Evolution of domestic goats

Eotragus, a small deer-like mammal, is the earliest known bovid genus

The closest relatives of bovids are cervids and giraffids, which the group separated from early in its evolutionary lineage. It is generally believed that bovids diverged from deer and giraffids approximately 20 million years ago, in the early part of the Miocene epoch. These early bovids were likely to have lived in woodland environments in the Old World and were small in size and deer-like.

The earliest known Bovid was Eotragus, a genus of small antelope-like animals which were closely related to the modern nilgai and four-horned antelope[7] and lived over much of Eurasia. Although little is known directly about Eotragus many of the traits characteristic to modern bovids have been observed, including crowned teeth. Crowned teeth are assumed to have evolved in order to deal with the tougher vegetation which Eotragus may have been exposed to in the forest. The traits would subsequently carry over to the plains, resulting in bovids becoming adept at processing a variety of grass, and their success in open environments. Horns have also been observed in fossils of Eotragus and were likely used in males to assert dominance and attract mates, as is the case with modern bovids.[8] It is also possible they doubled as a deterrent to potential attackers and a weapon against predators.

Hooves were also present in these early bovids, similar in form and function to the hooves of modern bovids. As Eotragus lived in woodland environments it remained small in comparison to many modern bovids. The characteristic large size of many modern members of the family Bovidae, whilst not present in the earliest bovid species, became evident in animals found soon after Eotragus as members began to occupy more open environments such as grasslands and savannah.

Early in the natural history of the family there was a divergence into the Boodontia and Aegodontia clades, which are from Africa and Eurasia respectively.[9] This divergence is generally attributed to a momentary continental divide between the two landmasses. The two clades began to coexist after the continents were subsequently rejoined, as the geographic divide disappeared. Modern goats are descended from the early members of the tribe Aegodontia, which encompasses all bovids outside the subfamily Bovinae. Generally, modern bovids vary heavily in their behaviour such as their sociability, with some being solitary and others going in groups. Hence little can be incurred about the behaviour of these early bovids, leaving it relatively unstudied.

By approximately 15 million years ago, during the late Miocene epoch, the family Bovidae had radiated into around 15 different genera,[10] predominantly concentrated in Asia. Following this the family's diversity increases dramatically and by the end of the Miocene a total of 70 genera are said to have existed.[10] The success of the Bovidae is generally attributed to their ability to rapidly move across plains and to cope with the tough grass found in them due to their crowned teeth. The abundance of grassland in Asia, which benefited ancient bovids considerably, is generally considered to be the reason for the greater success of the family in Asia although many species also performed well in Africa. It was during this period of rapid diversification in the mid-late Miocene that the Caprinae diverged from the other Bovidae. These early Caprids are generally considered to have resembled the Serow, a genus of medium-sized goat-like mammals.[3] Caprids were forced to find their niche away from the plains which were already heavily populated by Cervidae (Deer) and thus developed the characteristic agility required to survive in harsh environments. The habitats occupied by different species of caprids would diverge noticeably and members of the group have since been found in areas ranging from deserts, tundra and alpine environments. However, their universal dependence on harsher environments meant that the subfamily was much more successful in Asia than Africa, as were many other bovid groups.

The subfamily Caprinae has also been subdivided into the tribe Caprini, the group which includes goats and sheep. Selective pressure is generally considered to be the cause for the split between the Caprini and other Caprinae, with early members of the group moving into mountainous regions and developing particular traits in order adapt and to escape predators.[3] The subsequent split between what would become goats and sheep occurred due to a further separation in geography, with the latter occupying the foothills and the former moving into higher altitudes. This separation and subsequent specialisation is also attributed to the need to escape predators, as the adaption to higher altitudes allowed for easier predator avoidance. In contrast, Sheep developed herding behavior in order to combat the threat posed by predation. Those who remained in the mountains would subsequently form the Capra genus, which encompasses modern goats along with several species of Ibex, by the most recent ice age. By this time the broader subfamily Caprinae had reached its greatest level of diversity, before experiencing a decline.

The need to adapt to higher altitudes pushed for the development of browsing behaviour due to the lack of low and easily accessible grass, a factor which likely contributed to the evolution of curiosity in goats and their ability to digest plants which would otherwise be poisonous.[11] It also resulted in the development of the ability to climb trees and rocks, an ability distinctive to goats as they are the only bovids to regularly practise such behaviour. The popular conception of goats as creatures who can eat any type of material, and who are difficult to contain with fencing, arises from the aforementioned traits which came as a result of the need to adapt to an unusual environment. The difficulty in containing goats with fences also arises from their naturally high intelligence, which developed in response to a harsh, mountainous terrain. Although they are social and live in groups their bonds are relatively weak and they often do not stay close together, especially when eating, a result of living in an environment comparatively safe from predators.[12] This is also reflected in the unusual behaviour of goat mothers who will allow their children to lie somewhat spread out from each other, in stark contrast to Sheep who make sure their offspring remain close together.

A domesticated goat with a tag

Although estimates vary it is generally held that goats were first domesticated approximately 9,500–9,900 years ago.[13] This occurred in southeastern Anatolia, although separate instances of domestication happened in Iran approximately 6,500 years ago and in eastern Turkey 2,500 years ago. The majority of domesticated goats today are descended from the latter two cases and not from the first.[4] Other evidence for domestication exists in Western Asia, dated approximately 8,000 years ago.[14] Early goat domestication was able to provide meat, milk, clothing and fuel for neolithic farmers and their remains could also have been used to build shelters and weapons.[5] The domestication process has rapidly increased both the rate of evolutionary development and the genetic diversity of the goat population, with their currently being recorded 300 breeds catered for a variety of purposes.

Consistent with what has been seen with other animals, the behaviour of goats has altered since domestication in response to accelerated evolution from thousands of years of interacting with humans[15] and selective breeding. Research performed by the Queen Mary University has determined the various ways in which goats have adapted to a human presence.[6] Particularly they determined that goats, when faced with a new puzzle, or an alteration to an old one, would gaze towards their human companions. The researchers gave the goats a box with food inside, which could not be opened. Previously the goats had been given an identical box, but one which could be opened. As mentioned above, the goats would look at its human companion when faced with the box which couldn't be opened before returning. This indicates that they were looking to the human for help, a behaviour also seen in dogs and other domesticated animals.[15] The study also concluded that a forwards-facing human was seen as being more attentive and helpful, as indicated by the greater willingness of goats to ask these people. The study concluded that this was evidence of a dependence on human assistance when solving problems, particularly visual assistance. Selective pressure has also broadened the physical diversity of the species and resulted in populations who produce more of a particular product (milk or meat) than what is considered normal in the wild.