Final answer:
A small number of the approximately 5,400 mammalian species have been domesticated by humans throughout history, notably including goats, sheep, cows, horses, pigs, and chickens from Europe and Asia. Domestication has centered on traits beneficial to human society, such as docility and utility in agriculture and companionship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around the domestication of terrestrial 'big' mammals, which is a biological subject, as it pertains to species and their interactions with humans. Out of approximately 5,400 mammalian species existing, humans have domesticated a relatively small number for various purposes, such as companionship, agriculture, and transportation.
Throughout history, certain mammals have been chosen for domestication because of traits that were beneficial to humans. This is indicative of early humans' understanding of breeding and cultivating animals for survival. The big mammals that were domesticated include goats, sheep, cows, horses, pigs, and chickens, and these species primarily originated in Europe and Asia. Species such as dogs have had over 300 breeds developed, while cows have more than 800 recognized breeds worldwide.
In summary, out of the total number of terrestrial 'big' mammalian species, only a very small portion have been domesticated, showing the selectivity and tailored traits that humans have valued throughout history for domesticated animals.