A bovine RAPD profile, generated by a 10-mer primer, was analysed by sequencing the major fragments. Three of four different fragments showed homologies to previously characterized mammalian sequences. One was 61–66% identical to LINE sequences and another was 78.5% identical to a human chromosome 2 sequence tagged site. The third fragment was 93.1% identical to the human type 2 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor gene. This fragment had counterparts in white-tailed deer and reindeer; fragments of slightly different size in these species showed high sequence similarity and the size differences were due to varying numbers of dinucleotide microsatellite repeats inside the fragment. Key words : RAPD, artiodactyls, sequence similarity, microsatellites, type 2 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor.