Zebu -Bos taurus indicus is categorize as a mammal. Before we continue the articles let first learn what we meant by Mammal. below are some feature to be considered to describe am animal as a mammal;
- Warm-blooded vertebrates – Mammals are endothermic, meaning they have a constant body temperature. Mammals are also vertebrates, meaning they have a backbone
- Red Blood Cells Without Nucleus – Mammals have adult (mature) red blood cells, known as erythrocytes, that lack a nucleus. This is unique compared to other vertebrates.
- Has hair or fur – Mammals commonly have hair, or fur. Though hair and fur are chemically similar and both made of keratin, they are characteristically different. Hair is normally longer and thinner than fur, while fur is usually shorter and coarser. Both serve as insulators for animals.
- Contains a Malleus, Incus, and stapes – The Malleus is a small bone in the middle ear that is shaped like a hammer. It connects the inner surface of the eardrum with the incus. Given it’s shape, the name is derived from the Latin word for ‘mallet’. The incus is shaped like an anvil and serves a similar function, vibrating to transmit sound. The stapes is a stirrup shaped bone. Together they form the ‘hammer, anvil, and stirrup’, three of the smallest bones in the human body. The stapes is the actual smallest.
- Able to produce milk – Mammals contain mammary glands. These glands give them the ability to produce milk to feed their offspring.
- A diaphragm – Mammals have a diaphragm sitting between their heart and lungs
- Hinged Lower Jaw Connected To Skull – Mammals have a hinged lower jaw that connects directly to the skull. By comparison, all over vertebrates connect through another bone known as the quadrate. This mammal articulation allows them to more easily grasp and chew food, as well as chew sideways.
- Left aortic arch – In mammals, the fourth (left) pharyngeal artery is most commonly the arch of the aorta. This differs compared to other animal types. There can be rare cases where mammals have a right aortic arch variant.
- Neocortex – Mammals commonly have a neocortex in their brain. This specialized region allows them to both hear and see.
- Live Birth – Mammals are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live babies. There are three different types of mammal birth. Monotremes, marsupial, and placental mammals, discussed further below.
Let now focus on Zebu. Few things would be talk about concerning this Mammal.
Zebu is the common subspecies of domesticated cattle on the Indian subcontinent, where it has traditionally served the role of a working animal.
since it was considered to be a sacred animal in Hinduism, the zebu is not a noted source of meat, and although it can provide plenty of milk, the zebu is not the most efficient dairy cattle either. Approximately 70 breeds of zebu are currently recognized, many of them created from crosses with the other subspecies of domesticated cattle, the taurine. This unique union has produced many new breeds that suit a variety of different climates and circumstances.
Scientific Identity
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Zebu
- The zebu was first introduced into the Americas in the 19th century. It has been crossbred with numerous other taurine cattle, including the Charolais (which resulted in the Charbray) and the Angus (which produced the Brangus). When it reached the shores of South America, breeders created the now popular Indo-Brazilian zebu. The rate of breeding is only limited by the human capacity to create them.
- The zebu also sometimes goes by the name of humped cattle or indicine cattle. Indicine is perhaps an alternate form of the subspecies name indicus.
- The zebu is an animal that has inspired human art and culture for many thousands of years. It has appeared on coinage, architecture, and statues.
The Basics
Zebu are a species of cattle closely related to the very common European cattle that are found in most parts of the world. Zebus (sometimes called Brahman cattle in the U.S.) are easily spotted due to the large hump on their front shoulder and their large, upward-facing horns. The Zebu is part of the Bos genus, which contains many species of domestic cattle.
Human Evolution and Domestic Animals
The zebu – and its docile temperament – are a perfect example of the evolutionary forces that humanity faced as it spread across the globe. In fact, the earliest human civilizations are traced to places that had easily-domesticatable animals. In fact, early ancestors of the Zebu likely led to the establishment of human settlements across India and Asia.
