Domestication of the dog and... From: The Ultimate Dog Book

... cat... cat

Objectives Discuss the origin and development of domestic dogs and cats Taxonomy of the dog and cat Archeological evidence Recent DNA based evidence

Origin of Carnivores Miacids (Miacidae family)  62 million years ago  Small, tree-dwelling  Plantigrade  Carnassial teeth  Miacids viverines (cats) miacines (dogs) miacines (dogs)

Traditional Taxonomy of the Dog and Cat Phylum – Animalia  Class – Mammalia  Order – Carnivora  Suborder – Fissipedia  Families – Canidae  Genus – Canis  Species – Canis familiaris  Families – Felidae  Genus – Felis  Species – Felis catus

Taxonomy Systematized 0rganization of Life In a state of flux Criteria used to determine groupings:  physical/skeletal similarities  ability to intermate - produce fertile offspring  similarity of chromosomes  gene homology

Terminology Wild Tame Opportunist Domestic Feral

Major Questions on the Origin of Domestic Species Where were they domesticated When, i.e. how long ago What species were they domesticated from Did it happen separately in multiple places and at different times? Multiple species? One species, with multiple admixtures of the founding species?

Origin of the Cat  Are first to be covered  But were they the first animal to be domesticated?  miacids  viverines & miacines – 30 mya  large prehistoric cats (Smilodon)  dinictis – a small cat  modern cat

Taxonomy of the Cat  Phylum – Animalia  Class – Mammalia  Order – Carnivora  Family – Felidae  Genus – Felis  Species – catus

Origin of the Cat Big versus Small Cats – 36 species  Felis – small cats; 13 genera  Lynx – (obsolete?)  Pantera – large cats; 4 genera  Acinonyx – cheetah; 1 genus

Origin of the Cat Domestic cat and some relatives: Common name Chromosome number Domestic cat Tiger Cheetah Ocelot & Geoffrey’s Cat 38 36

Origin of the Cat  Fewer physical changes than many domesticated animals  High homology  Most cats - 19 pairs of chromosomes  Striped  Greater variety in eye color than dogs  yellow, green, gold, & blue

CITES  Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species   regulates international trade of selected species  ~5000 animal species  ~25000 plant species

Origin of the Domestic Cat 9500 ya – Cyprus 4500 BC – Egypt  utilitarian – mouser  spiritual – diety

Origin of the Domestic Cat  African Wildcat – Felis silvestris lybica  Africa, slight build and stripes  European Wildcat – Felis silvestris silvestris  Scotland to SE Russia, stocky, distinct stripes Were cats domesticated in Egypt or also possibly in the Orient as well? Very recent molecular genetic data  Domestic cat – Felis catus - worldwide

African Wildcat Ancestors of Domestic Cats European Wildcat

African Wildcat Ancestors of Domestic Cats European Wildcat Domestic Cat

History of Domestic Cats  Cat goddess worshipped in ancient Egypt - Bastet - approx. 4,500 yr. ago  Cat mummies found - especially in area of Bubastis in Nile Delta  Domestic cats likely moved to Italy and other parts of Europe as a result of trade

History of Domestic Cats French astronomer Lalende put a cat constellation in the sky. (It looks like a nutria to me.)

Nutrias

Origin of the Dog Origin of domestic dogs - fox, wolf, coyote? Criteria used to determine origin:  physical/skeletal similarities  ability to intermate - produce fertile offspring  similarity of chromosomes  gene homology

Origin of the Dog Members of the Canidae family:

Australian dingo

Origin of the Domestic Dog Recent thinking was - dog, jackel, dingo all developed from the wolf :  structurally similar  all of these will intermate - producing fertile offspring  same chromosome number  karyotyping shows complete similarity of chromosomes

Origin of the Domestic Dog Wolf => Dog  natural genetic variability  natural selection - disposition  artificial selection and breeding  disposition  appearance  function

Origin of the Domestic Dog Wolf – Canis lupus  European wolf – Canis lupus lupus  Alaskan timber wolf – Canis lupus pambasileus  Red wolf – Canis (lupus?) rufus  Domestic dog – Canis lupus familiaris

Conclusions Canis familiaris was domesticated from the wolf ~ 15,000 ya Domestication occurred in east Asia

Conclusions Dingos derived from domestic dogs Came to Australia 5000 ya Possibly a one time occurrence Have been a distinct population since Are dingos domestic or feral?

What breed of dog is seen in this picture?

Answer Large Munsterlander