Recent research has uncovered the oldest ancestors of the domestic ox, known scientifically as Bos primigenius. These animals, known as aurochs, were found in the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia and date back 10,000 years ago. The research, conducted by a team from Trinity College Dublin and the University of Copenhagen, involved paleontologist Luca Pandolfi from the University of Pisa. The results were published in the journal Nature.
Domesticated aurochs bore some resemblance to their wild counterparts, although they were slightly smaller and had less developed horns. These traits indicate a certain tameness. Julius Caesar, in his famous De Bello Gallico, described the wild aurochs as an animal almost as large as an elephant, known for its speed and aggressive nature. Analysis of fossil remains shows that wild aurochs could reach a height of almost two meters, weigh around one ton and have horns over one meter long. This species dominated the faunas of Eurasia and North Africa for about 650,000 years, before undergoing a drastic decline from the end of the Pleistocene, about 11,000 years ago, until its extinction in the 17th century.
According to Pandolfi, the study published in Nature represents the first detailed analysis of the evolutionary and genetic history of aurochs based on fossil remains from various sites in Eurasia, including Italy.
“From the remains, including complete skeletons and well-preserved skulls, we extracted ancient DNA samples that revealed four distinct ancestral populations,” explains Pandolfi. These populations responded differently to climate change and human interaction. Of particular interest is the fact that European aurochs experienced a significant decline in population and genetic diversity during the last ice age, approximately 20,000 years ago. Falling temperatures limited their habitat, forcing them toward the Italian and Iberian Peninsulas.
The Quaternary, a period that goes from about 2 and a half million years ago until today, saw aurochs as protagonists of European ecosystems. As Pandolfi underlines:
“The bones of these majestic animals tell paleontologists the story of the success, adaptation and decline of a species that we ourselves helped to drive extinct.” This discovery not only enriches our knowledge of the evolution of domestic animals but also offers valuable insights into the interactions between species and their environments in the context of current climate change.
Trump’s Tariff Plans: A Day-One Agenda Against Drug and Human Trafficking In a bold move to combat drug and human smuggling, President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose significant tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China immediately after his inauguration on January 20.
Government Unveils “Get Britain Working” Initiative to Combat Unemployment In a bid to rejuvenate the UK job market, the government has introduced its ambitious “Get Britain Working” initiative, promising extensive reforms aimed at reducing the benefits bill and increasing employment.