of branches increases and R. turns into huge appendages, sometimes reaching a weight of 2 pounds or more. The lowest branch, which goes forward and, as it were, serves as protection for the eyes, is called the ophthalmic, but sometimes, as in the roe deer (Cervus capreolus), the ophthalmic branches may be absent. The very form of deer rhizome is very diverse, but two main types can be noted: in one case, as for example in red deer (Cervus elaphus), deer (C. maral), etc., the trunks and branches of rhizome are round in section (Fig. one); in another case, the R. expand spatulately or only along the top, as, for example, in the reindeer (Fig. 2), or over a large extent, as in the fallow deer (Dama vulgaris, fig. 3) or the elk (Alces palmatus, fig. 4). Fig. 2. Reindeer antlers (Rangifer tarandus); a And a"- eye branches. R. deer, or Siberian deer, being cut in the spring, while they are soft, and dried in a special way, are valued by the Chinese as a medicinal (stimulating). These horns are called antlers and are sold, depending on the weight, sometimes very expensive. That is why a whole industry arose - deer breeding. Local residents keep deer in captivity and in the spring they cut off the males' horns for sale. The horns of the family of antelopes, bulls and sheep, unlike the horns of deer, do not change; characteristic for the most part of both sexes, although among antelopes it is often the same males; from above, their skin is covered with a highly developed horny sheath; in most cases they do not branch. In antelopes, the R. is dense, and in bulls and sheep, the frontal sinus continues at the base of the bone rod of the R., that is, the cavity enclosed in the frontal bone of many mammals. Therefore, the families of bulls (Bovidae) and sheep (Ovidae) are called bovids (Cavicornia). P. of the described type develop either as processes of the frontal bones, or sometimes from a special ossification (os cornu), then attached to the skull. Their horny layer, like the stratum corneum of the skin, slowly exfoliates and renews, and, due to the unevenness of this process, ring thickenings are sometimes formed at the base of the R., which make it possible to judge the age of the animal. Only in two antelopes, namely the American antelope (Antilocapra americana, fig. 5), whose R. is equipped with a small adnexal branch in front, and even in the Central Asian saiga (Saiga tatarica), the horny sheath of R. undergoes periodic annual decay and replacement, i.e. e. molt. In addition to the aforementioned antelope, the R. of the type described are usually devoid of lateral branches, but their shape is very diverse. They may be straight (for example, in Oryx beisa, fig. 6), or coiled (for example, Antilope cervicapra), etc. R. of the sheep family, which includes sheep and goats, bent back and to the sides, at the base compressed from the sides or from front to back, annulated, angular in section, and the horns are compressed from the sides, bent back, with strongly developed ringed elevations are characteristic of goats ( Capra, fig. 8), but compressed from front to back, curved in a spiral back and outward, with slight annular eminences, are characteristic of sheep (Ovis, fig. 7). In bulls (family Bovidae), P. are smooth, at least at the top, and curved outwards. The horny layer of R. of this type goes on numerous horn products. Usually R. are paired, if we leave aside the aforementioned Dinosauria, and usually there is one pair of R., but in the South Asian genus Tetraceros (with the only species T. quadricornis) in the male behind two short front R., placed just above the eyes, two more longer R. sit, and the females of this species are hornless. As an anomaly four R. are observed at a cow and at sheep. The fossil ungulate, Dinoceras, apparently had four R., sitting on bone tubercles, 2 were on the jaw, and 2 were on the frontal bones. Turning now to various kinds of anomalies, in addition to the already indicated appearance of R., in animals that do not have them, we note the appearance of hornless individuals in horned species, which sometimes, apparently, could give rise to hornless breeds. So, according to Azar, the Paraguayan hornless breeds descended from a hornless bull born in 1770, and at a later time, according to the famous livestock specialist Korneven, the hornless Belgian breed of cows Angus originated in the same way. It sometimes happens that R.'s base does not ossify, and then R. is mobile. Göring saw a similar cow in India. Korneven described a case where R. of a bull was provided with a huge swelling in the form of a pear-shaped mass. Finally, R. may appear as an anomaly not on the head, but on other parts of the body. So, in one bull, Lesbre described a horn sitting on the neck, which had the same annular grooves that appear with age, like normal R., but the internal cavity was filled with connective tissue, and not bone substance, as in normal R. In addition , there are horn-like growths, consisting of only one horny substance, without the participation of bone or connective tissue. Such outgrowths have been observed in mammals and even in birds, and R. found in humans should be assigned to this type. They were observed on the hairy part of the head, on the forehead, temples, auricle, hands, male genital parts (scrotum, glans and praeputium). Sometimes they are mobile, sometimes they adhere tightly to the periosteum of the adjacent bone. Their shape and size are different: sometimes conical, sometimes bent by an arc, sometimes spirally developed; their surface is covered, for the most part, with protrusions and transverse grooves. The length reaches 8, 10, 12 or more centimeters. They consist of a mass of brownish keratinized cells (see the horny layer of the skin).
If you ask any person what animal they associate agriculture with, the most likely answer would be "cow". Indeed, among domestic animals, these animals are one of the most important and most common, but in the scientific literature it is customary to replace their name with the term "cattle". This substitution is explained simply - in addition to ordinary cows, originating from the wild round, other representatives of the bovine family were also domesticated: Indian buffalo, yak, banteng, gaur. All these animals are capable of producing crossbreeds with cows, which blurs the species boundaries. In addition, they have a similar physiology, so all domesticated bovines are called cattle.
