Wild goat
The wild goat (Capra aegagrus) is a caprine mammal native to western Asia and the Caucasus. It is the principal wild ancestor of the domestic goat.
Capra: A genus of wild goats that includes the wild goat, ibexes, and the domestic goat. The wild goat is one species within this genus of goats.
Cloven hoof: A hoof divided into two weight-bearing toes, characteristic of even-toed ungulates. Its split, grippy hooves help the wild goat move across steep, rocky slopes.
Domestication of the goat: The prehistoric process by which people bred and managed goats from wild populations. The wild goat supplied the ancestral populations from which domestic goats arose.
Domestic goat: A domesticated caprine raised for products including milk, meat, fiber, and hides. Its domestication made the wild goat an ancestor of a globally important livestock animal.
Bezoar ibex: A wild goat form found in parts of western Asia, often treated as a subspecies of Capra aegagrus. The name is commonly applied to populations of the wild goat in its native range.
Bovidae: The mammal family containing cattle, antelopes, sheep, and goats. This family places the wild goat among other horned, hoofed ruminants.
Rutting season: The annual breeding period when many ungulates compete for mates. Male wild goats clash for access to females during the autumn rut.
Neolithic Revolution: The transition in parts of the world from foraging to farming and settled life. Goat domestication formed part of the broader shift toward farming in southwest Asia.
Goat milk: Milk produced by domestic goats and consumed as food or processed into dairy products. The wild ancestor's domestication ultimately enabled the production of goat milk.
Markhor: A large wild goat native to mountain regions of Central and South Asia. It is a close regional relative within the genus Capra.