Monday, March 22, 2004

Asia, The steppes

The animal life of the steppes differs as much from that of the taiga as from that of the tundra. It includes many burrowing rodents, such as jerboas, marmots, and pikas, and larger mammals, such as numerous antelope. The steppes were the original home of the northern cattle (Bos taurus), the horse, and probably the Bactrian (two-humped) camel; it is doubtful that any of these