Ankole Watussi cattle.
Among all types of cattle, it is precisely the descendants of the aurochs that predominate in quantitative terms: the world number of cows has exceeded 1.3 billion heads. The remaining species are significantly inferior to them in numbers and are distributed locally in the centers of domestication. The domestication of wild aurochs took place in two stages. The first to pay attention to the huge ungulates were the inhabitants of Asia: about 8 thousand years ago, cows were first bred in Northern India. Europeans, independently of the Indians, tamed wild aurochs 3 thousand years later. Thus, cows became domesticated later than goats and sheep, and there were reasons for this. The fact is that it was easier to catch small animals, and in the process of taming they caused less trouble. But huge tours, capable of actively defending themselves, were simply dangerous for people. Only after the keeping technology was worked out on small ungulates, people dared to tame the mighty stags.
Subsequently, the resettlement of cows proceeded in two ways. In Asia, these animals penetrated south and east (together with buffaloes), partly north into the Himalayas (the yak was domesticated there). Here they enjoyed popularity and honor up to deification, however, they did not undergo radical external changes. In addition, through Egypt and the Middle East, these animals came to Africa, where they became an important object of cattle breeding among a number of tribes.
In Europe, the largest livestock was first in Greece, where they occupied a prominent place in ancient culture. For example, the mythical monster Minotaur had, according to legend, the body of a man and the head of a bull. In the myth of the abduction of Europa, Zeus also turned into a bull to steal the girl he loved. On the occasion of the victory among the Greeks, it was customary to make a solemn sacrifice - a hecatomb, during which exactly 100 bulls were supposed to be slaughtered as a gift to the gods. Moreover, we owe the appearance of cows ... acrobatics! The first acrobats were not circus gymnasts at all, as we now imagine them. These were courageous people who performed in the arena with an angry bull, through which they made virtuoso jumps. And only later these games turned into a safe and beautiful sport.
The beauty and power of bulls are embodied in several monuments installed in different cities of the world.
Since the Middle Ages, cows have become the main agricultural animal in almost all countries of Europe, and here they have also undergone the greatest genetic changes, resulting in the emergence of highly productive modern breeds. Later, breeding animals were brought to North and South America, New Zealand, and Australia. Now the best and largest herds of dairy cows are in Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, New Zealand. The USA, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay invariably hold the leadership in beef cattle breeding. This geographical division is not accidental, it is explained by some physiological characteristics of cattle.
Compared to other herbivores, cattle require more feed per unit weight, which makes keeping them less profitable. The low profitability of cows is redeemed by the large size of the carcass and the high yield of meat. They digest roughage better than goats and sheep, but at the same time they also need more water.
Dairy cows have a particularly high need for water, which is why highly productive dairy farming thrives only in temperate climates.
The stomach of cows is four-chambered, and the food in it is digested in several stages. First, the food eaten enters the so-called scar, from where, after 30-40 minutes. reflexively burps back into the mouth. The repeated chewing of food is called chewing gum. The chewed food again enters the stomach and moves to the next section - the abomasum. This is where digestion actually takes place. Two more departments, a book and a grid, specialize in the assimilation of liquid food (milk, water). The volume of the stomach in cows can reach up to 200 liters! This colossal organ is home to a huge population of bacteria and ciliates that break down cellulose. It is thanks to them that cattle is able to most fully absorb the nutrients of the plant mass. One cow can eat up to 70-100 kg of feed per day.
Among other features, relatively early sexual maturity should be noted. So, heifers acquire the ability to mate already at the age of 7-9 months, that is, like goats, which are significantly inferior to cows in size. True, in farms, animals are allowed to mate later - from 15-18 months. Pregnancy in cows lasts 285 days. Usually a cow brings one calf, twins and triplets come across less often. The largest number of normally developed fruits was 8 pieces. After calving, a cow is able to give milk for up to 10 months, after which a period of forced rest and the next calving follows. Dairy cows are difficult to start (interruption of lactation), the world record belongs to the cow of the Guernsey breed, which after calving was milked for 8 years! A high reproductive load also causes a relatively quick failure of cows and bulls. On an industrial scale, animals are used for 3-5 seasons, after which the milk yield drops and keeping the cow becomes unprofitable. At the same time, with good care, record-breaking animals can maintain high productivity up to 10 or even 19 years. In Finland, Denmark, Germany, Holland, they traditionally take care of the longevity of cows and even insert artificial teeth into elderly animals. For example, 80% of the world record holders with lifetime milk yields over 100 tons now belong to the Netherlands. In general, cows can live up to 20-30 years, and the age of the oldest centenarian was 78 years.
Cow's milk has no equal in taste, so it accounts for 84% of world production, another 12% comes from buffalo milk and only the remaining part from the milk of other types of livestock. Cow's milk is indispensable in the production of cream, sour cream and butter. The meat of cows is tougher than that of other animals, but it contains relatively little fat, so beef is considered one of the most useful varieties of this product. The rigidity of the meat is eliminated by the early slaughter of fattened young animals, resulting in a tender veal. Due to the high content of hemoglobin, beef has a dark color, but at the same time it is also distinguished by a high concentration of iron. For this reason, it is recommended to use it for people suffering from anemia, engaged in heavy physical labor. In addition, cattle serve as a supplier of a number of delicacy products: beef tongues and "marbled" beef with an even distribution of fat between muscle fibers. The technology for obtaining such meat was developed in Japan and even got its own name - Kobe. It makes a strong impression on an unprepared person: according to Kobe, calves are kept in soundproof rooms with limited mobility (they are hung from the ceiling with straps). So that the animals do not suffer from cramped conditions, they are given daily massages, fed exclusively with grain, drink beer and sake, and play classical music. It is not surprising that the price of such meat on the market reaches 140-180 € per kg. Traditionally, beef is most popular in English-speaking countries; in England, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, a good steak is valued above any other meat dishes.
Horn bracelets.
Other raw materials worth mentioning are leather and horns. If the former is used for furniture upholstery, the manufacture of belts and shoes, then horns are now almost never used as a raw material. But in ancient times, they were used to make dishes (hence the “horn of plenty”), powder flasks, musical instruments (hunting horn), jewelry, salt shakers, snuff boxes, hair combs. The horn has a pleasant smooth texture and warmth, it replaced modern plastic for our ancestors.
Cattle are not only productive animals, but also excellent draft power. Due to the large muscle mass, the bulls have a high carrying capacity and endurance, but are slow, therefore they are used for transporting bulky goods and for plowing.
Arba harnessed to a pair of zebu.
In order to make the bulls more obedient and manageable, castration is carried out; emasculated working animals are called oxen. In the old days they were widespread, for example, oxen were the main transport of the Chumaks, who delivered salt from the Black Sea coast, they also pulled the heavy wagons of the first American settlers across the endless prairies of North America. Oxen are no longer found in developed countries, but draft cattle are still popular in Asian countries. Buffalo and zebu races are held here annually, and in different versions of the competition, the driver can ride on an elegant cart or slide barefoot through the mud, holding on to the tails of animals.
Buffalo racing on about. Bali (Indonesia).
By the way, the sluggishness of cows is greatly exaggerated. If desired, these animals can be trained to ride under the saddle and even jump over obstacles.
The daughter of a Bavarian farmer, Regina Mayer, tamed the cow Luna to jump over barriers.
Although we usually think of cattle as purely practical animals, they also play a prominent role in the entertainment industry. First of all, it is worth mentioning the bullfight - the successor of the ancient Greek games with bulls. There are two varieties of this fun in the world: in the Spanish bullfight, the bullfighter is obliged to kill the animal in front of the audience, in Portuguese, either the bullfighter or the horse rider opposes the bull, and the victory is counted by the number of injections, that is, the bull leaves the arena alive. In both cases, a person fights only with young and inexperienced animals, which are released into the arena for the first time, and special blunt nozzles are put on the horns of the victim. The obvious injustice of this balance of power caused a lot of criticism from animal advocates, so now bullfighting is prohibited. Now the Spaniards, thirsty for thrills, take their souls in running with the bulls. Here, man and animals are on an equal footing, which does not negate the risk and stupidity of this event. Several dozen bulls are released from the pen and driven through the streets of the city, and the men run away from them, trying to keep as little distance as possible with the animal. Embarrassed by the stampede and screams, the bulls somehow manage to hook on the horns or trample a couple of people.
The bull run is held in the Spanish city of Pamplona.
Americans do not lag behind the temperamental southerners, their entertainment originates from the usual work processes that cowboys performed on farms. Over time, riding bulls, catching calves with a lasso, and managing a herd on horseback turned into independent disciplines of rodeo. Although this sport does not look bloodthirsty at all, it is very far from humane treatment of animals. During the breakage of bulls and the catching of calves, injuries often occur, both in people and in cattle, and in terms of severity they are not inferior to each other. Cow fights look the most innocent. These competitions are held in Switzerland and only heifers participate in them. Animals simply butt heads, figuring out which of them is worthy of being the leader, at the end of the battle, the participants part with the world.
"Battle of the Queens" - traditional cow fights in Switzerland.
In connection with such a diverse and long-term use, cattle have undergone significant external changes. Now in the world there are more than 1000 breeds of bulls, 121 breeds of zebu, 38 breeds of buffalo, as well as several breeds of yaks, gayals and bantengs. A brief description of the types of cattle and a description of the most famous breeds are given below.
Bulls and cows
They are descended from the extinct aurochs. Depending on the degree of genetic closeness to the wild ancestor, primitive and highly productive breeds are distinguished. Primitive breeds are most often high-legged, narrow-minded, have horns directed forward or upward. Highly productive breeds, as a rule, are massive, broad-browed, have short horns directed to the sides, or completely without horns (horns). In general, the shape of the horns is a very variable sign ...
in some animals they can reach incredible sizes.
The bull of the Texas long-horned breed named Jay R. is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the owner of the longest horns - they reach 227 cm. Since the horns grow all their lives, and the bull is still young, they will become even longer in the future.
The color of cows and bulls is one-color (black, white, red, red) or piebald with a certain pattern of spots. The coat of all breeds, except for the Scottish Highland, is short. Weight varies widely. In the largest bulls, the mass can exceed 2 tons. Recently, there has been a trend towards breeding mini-breeds that can be grown in small private farms. One such cow requires minimal care, but can provide milk for an entire family.
Archie, a 29-month-old goby, is recognized as the smallest in the world. His height is only 76.2 cm.
