# Goat (*Capra hircus*) Goats are playful farm animals known for climbing and nibbling on many things. They give us milk, wool, and sometimes meat. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Farms, hillsides, and grasslands. - **Also known as:** Billy Goat, Domestic Goat, Goats, Nanny Goat ![Goat](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424227/objects/4370.jpg) ## Appearance The Goat has a sturdy body covered in thick fur that ranges in color from white, black, brown, and grey, often with patches. It typically has a beard, a short tail, and two horns that can be straight, curved, or spiraled. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Capra ## Interesting facts - A group of goats can be called a "trip" or a "herd"! - Goats are ruminants, meaning they have four stomach compartments to digest tough plants! - Humans first domesticated goats over 10,000 years ago! - Some goats "faint" when startled; their muscles briefly freeze, but it's not real fainting! ## Special abilities - **Acrobatic Climber:** Goat can easily climb steep mountains because strong legs and hooves help them find food in hard-to-reach places. - **Balancing Master:** Goat has amazing balance, helping them walk narrow ledges and fences to find food and stay safe. - **Super Scanners:** Goat has rectangular pupils that give a wide field of vision, helping them spot predators from many directions. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 120-170 cm - **Weight:** 20-140 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-3 - **Gestation:** 145-155 days ## Diet & Feeding Goats are hungry herbivores that eat many kinds of plants. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, leaves, shrubs, twigs, herbs - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Humans rely on goats for milk, meat, and fiber. - **Eaten by:** dog (*Canis familiaris*) — Feral dogs can sometimes prey on domestic goats. - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Golden Eagles may prey on young goat kids. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful — goats may butt with their heads if startled. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Goat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Goat? 120-170 cm ### How much does Goat weigh? 20-140 kg ### How long does Goat live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Goat move? 25 km/h ### What does Goat eat? Goats are hungry herbivores that eat many kinds of plants. ### Where is Goat usually found? Farms, hillsides, and grasslands. ### How does Goat hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Henry Vilas Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/henry-vilas-zoo) — Wisconsin, US · Zoo - [Long Island Game Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-island-game-farm) — New York, US · Zoo - [Brandywine Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandywine-zoo) — Delaware, US · Zoo - [Dickerson Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dickerson-park-zoo) — Missouri, US · Zoo - [Oakland Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oakland-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [Cosley Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cosley-zoo) — Illinois, US · Zoo [View all places to see Goat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/goat) ## Watch - [Play video: Goat](https://www.snappit.app/videos/goat) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=6bbiENJ7Sd8) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Goat: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/goat)