Where did the domestication event for Zebu (*B. taurus indicus*) primarily occur?
Answer
Indus Valley region of South Asia
The Zebu lineage, *Bos taurus indicus*, arose from an independent domestication event that took place in the Indus Valley region of South Asia. This contrasts significantly with the domestication of the humpless European cattle (*B. taurus taurus*), which occurred separately in the Near East. This geographical and chronological separation is fundamental to understanding the adaptive differences between the two groups. The Zebu evolved its defining characteristics, such as enhanced heat tolerance, as a direct response to the hot, humid, and often parasite-ridden tropical and subtropical environments prevalent in its native South Asian range.
Related Questions
What physical feature immediately identifies the Zebu cattle lineage?What is the accepted subspecies designation for Zebu within *Bos taurus*?What genetic reality supports classifying Zebu and European cattle as subspecies?Which extinct wild bovine lineage is the common ancestor of Zebu and European cattle?Where did the domestication event for Zebu (*B. taurus indicus*) primarily occur?Which morphological feature in Zebu aids significantly in thermoregulation?Which Zebu-derived composite breed is very common in the Americas?Within which taxonomic Family are Zebus grouped alongside goats and sheep?How does the skin structure of Zebu generally contrast with *Bos taurus taurus*?Which specific Zebu breed is noted for high milk yield compared to draft types?