Scientific name -- Bos primigenesis
Size -- about 6' at shoulder, 2000+ lbs.
Diet -- grasses

The aurochs (OR-rox) literally means proto-ox in German, and is the original wild stock from which all European cattle breeds were eventually derived. In Europe, cave paintings suggest that these great black bulls were hunted by humans for thousands of years. However, wild strains of aurochs went extinct during the 17th century (and outside of Poland they went extinct much earlier).

Wild aurochs were hunted, but herds were also domesticated for meat, milk and as beasts of burden.

"Aurochs is fearless // and greatly horned // a very fierce beast, // a famous roamer of the moor // it is a courageous animal." -- Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem