ANBI 360.3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Pekingese, Estrous Cycle, Canadian Living
20 Jun 2018
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LECTURE 4
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Date of Domestication of Cats!
cats skeleton has changed only slightly during domestication, so difficult to identify time period •
of domestication!
oldest archeological evidence 9000 years ago: cat tooth found in settlement!•
cat skeleton on cyprus 7-8000 years ago!•
significant because cats did not exist there before this time!•
cats were buried in human cemeteries!•
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Changes Due to Domestication!
reduction in body size!•
increased varieties of coat colour and length!•
vacation in eye colour!•
domestic cats has multiple estrous cycles and most wild cats have one per year!•
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the world for cat is consistent across many language groups !
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cat- human relationship!
Egyptian used the cat as a positive religious symbol!•
early christian churches associated cats with pagan religious practices (witchcraft)!•
often persecuted !◦
persecution of cats occurred for over 400 years until the mid 1800s!•
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modern perception of cats!
cats are independent, quiet, and sometimes aloof!•
seen as a mysterious animal!•
these traits are admired by some and actively disliked by others!•
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dogs as "work" animals!
hunting!•
war!•
sheep guarding/hersing!•
pulling sleds and carts!•
fishing!•
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miniaturization- probably not for work purpose!
example: poodle --> toy poodle!•
was this a common mutation?!•
was this introduced by crossing?!•
were smaller dogs bred to achieve smaller and smaller?!•
evidence against this, we don't have a descending in size, only huge leaps!◦
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pekingnese!
pekingnese were developed in china to please the empress about 1500 years ago!•
meant to look like a miniature lion!•
carried in sleeves, on pillows, in elaborate cages!•
in 1860 the english and french stormed the summer palace and stole "looty" a pekingese •
given to queen victoria!