According to the productive purpose, the breeds are divided into dairy, meat-and-milk, and meat.
dairy breeds
Holstein (Holstein-Frisian) - bred in the 19th century in Holland and Northern Germany, improved in the USA. Representatives of this breed of medium size: height at the withers 140-155 cm, weight of bulls 960-1200 kg, cows 670-750 kg. Animals are most often polled, rarely have short, slightly curved horns. The color is black-and-white, occasionally red-and-white individuals come across. Gobies are suitable for fattening for meat, the yield of which is 50-55%. Cows have a pronounced milky constitution: a huge bowl-shaped udder is firmly attached to the abdominal wall. The average milk yield is 7000-8000 kg of milk per year, for the best representatives of the breed it exceeds 10,000 kg per year, the absolute world record belongs to the cow Juliana, who gave 30,805 kg of milk per year! The fat content of milk in different populations varies from 3 to 3.9%. The productive indicators of this breed speak for themselves, therefore Holstein cows are the most common dairy cattle in the world. They are found everywhere and have been used in breeding a number of other breeds (for example, black-and-white). However, high productivity also leads to high demands on the conditions of detention, these cows are quite sensitive to stress.
Holstein cow.
Ayrshire - like other breeds, its name comes from the place of origin, the county of Ayrshire in Scotland. The breed was finally formed in the 19th century, now it is the leader in popularity in the northern countries (Canada, Finland, Sweden). It is distinguished by a strong constitution, excellent adaptability to a cold climate and not too large sizes: height at the withers 122-130 cm, weight of bulls 800 kg, cows 450-570 kg. The horns are large, lyre-shaped, directed upwards. The color is red-and-white, occasionally red and white animals come across. Meat yield is 50-55%. In the Ayrshire breed, large milk yields (4000-8000 kg of milk per year) are successfully combined with high milk fat content (4.1-4.5%). Other indicators of its quality are also pleasing - a high content of proteins and a low content of somatic cells. Animals of this breed are precocious, hardy, easily adapt to the harsh climate, but do not tolerate heat well. Ayrshire cows are somewhat shy and can act aggressively.
Ayrshire dairy cattle.
Dutch - one of the oldest dairy breeds, bred in the 18th century in the Netherlands. Among the breeds of this direction, it stands out for its compact, but dense physique, strong constitution. Height at the withers 125-140 cm, weight of bulls 900-1000 kg, cows 550-600 kg. Animals are hornless. The color is black-and-white, the spots are very large and form characteristic zones on the body: the front and rear parts of the body are black, in the middle there is a wide white belt. Meat yield is 52-60%. Milk yield reaches an average of 3500-5000 kg of milk per year. Dutch cows have strong, cupped udders and well-shaped teats adapted to machine milking. They were used to breed a number of dairy breeds, including the Ayrshire. Animals of this breed are precocious and easily adapt to different climates, but are susceptible to a number of dangerous diseases (leukemia, tuberculosis).
Dutch cows in the pasture.
Jersey - bred in the 18th-19th centuries on the British island of Jersey. It is distinguished by a delicate, dry constitution, small size: height at the withers 120-130 cm, weight of bulls 600-700 kg, cows 350-400 kg. Animals are polled, rarely have short thin horns. The color is red, light brown with lightened areas at the end of the muzzle, around the eyes, belly and legs, sometimes the muzzle and neck have a dark gray tint. Cows of this breed are distinguished not only by their low weight, but also by relatively modest milk yields (3000-3500 kg per year). This disadvantage is more than offset by the record high fat content: in ordinary animals it is 5-6%, in the best representatives of the breed it reaches 10%, and the record was 14%! In fact, Jersey cows produce cream, so they are considered indispensable in those farms that specialize in the production of butter. These cows are widely used for crossbreeding to increase fat in other breeds. Due to their small mass, they do not trample pastures; moreover, they are undemanding, but nervous and require delicate handling.
Jersey cow.
Meat and dairy breeds
Simmental - formed over hundreds of years in the valley of the Swiss river Simma, officially approved in 1926. Animals of proportional build, with a wide body, deep chest, developed dewlap and heavy thick skin. Height at the withers 140-160 cm, weight of bulls 850-1300 kg, cows 550-900 kg. The horns of these cows are regular in shape. Most often there is a fawn-motley and red-motley suit, less often fawn and red. Despite the versatility, the milk yield of these cows is not inferior in size to dairy cows. On average, a cow gives 3500-5000 kg per year, and record holders 10,000-14,000 kg with a fat content of 3.8-4.1% (sometimes up to 6%). The yield of meat in the carcass is 55-65%. Animals are unpretentious, easily adapt to various climatic conditions, digest roughage well, rarely get sick, and are distinguished by a calm character. Simmentals are used to improve meat qualities in dairy and milk-meat breeds.
Representative of the Simmental breed.
