Classification

Bos primigenius is the latin name for original cow. Bos translates to cow in modern english and primigenius translates to original, so the literal translation is original cow.

Domain: Eukaryote
Kingdom: Animaila
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Bos
Species: Bos primigenius
 

Here is why the Bos primigenius was classified the way it is! If you want more information on the classification check out this website.

Domain-Eukarya
Eukaryotes contain membrane bound organelles and a nucleus, which hold their DNA.
 
Kingdom- Animalia
To be classified in this stage the organism needs to be motile at some point during their development. They also lack cell walls but instead have a skeletal system for support. These organisms are also heterotrophs meaning that they must find a food source.
 
Phylum-Chordata
To be classified in this phylum, the organism needs to have dorsal hallow nerve cord, pharyngeal gill slits and a muscular tail and some point during development. To find more organism that are classified in the phylum chordate like the giant panda click here!

Figure 2. Phylogeny showing the relationship of the modern day cow with other chordates. The cow is a sister group with the sheep and goat on this tree becuae it shares a common anscestor with the sheep and goat. 

 

Class-Mammalia
To be classified in the class mammalia organisms need to have fur that covers their entire body and they have mammary glands, which produce milk for their young. The cougar is also in the class mammalia! If you want to find out more about the cougar click here.
 
Order- Artiodactyla
To be classified in the order artiodacytla the organisms must have an even number of toes. So for the Bos primingenius there hoof is split in to two toes. Click here to read about the hippopotamus which  is also in the order artiodactyla.
 
Family- Bovidae
The Bos primingenius is calssified in the family bocidae because they are ruminants, which mean they have a multipart stomach for digestive effectiveness. The one compartment is called the rumen, which hold the gut bacteria.
 
Genus-Bos
The Bos primigenius belongs to this genus because this is the only genus for cattle.

 

Figure 1. Phylogeny showing the relationship of the Bos primigenius with the other ruminants. Bos primigenius as the autapomorphy of bovini.   

Now that you know a little bit about where the Auroch fit on the tree of life, you probably want to know were there lived for hundereds of years right? Well follow the link on the bottom to the habitat and geography page.

 

 

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