(B. p. primigenius),在更新世時曾經廣布於歐亞大陸的草原與針葉林中,我國北方也有存活。在大約1萬年前與很多其他的冰河時期的大型動物一同減少。馴養在大約8000年前開始,加速了滅絕的速度。在2000年前羅馬帝國抓捕了大量的原牛到馬戲團,與獅子、老虎以及甚至奴隸來搏鬥。到了13世紀,原牛僅在東歐有少量種群,而原牛的捕獵成為當地貴族的特權與娛樂。1627年一頭母原牛在波蘭自然死亡,標誌著整個物種的滅絕。雌雄原牛(左)與其他牛的對比
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中東亞種
(B. p. namadicus),另外兩個亞種的祖先,在200萬年前出印度,並逐漸遷入中東,北非,以及歐洲並演變出其他亞種。在大約9000年前滅絕,但在那之前部分種群被馴養成為瘤牛。其棲息的乾旱是今瘤牛耐旱的原因。
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北非亞種
(B. p. mauretanicus),生活在今北非地區。北非遠比濕潤,不是沙漠而是森林,草原,以及灌木林的混合生態環境。在大約7000年前撒哈拉沙漠開始擴張時滅絕。
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