Habitat and Geography
Habitat and Geography
“Home Sweet Home”
Capra hircus was first domesticated from
the feral goat 8-10,000 years ago in the
highland areas of western Asia. They
were the first of the ruminants, or animals
with four-chambered stomachs, to be
domesticated and have thrived in their
domestic lifestyle since. As domestic
animals, they frequently live in similar
habitats as other domestic animals such as
For more information on the goat’s
four-chambered stomach, see Nutrition.
Of all the domestic animals, goats have the
largest ecological range. Domestic goats can
live in areas deserts, but typically goats live in
temperate or tropical forests and grasslands.
Feral goats usually live in rugged mountain
areas and alpine meadows. Goats are grazing
animals, so by nature they must live in areas
that have vegetation. However, due to
adaptations, goats can survive in areas with
sparse vegetation, while other grazing
animals cannot.
For more information on goat adaptations,
see Adaptations
As they spend much of their day grazing in fields, goats are very susceptible to predation by large carnivores. Because of this Capra hircus exhibits instinctual herding in the wild and in captivity are most comfortable when they are in groups of two or more. Herds are typically formed of 5-20 individuals, but can include up to 100.
For more information on predation, see Interactions with Other Species
Because of its domestication, Capra hircus has spread to
almost every region of the globe. In captivity, the goat
requires a few necessities to survive comfortably. With
clean, ventilated shelter, 15 square feet of bedded
sleeping area and 25 square feet to exercise, along
with some space to graze away from predators, a
domestic goat will flourish. The typical life span of a
domestic goat is between 10 and 15 years, but some
have lived to be 22.
To learn about the goat adaptations, click here.
To return home, click here.
Map of Western Asia. Goats were first domesticated in the highland areas.
Image from University of Texas Library Online
Goats living in the
mountains.
Photo by Robbie’s Photo Art
A herd of goats crossing a bridge.
Photo by 2-Dog Farm