A pale, horned domestic goat looks through a green fence.

Goat (Capra hircus) — A pale, horned domestic goat at Tierpark Hellabrunn in Munich.

Creator: [Diego Delso](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Creator:Diego_Delso), [Wikimedia Commons source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cabra_de_J%C3%A4mtland_%28Capra_hircus%29%2C_Tierpark_Hellabrunn%2C_M%C3%BAnich%2C_Alemania%2C_2012-06-17%2C_DD_01.JPG), CC BY-SA 3.0. Licence: [CC BY-SA 3.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0

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Species record

Goat

Capra hircus

Explore the Goat (Capra hircus) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

Domestic goats are adaptable browsing ruminants kept worldwide for milk, meat, hides, and hair. They are raised in smallholder mixed farms, pastoral herds, and specialized dairy systems. Their varied plant diet helps them use a wide range of environments.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Chordates
  3. Subphylum: Vertebrates
  4. Class: Mammals
  5. Order: Even-toed ungulates
  6. Family: Cattle, antelopes and relatives
  7. Genus: Capra

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
smallholder mixed farms, pastoral rangelands, grasslands and scrublands, rocky slopes, open woodland
Selected regions
Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America
Selected countries
India, Nigeria, China, Spain

Conservation status

Conservation status not recorded.

Did you know?

  • Goats are mainly browsing animals with a varied plant diet.
  • Newborn goat kids can stand and follow their mothers within hours.

More images

A long-haired white goat with large curved horns stands beneath a thatched shelter.

Goat (Capra hircus) — A long-haired white goat with large curved horns stands beneath a thatched shelter.

Creator: Oleg Yunakov, [Wikimedia Commons source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Capra_hircus_-_03.jpg), CC BY-SA 4.0. Licence: [CC BY-SA 4.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

View image source

Sources and attribution