What was the name of the species of cattle?
Q: What was the name of the species of cattle?
A: The species of cattle was called aurochs, or urus (Bos primigenius).
Q: Where did aurochs used to be common?
A: Aurochs used to be common in Europe.
Q: Is the extinct aurochs/urus the same species as the wisent (the European bison)?
A: No, it is not. The extinct aurochs/urus is not the same species as the wisent (the European bison).
Q: How tall were aurochs compared to modern cows?
A: A large domesticated cow is about 1.5 meters (5 feet, 15 hands) tall, while aurochs were about 1.75 meters (5.75 feet, 17 hands) tall.
Q: What colors were males and females of this species?
A: Males were black with a pale stripe down their spine, while females and calves were reddish in color. These colors are still found in some domesticated cattle breeds today such as Jersey cattle.
Q: How aggressive was this animal known to be?
A: Aurochs had very aggressive behaviour and killing one was seen as an act of courage in ancient cultures.
Q: When did they first develop according to Paleontologisk Museum University of Oslo?
A: According to Paleontologisk Museum University of Oslo, aurochs developed in India some two million years ago and reached Europe about 250,000 years ago.
