Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 28 BOVINES MONTANA e European ancestor modern cale, Aurochs were domesticated during e Neoliic Era in e Middle East . As humans spread from e Fertile Cresent region,Aurochs were an essential aspect of civilization, wi remains dating 230,000 years ago found in Europe. Early explorers e west marve•ed at e sheer number of bison ey observed roaming e great plains. While e giant bison had been extinct for many ousands of years, some pafinders ought e giant ancestors might sti• be found. A study of past and present large–hooved mammals native or brought into Montana. AUROCHS Bos primigenius THE GIANT BISON ROAMED WHAT WOULD BECOME MON- TANA FOR ABOUT 200,000 YEARS AND BECAME EXTINCT 20,000 YEARS AGO, AS SMALLER, MORE PLENTIFUL BISON EVOLVED. THE GIANT BISON MEASURED OVER 8 FEET TALL AT THE SHOULDER AND WEIGHED OVER 2,800 POUNDS. THE GIANT BISON MEASURED OVER 8 FEET TALL AT THE SHOULDER AND WEIGHED OVER 2,800 POUNDS. AN AVERAGE MAN IN THE EARLY 1800S WEIGHED AROUND 180 POUNDS AND WAS ALMOST FIVE FEET TALL AT THE SHOULDER. THE COAT OF A MALE AUROCH WAS BLACK, WHILE THE FEMALES HAD A DARK BROWN HIDE. MALES COULD BE UP TO 6 FEET TALL AT THE SHOULDER AND THEIR HORNS WERE NEARLY THREE FEET LONG AUROCHS BECAME EXTINCT DUE TO LOSS OF HABITAT AND FROM BEING HUNTED FOR FOOD AS WELL AS THEIR DISTINCTIVE HORNS, WHICH WERE USED AS SYMBOLS IN MANY RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES. AUROCHS NEVER MADE THE TREK MONTANA, BUT YOU CAN SEE THEIR GENETIC LEGACY IN ANGUS AND OTHER BOVINES THAT WERE INTRODUCED TO NORTH AMERICA. THE GIANT EXTINCT BISON'S HORNS WERE EIGHT FEET WIDE FROM TIP TO TIP AND WERE MAINLY USED TO INTIMIDATE OR FIGHT PREDATORS SUCH AS SABER-TOOTH TIGERS. EXTINCT GIANT BISON Bison latifrons of

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