A goat is a mammal in the genus Capra, which consists of nine species: the Ibex, the West Caucasian Tur, the East Caucasian Tur, the Markhor, and the Wild Goat.
The animal most commonly known as a goat is the domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), a domesticated subspecies of the Wild Goat. Goats are bovids (members of the family Bovidae) and caprins (subfamily Caprinae).
Goats are ruminants, meaning they chew cud. These animals have a four-chambered stomach which plays a vital role in digesting, regurgitating and re-digesting their food.