Gray Ukrainian - one of the oldest breeds, leading its origin directly from the tour. It was formed in the Middle Ages by folk selection in the steppes of Europe. Similar breeds originated from gray Ukrainian cattle: Hungarian gray, Gascony, Maremma. All of them are quite high-legged, have a narrow chest, a long neck and long lyre-shaped horns pointing upwards. The color is exclusively gray, calves are born fawn. All these breeds are now few in number, and some are endangered. The reason for this is versatility, because these animals were used not only for the production of milk and meat, but also as draft animals. Because of this, gray Ukrainian cattle cannot boast of high weight and milk yield. Weight of bulls 800-850 kg, cows 450-550 kg. The annual milk yield is 2100-2800 kg of milk with a fat content of 4.2-4.5%. However, animals compensate for these shortcomings with other advantages. They are extremely unpretentious, hardy, easily adapt to cold and hot climates, eat the lowest quality feed, are prolific, calm, intelligent, and most importantly, resistant to such dangerous diseases as tuberculosis, leukemia, and even plague. After the bulls and oxen were no longer used to transport goods, their mighty strength was unclaimed and the breed fell into decline. In some countries, these cattle are trying to breed as exotic native animals.
Hungarian gray cattle is descended from the Ukrainian gray breed.
scottish highlands - bred in Scotland based on local stock. This breed cannot be called popular, but in terms of exoticism it surpasses all others. In winter and summer, these cattle are grazed on the scarce northern pastures, as a result of which they have developed an abundant coat that reliably protects from the cold. The guard hair of Scottish highland cows reaches a length of 30 cm, and under it lies a short but dense undercoat. The constitution of animals approaches that of meat: they have a short head with a wide forehead, long horns, at first growing to the sides or forward, and in old age they bend upward. The most common color is red and red, less common are black, white, fawn individuals. The meat of these cows is lean, with a high content of protein and iron. Scottish highland cattle are very unpretentious, easily adapting to cold climates, use pastures efficiently, and have a calm disposition. At the same time, cows can be aggressive due to their pronounced maternal instinct. This breed is often kept in zoos and nature reserves as attractive pets.
Scottish highland cow with calf.
It would seem that what could be more exotic than Scottish cattle, but breeders do not sit idly by, and now “fluffy cows” have appeared on one of the Iowa farms. True, they have not yet been formalized into a separate breed and exist only as a selection group. But the lack of official status, these animals more than atone for their unusual appearance. "Fluffy cows" are compact, come in black, red, piebald colors, and most importantly, they have a thick, moderately long coat. Thanks to special care, their coat forms a perfectly even plush surface, emphasizing the outlines of the body.
"Fluffy bull" selection by Matt Lautner.
Ankole-watussi (watussi) - another specific breed bred by folk selection in Africa. These are large animals of red or red-and-white color. Weight of bulls 540-730 kg, cows 430-540 kg. The main distinguishing feature of the breed - incredibly long horns, growing either up or to the sides. Their length can exceed 2 m, in some individuals they are also very thick. So, the world record for this indicator is 103 cm in circumference.
The horns are hollow inside, therefore, despite their huge size, they do not cause inconvenience to their owners. On the contrary, the network of blood vessels located inside the horn allows you to effectively cool the body.
Watussi cow herd.
meat breeds
Shorthorn - The breed originated in Scotland in the 18th century. The name of these cows in translation means "short horn" and indicates a characteristic detail of their appearance. The constitution of these cows is of a pronounced meat type: an elongated, wide and rounded body, a short massive neck, a shortened head, a strongly protruding chest, and well-developed muscles. The skin is thick, soft, loose, the coat is sometimes curly. The height at the withers reaches 128-130 cm, the weight of bulls is 900-1000 kg, cows 410-720 kg. Despite the small udder of cows, with good care, they can produce up to 3500-4500 kg of milk per year. The slaughter yield is 68-72%, the meat is of excellent quality: juicy, tender with fine fibers and pronounced marbling. The breed is early maturing, but demanding on the conditions of detention. Being natives of the north, shorthorns do not tolerate the steppe climate well, and besides, they are infertile.
Shorthorn bull.
Hereford - The breed originated in the 18th century in the English county of Herefordshire. Animals of this breed are squat, with short and strong legs, a wide, barrel-shaped body, a deep chest, a short neck, and a wide forehead. The horns are short, polled specimens are often found. The color is red with a white head, legs and belly. The skin and coat are thin. Height at the withers 124-130 cm, weight of bulls 850-1000 kg, cows 550-650 kg. On average, cows produce 1000-1200 kg of milk per year with a fat content of 3.9-4%. The meat yield is 58-70%. The meat is tender, juicy, high-calorie, with pronounced marbling.
Hereford cow.
Zebu
A kind of livestock, outwardly close to primitive breeds like the gray Ukrainian. The main difference between zebu and ordinary cows - a large hump at the withers, similar to a camel's. True, this hump is filled not with adipose tissue, but with connective tissue. This unusual appearance led scientists to look for the wild ancestors of the zebu, but they were never found. In the end, the researchers concluded that the zebu descended from the aurochs as a result of a mutation that was steadily passed down from generation to generation. Zebu have become widespread in India and the countries of Southeast Asia, where they compete with buffaloes in terms of numbers, they were also brought to South America and Africa. The selection of these animals is carried out separately from cows, although there are also hybrids between ordinary cattle and zebu. The main directions of zebu breeding - meat and meat and dairy, in addition, they are used as draft animals. Compared to cows, zebu are somewhat less milky and massive, they are more high-legged and mobile, less early and prolific. They compensate for these shortcomings with unpretentiousness, good-naturedness, excellent adaptability to a hot climate and a number of specific diseases.
