Retracing the Aurochs
History, Morphology & Ecology of an Extinct Wild Ox

By Cis van Vuure
May 2005
Pensoft
Distributed By Coronet Books
ISBN: 9789546422354
431 pages, Illustrated, 6 3/4 x 9 1/2"
$167.00 Hardcover



This book tells the comprehensive story of the extinct aurochs (Bos primigenius), the wild ancestor of our domestic cattle, and of what is still left of it. Not only until its extinction in 1627, the aurochs, because of its appearance and nature, had left a deep impression on people, but also afterwards this bovine species, due to scanty information and questionable interpretations, has been subject to discussion and mystification. In spite of a growing amount of individual scientific studies, no exhaustive overview on this subject has ever been made.

After many years of research at Wageningen University, the existing information as well as numerous new or unused data from the fields of archaeozoology, history, philology, ecology and palaeoecology have been brought together by the author to build up a complete picture of the physical appearance, the way of life and the environment of the aurochs. Directly related to the ecology of the aurochs is the ongoing discussion concerning the supposed impact large herbivores render on forest structure, as well as on the appearance of the natural landscapes they live in.

Here, too, existing and new surprising data from various fields of science are compiled to elucidate this problem. In addition, due attention is paid to the origin, description and evaluation of the so-called bred-back aurochs (Heck cattle), used in several places for educational and nature conservation purposes. Only now can Heck cattle be properly compared with the original aurochs prototype.

The book is addressed to specialists in mammalogy (interested in the archaeology, ecology, morphology and history of mammals), palaeoecology (because of the herbivore-impact debate concerning the former natural landscape), forest ecology and European nature conservation, to cattle breeders and other cattle lovers.

Contents:
PREFACE
WORD OF THANKS
INTRODUCTION
SOURCES FOR AUROCHS RESEARCH
SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
The scientific name
Evolution
Systematics
DISTRIBUTION AREA
North Africa
Asia
Europe
Occurrence within the range limits
DECLINE AND DISAPPEARANCE
Outside Europe
Inside Europe
The last living area
Causes of extinction
LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLISM
Etymology
Toponyms
The aurochs-European bison confusion
Nature and symbolism
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AUROCHS
Size
Comparison of the Pleistocene and the Holocene aurochs
The Holocene aurochs
The height of the withers
Horns
Size
Colour
Shape
Position
The colour of the fur
Pictures and descriptions
Genetic aspects of the fur colour
Comparison with related bovine species
Reconstruction of the fur colour of the aurochs
Other physical characteristics
Hooves
Udder
Fur
Hide
CHANGES RESULTING FROM DOMESTICATION
ECOLOGY OF THE AUROCHS AND OTHER WILD CATTLE
Habitat
The natural landscape of Europe
Introduction
Insects
Pollen research
Roman writers
Frontier forests
The last Central-European wilderness
Food
Reconstruction of the food of the aurochs in its original habitat
The habitat of the aurochs
Other bovine species
Reconstruction of the aurochs habitat
Seasonal migration
Summary
Predation
Social structure and reproduction
The impact of large herbivores on the forest growth
Introduction
Areas comparable to Europe
Population density of wild cattle
The effects of feeding: forest elephants, European bison and others
Wood Buffalo National Park: A case study
Discussion
THE BREEDING-BACK EXPERIMENT OF THE HECK BROTHERS
Cattle breeds
The breeding-back experiment
Evaluation of the breeding-back experiment
Description of Heck cattle
FINAL REMARKS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The animal
Effects and landscape
The animal in the landscape
Summary of conclusions and recommendations
Appendix
REFERENCES
REGISTER


History

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