Mammal Stereotypes - Goats - 14 - Page 1

Anthropomorphized as old men, will eat anything, will butt anything

The domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the family Bovidae and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over 300 distinct breeds of goats. Goats are one of the oldest domesticated species, and have been used for their milk, meat, hair, and skins over much of the world

On Yom Kippur, the festival of the Day of Atonement, two goats were chosen and lots were drawn for them. One was sacrificed and the other allowed to escape into the wilderness, symbolically carrying with it the sins of the community. From this comes the word "scapegoat."