What structural feature characterizes members of the Family Bovidae?
Answer
Permanent, unbranched horns that attach to the skull bone
Members of the family Bovidae, which includes cattle, goats, sheep, and the water buffalo, are fundamentally characterized by possessing permanent, unbranched horns. These horns are distinct from antlers found on cervids (deer), as they grow continuously from the frontal bone of the skull and are never shed. This permanent structure is a key identifier used in classifying organisms within the Bovidae family, directly contrasting with animals that seasonally replace bony protrusions.
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