Aurochs

The aurochs (*Bos primigenius*) was an extinct species of large wild cattle that ranged across Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

The aurochs (Bos primigenius) was an extinct species of large wild cattle that ranged across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is generally regarded as the wild ancestor of modern domestic cattle. The last known individual died in Poland in 1627.

Description

The aurochs was a large, robust wild bovine with a dark coat and prominent curved horns. Bulls could reach about 1.8 m at the shoulder, while cows were smaller. Its horns were large and forward-curving, sometimes reaching about 80 cm in length. It is often described as one of the largest land herbivores of postglacial Europe.

Distribution and habitat

Aurochs occupied a broad range across Europe, North Africa, and much of Asia. Fossil and historical evidence show that different regional populations survived for different lengths of time, with the Eurasian population persisting longest.

Relationship to domestic cattle

The aurochs is widely identified as the ancestor of domestic cattle. Domestication began thousands of years ago, and selective breeding produced the many cattle breeds known today. Aurochs are relevant to Canadian readers mainly through their importance in the history of cattle domestication, which underpins modern livestock systems in Canada.

Extinction

Aurochs declined because of hunting, habitat loss, and pressure from expanding human land use. The last known aurochs died in 1627 in the Jaktorów Forest region of Poland.