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 diļ¬cult to identify time period ā¢
of domestication!
oldest archeological evidence 9000 years ago: cat tooth found in settlement!ā¢
cat skeleton on cyprus 7-8000 years ago!ā¢
signiļ¬cant because cats did not exist there before this time!ā¢
cats were buried in human cemeteries!ā¢
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Changes Due to Domestication!
reduction in body size!ā¢
increased varieties of coat colour and length!ā¢
vacation in eye colour!ā¢
domestic cats has multiple estrous cycles and most wild cats have one per year!ā¢
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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!ā¢
early christian churches associated cats with pagan religious practices (witchcraft)!ā¢
often persecuted !ā¦
persecution of cats occurred for over 400 years until the mid 1800s!ā¢
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modern perception of cats!
cats are independent, quiet, and sometimes aloof!ā¢
seen as a mysterious animal!ā¢
these traits are admired by some and actively disliked by others!ā¢
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dogs as "work" animals!
hunting!ā¢
war!ā¢
sheep guarding/hersing!ā¢
pulling sleds and carts!ā¢
ļ¬shing!ā¢
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miniaturization- probably not for work purpose!
example: poodle --> toy poodle!ā¢
was this a common mutation?!ā¢
was this introduced by crossing?!ā¢
were smaller dogs bred to achieve smaller and smaller?!ā¢
evidence against this, we don't have a descending in size, only huge leaps!ā¦
!
pekingnese!
pekingnese were developed in china to please the empress about 1500 years ago!ā¢
meant to look like a miniature lion!ā¢
carried in sleeves, on pillows, in elaborate cages!ā¢
in 1860 the english and french stormed the summer palace and stole "looty" a pekingese ā¢
given to queen victoria!