Miniature zebu.
buffaloes
In the domesticated state, only Indian buffaloes are known. The breeds of these animals do not have such pronounced morphological differences as in cows, since they are used both as draft animals and as productive ones. In connection with the taboo on the consumption of cattle meat in India, buffalo selection was carried out mainly in the dairy direction. The milk of these animals differs in taste and chemical composition from cow's, it is used for the production of the famous Italian mozzarella cheese. In addition to Italy, in Europe, buffaloes are kept in Hungary and Transcarpathia (Ukraine). Compared to cows, these animals are more thermophilic and attached to water. At the same time, they are distinguished by unpretentiousness and resistance to a number of tropical diseases.
Preparing a rice field for sowing in Vietnam. Buffaloes, who themselves are very fond of water, are indispensable for working in a humid climate.
The body type is similar to small cows, but they have long hair on the underside of the body, as well as a tail with long hair, similar to a horse. Most often there are wild black yaks, brown and piebald individuals are less common.
Yak under the saddle.
The mass of males reaches 800 kg, females - up to 300 kg. The main direction of their selection - dairy. For a year, a female can give 300-400 kg of milk with a fat content of 6-7%. Yaks are also indispensable as draft and pack animals. One individual can carry up to 100 kg of payload on its back, rising to a height of up to 6000 m. At this height, a person feels obvious signs of a lack of oxygen and noticeably weakens, while yaks remain operational. Among all types of cattle, these animals are the most frost-resistant, so they can spend all year round on pastures and in open pens. In addition, yaks are suppliers of specific raw materials. - wool (she goes to make blankets and ropes) and ... manure. If cow manure is considered a by-product, then in the highlands, yak manure is indispensable as a fuel. Crossbreeds of yaks with ordinary cows and zebu are known.
Domestic yaks wandering on a high mountain glacier.
bantengs
An Asian variety of cattle that originates from a wild animal of the same name. Outwardly, bantengs are very similar to domestic fawn cows. Since they are limited in distribution in the countries of Southeast Asia, due to the beliefs of the local population, they are not bred for meat. The use of banteng is somewhat similar to the use of buffaloes: they are raised for milk production and as draft animals.
It should be noted that among other types of cattle, these animals stand out for their meek and calm disposition.
Gayali
Another variety of Asian "cows". They are descended from a large wild bull - gaura. Compared to their wild ancestors, gayals look shorter, but more massive. They are characterized by short, thick horns. Guyal coloring can copy wild (dark brown body and light legs) or be piebald. Due to the large mass of gayals, they are bred for meat by those inhabitants of India who do not profess Hinduism and eat beef. The meat of these animals has excellent taste, and the milk is high in fat. Like bantengs, gayals are distinguished by good-naturedness and phlegm, they are used for plowing and transporting goods. At the same time, they are the smallest variety of cattle. Probably, such unpopularity is explained by the narrow range of their wild ancestor. Hybrids of gayals with ordinary cows are known.
Bison and bison
They breed well in captivity, breeding of bison is especially widely practiced, the meat of which is supplied to the trading network under the original name (just like bison meat, not beef). Nevertheless, these animals can be called cattle only conditionally, since they are not considered domestic in the full sense of the word. Known hybrids of bison with cows - bison.
The high mountains are sparsely populated by people. The cultivation of the land is difficult here, and it can only be used in summer as a pasture for domestic animals. In the last century, the mountains have become a popular place for entertainment - first they were chosen by climbers, later by skiers. The laying of ski tracks, the construction of lifting devices, hotels and recreation centers sometimes cause adverse changes in the natural environment.
High in the mountains, even on the rocks, flowers of extraordinary beauty grow, such as aquilegia.
The highest city in the world is Lhasa (China), located in Tibet at an altitude of 3,630 meters.
Mountains of North America.
The Rocky Mountains are located in the western part of North America, stretching from north to south - from Alaska to Mexico - for a distance of 3,200 kilometers. The conditions of the local climate are not conducive to the development of agriculture, but are quite favorable for the summer pastures of fat herds of large and small cattle.
During the last ice age, as glaciers covered more and more of the earth's surface towards the equator, animals retreated south in search of warmer regions. In Europe and Asia, they met on their way an insurmountable obstacle in the form of mountains stretching from west to east. Some species of animals became extinct, never being able to cross the mountains.
In America, the mountains are located in a different direction - from north to south - and this has contributed to the survival of more different species.
The highest peak in North America - Mount McKinley - 6194 m, Alaska.
snow sheep
The bighorn sheep is larger than the ordinary sheep, its skin is dark in color, and it has long twisted horns. Snow sheep arrange such loud battles with their horns that they can be heard from afar.
snow goat
The mountain goat is a big fan of salt and often travels miles in search of salt deposits, which she licks greedily. Its food is very diverse - from willow to herbs and conifers.
Grizzly
Grizzlies are once a very common species in the Rocky Mountains; currently preserved only in Alaska and in the mountains of Canada.
Wolverine
Wolverine. This animal, similar to a small bear, is found in the northern forests. She leads a solitary life and every evening digs a hole in which she spends the night. The wolverine is a predator, trotting or jumping, and attacks in the open, so its intended prey often manages to escape. However, the wolverine does not refuse from animals killed by a bear or a cougar.
Andes.
The longest mountain range in the world is located in the western part of South America. These are the Andes (Andean Cordillera) - high mountains stretching from north to south. The highest peak of the Andes is Mount Aconcagua, its height is 6,959 meters.
