{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "goat",
  "name": "Domestic Goat",
  "scientificName": "Capra hircus",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The domestic goat is a hardy, agile ruminant kept around the world for its milk, meat, fibre, and skins. Descended from the wild bezoar ibex of the Middle East, it was one of the earliest animals to be domesticated, around ten thousand years ago. A typical goat weighs 30 to 80 kg depending on the breed and stands out for its remarkable climbing ability and curious, sociable nature. Well cared-for goats commonly live 12 to 15 years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Domesticated",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Artiodactyla",
    "family": "Bovidae",
    "genus": "Capra"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 50,
    "lengthM": 1,
    "topSpeedKmh": 16,
    "lifespanYears": 15
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Capra hircus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Browser — shrubs, leaves, bark, and weeds"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Farms and rangeland worldwide; origin in Middle East"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "12–15 years (longer for pets)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "30–80 kg (66–175 lb); breeds vary"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 16 km/h (10 mph); excellent climber"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Domesticated (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Domesticated worldwide; wild bezoar ibex ancestor from Middle East mountains.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "Europe",
      "North America",
      "Oceania",
      "South America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Capra hircus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Capra%20hircus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Capra hircus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Capra_hircus/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/goat/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/goat/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}