DOMESTICATED MAMMALS

This treatise would not be complete without mention of the domesticated species of mammals that live in close association with humans.  Some of these mammals are of considerable economic importance, providing humans with meat and other food products.  Others are valued as pets and provide humans with companionship and protection.  As humans continue to dominate and spread across the landscape, many individual domestic animals, through lack of human care, have successfully taken up a wild existence.  At least three species (cats, dogs, and hogs) occur in the feral or semiferal state in many places in Texas, and they may have profound impact on habitats and wildlife in these areas. 

The scientific names of these domestic species were all proposed by Linnaeus in 1758.  The species were domesticated in Eurasia centuries ago and were brought by humans to the New World. 

 

Order Carnivora

Family Canidae

Canis familiaris - domestic dog*

Family Felidae

Felis catus - domestic cat*

 

Order Perissodactyla

ODD-TOED UNGULATES

Horse-like mammals are not sufficiently numerous across the entire state to exercise any major effects on the vegetation, or on the wildlife, except in areas where they have been released in large numbers and run wild or where intensive pasturing may be practiced.  The skull is easily recognized by the presence of upper incisors and the solid bony ring that surrounds the eye socket. 

Family Equidae

FERAL HORSES AND ASSES

Equus asinus - feral ass or burro*

Eqqus caballus - feral horse*

Equus caballus x Equus asinus - mule*

 

Order Artiodactyla

EVEN-TOED UNGULATES

The even-toed ungulates include several domesticated species that were brought to Texas centuries ago and occur in the state today in much larger numbers than do the odd-toed ungulates.  Of particular interest is the number of these animals that are pastured on rangelands and live in proximity to native wildlife.  At the current time, best estimates suggest there are about 5 million cattle, 1 million goats, and about one-half million sheep being pastured in Texas.

Family Bovidae

CATTLE, ANTELOPE, SHEEP, GOATS, AND AFRICAN EXOTICS

Bos taurus - domestic cattle*

Capra hircus - domestic goat*

Ovis aries - domestic sheep*

Family Suidae

PIGS

Sus scrofa - feral hog*

 

From The Mammals of Texas, Seventh Edition by David J. Schmidly and Robert D. Bradley, copyright © 1994, 2004, 2016.  Courtesy of the University of Texas Press.