The mountains of the Andean Cordillera are very high and steep, most of them are covered with snow all year round. And only to the north, where the climate is somewhat milder, people live on the plateaus. The Andes were formed in a relatively recent geological era as a result of major displacements of the earth's surface, due to which they rose from the abyss of the sea. For this reason, there are many active volcanoes in the Andes, one of them is Ojos del Salado with a height of 6,863 meters.
Condor This large bird of prey is found at any altitude, up to 5,000 meters above sea level. Like other vultures, he lives in the company of his relatives, and not as a hermit like an eagle.
andean condor- the largest of the birds of prey, its mass reaches 12 kilograms, and its wingspan is 3 meters.
spectacled bear
Spectacled bear. This small black bear is called such an unusual name because of the yellowish ring around the eyes in the form of glasses. Found in the Northern Andes.
Lama
This animal has been considered the property of the Andes since the time of the Incas, whose culture reached its peak here by the middle of the 15th century. The llama has a dense and very delicate coat, which is the best suited to the cold mountain climate. A disturbed lama defends himself in a very peculiar way: he vigorously spits at the enemy, completely discouraging him.
The llama looks like a small camel, only without the hump.
Vicuna. The smallest representative of camelids, usually weighs no more than 50 kilograms. The vicuña is bred for its beautiful soft coat.
Guanaco. The wild ancestor of the llama. This is the largest mammal in South America - its mass reaches 75 kilograms.
Alpaca is a hybrid of guanaco and vicuña.
Mountains of Asia.
On the roof of the world.
The roof of the world - this is the name of the Pamir, a mountain system in Central Asia, which occupies almost 100 thousand square meters. km. and is located on the territory of Tajikistan, Afghanistan and China. The average height of the plateaus exceeds 3,000 meters, the ridges reach a height of more than 6,000 meters. There are deep gorges and glaciers, alpine deserts and steppe areas, river valleys and lakes.
The highest peak in the world: Everest (Chomolungma), height 8,846 meters.
The largest glacier in the mountains of Asia: Siachen, 75.5 km.
white-breasted bear
White-breasted bear. He has a black coat with a light stripe on his chest, resembling a collar. It feeds on plants, berries, fruits, as well as invertebrates and small crustaceans, which it catches in rivers. It lives mainly in forests, where there is more than enough food for it and where it quickly climbs trees.
four-horned antelope
Four-horned antelope. Large, almost like gazelles, these animals form mating pairs or live alone. Males have four horns, and the front ones are very small. This antelope is found in the wooded mountains of India, near water bodies.
musk deer
Musk deer. An atypical representative of the deer family: it has no horns, and the upper fangs are very developed, like those of predators. It lives in wooded and steep mountains from Tibet to Siberia. One of its glands, the so-called musky sac, produces a secret with a very strong odor.
diamond pheasant
Diamond pheasant. It has colorful plumage and a long tail. Lives in the mountains at an altitude of 2,000 - 3,000 meters in dense thickets of bamboo, which feeds on buds.
Takin and yak.
Like a bull, Takin is more massive and clumsy, and in addition, he has adapted to life at an altitude of 2,500 to 4,000 meters, only in winter he descends lower due to lack of food. And the yak lives even higher up to 6,000 meters. Locals have been breeding yaks since time immemorial. In the wild, these animals are preserved in Tibet.
If a hunter frightens off a takin, he hides in a forest thicket and lies down, bending his head low to the ground. He is so sure that now no one will see him that you can quietly approach him. Little Takin is born after 8 months of intrauterine development.
The yak has a very thick black skin, which, high in the mountains, protects it from the cold. Domestic yaks are bred in the highlands of Asia as working and, in part, dairy cattle.
Irbis
This representative of the cat family is also called the snow leopard. The length of his body along with the tail is more than 2 meters. It has wide paws so as not to fall into the snow, and a thick skin, the color of which merges with the color of the rocks among which it lives. The irbis is extremely dexterous: it can chase its prey by jumping along the steep slopes of mountains, and is the only one among the cats capable of jumping 15 meters.
Usually, a female snow leopard gives birth to two cubs. After they cease to feed on milk, the mother takes them with her to hunt, arranging an ambush in this case on elevated places in order to expand the field of view. In summer, snow leopards live very high in the mountains, and in winter they descend into the valleys.
Panda
The giant panda, or bamboo bear, is the symbol of the World Wildlife Fund. It is found only in the mountains of Southeast China and Western Tibet. The giant panda is endangered and strictly protected by law.
There are only a few hundred giant pandas in the world.
The body length of a newborn bamboo bear is 10 centimeters!
Basically, the giant panda feeds on bamboo shoots and leaves, roots, and only occasionally changes its vegetarian habit by eating small rodents.
The red panda is less well known than the bamboo bear, and much smaller. Her back and tail are red, and her belly and paws are black.
Argali, tar and markhor.
On the "roof of the world" various types of hard-horned herbivores live freely, outwardly similar to goats. They are very agile: they can easily jump over sheer cliffs or stop to nibble grass in places where it would seem impossible to climb. Some species, such as the taru, are threatened with extinction, although they do not have many enemies, except for humans.
markhor
Markhor. He has unusual twisted horns, directed vertically upwards. Markhor can climb steep cliffs to feast on tender tree leaves.
Tar can jump up to 10 meters without hurting himself. He did well in America.
Argali
Argali. In another way, it is called a wild Altai goat. Lives in herds. Males have very developed horns. Sometimes fierce battles are fought between them, while they butt with force, but they never seriously injure each other.
Alpine arc.
The Alps are the oldest mountain range in Europe. This is a mountain range in the form of an arc, stretched from west to east, about 1100 long and about 250 kilometers wide. The borders of such states as Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria pass along it. Many alpine peaks are covered with eternal snow, and often melting ice and glaciers from them. Broad-leaved and coniferous forests predominate here. At an altitude of 2000 meters, the forests disappear, giving way to dense shrubs and meadows. The animal world is also diverse, and the number of various animals is constantly growing, despite the presence of humans in the Alps, due to the fact that hunting and fishing are strictly controlled. Recently, the lynx has reappeared in Italy, having disappeared here more than two centuries ago.
The highest peak of the Alps: Mont Blanc - 4,810 meters.
Redwing wall climber
Red-winged wall climber. This bird has gray plumage on the body, and black-red on the wings. She quickly moves her nimble paws over sheer cliffs, exploring cracks in search of insects that she feeds on.
Viper
Viper. This snake does not lay eggs in the ground, they develop directly in its body, and therefore the cubs are born alive. Never attacks first unless disturbed.
black grouse
Grouse. During the mating season, male grouse attract females with certain behavior: they scream, bounce, mutter, bowing their heads and fluffing their tails, and sometimes they will fight. The place where this happens is called a lek, and the behavior of males is lekking.
Golden eagle
Golden eagle. It lives in the highest and inaccessible areas of the Alps. Lives alone and only during incubation of eggs and feeding of chicks - with the female. Soaring high in the sky, the golden eagle surveys its territory, looking for prey and driving out alien relatives. The golden eagle, hunting for artiodactyl cubs, grabs them and takes them to its nest.
It is the horns and hooves that allow many mountain animals, the so-called artiodactyls, to survive. Horns are an important defensive weapon against predators and an effective means to assert their dominance in the herd. Hooves that look so slippery are actually well adapted to their habitat - sheer, often snow-covered rocks; they allow animals to climb the steep and move with amazing ease. The enemies of artiodactyls are wolves and lynxes, which, after many years, return to the Alps again.
Chamois
Chamois. It is found at such heights where there is no longer woody vegetation; in winter it descends lower and visits the forest thickets. Lives in small herds. The female gives birth to only one cub, which after a couple of hours can independently follow the mother. When the chamois rests on the foot, the hoof spreads out and forms an ideal footing both on the ground and on the snow. The horns of the chamois are short and bent back almost at a right angle.
Mountain goat
The mountain goat is a massive artiodactyl animal with a short beard and large horns, which in males can reach one meter.
mouflon
Mouflon. The only wild sheep living in Europe. The male is easily recognizable by the horns, wide at the base and twisting in a spiral. The mouflon's horns grow throughout its life. Mouflon is a herbivore, sometimes gnaws at the bark of young trees.
Marmot
Marmots are large alpine rodents. The mass of this rodent, depending on the season, ranges from 4 to 8 kilograms. Like all rodents, the groundhog has very developed incisors that do not stop growing throughout their lives, and in cubs they are white, and in adult rodents they are yellowish. The groundhog has been known since ancient times: even the Roman writer Pliny the Elder (23 - 79 AD) called him an alpine mouse, noting that "he lives underground and whistles like a mouse" in winter, the groundhog hibernates in a hole, prudently filled food, which he will gnaw during short awakenings. He will leave his hole only in the spring.
The groundhog has a short tail covered with tousled hair and small paws. Under the groundhog's skin there is a thick layer of fat that protects it from the cold and serves as an energy reserve. The inhabitants of the Alps are convinced that this fat is a good remedy for the treatment of the respiratory organs.
These animals spend a lot of time near their burrow, looking for food. Older marmots sit on their hind legs and carefully study the surroundings. Noticing the danger, they warn other marmots about it with a characteristic whistle.
One of the groundhog's enemies is the raven, an agile predator that attacks groundhog cubs. If crows usually attack in flocks, then the golden eagle flies quietly alone. From a height, he outlines the prey and swoops down on it. Approaching, it slows down the fall, stretching out its paws, releases its claws and grabs the unfortunate victim, not giving it the slightest opportunity to escape. The golden eagle preys not only on marmots, but also on rabbits, hares, snakes, artiodactyl cubs.
The marmot feeds on roots, leaves, and grass; while eating, he sits on his hind legs, and holds food with his front legs.
Whistling for marmots is not only a signal warning of approaching danger, but also a means of communication. In case of alarm, as soon as they hear the whistle, all the marmots immediately take refuge in their burrows, not even making sure that they are actually threatened. It seems that the chamois perceive the whistle of the marmot alarming them as a warning of danger.
St. Bernard.
St. Bernard is a large dog with very long hair in black-red-white color. Back in the 17th century, they were bred by the monks of the monastery of St. Bernard, located on one of the Alpine passes. They used these dogs to search for travelers caught in a snow fall or avalanche. The St. Bernards found the unfortunate and pulled them out from under the snow, raking it with their paws.
Despite the fact that this is one of the largest dogs - it weighs about 8 kilograms, its character is meek and docile.
Barry is the nickname of the most famous St. Bernard; in 12 years he saved about 40 people.
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