C1: Origin and domestication of swine, micro-evolutionary consequences

Question 1

taxonomy of swine:
order
family
genus
species

Answer 1

Taxonomy
* Artiodactyla (order)
* Suidae (family)
* Sus (genus)
* Sus scrofa (species)

Question 2

who were the ancestors of the domestic pig?

Answer 2

Origin: Ancestors of the domestic pig are wild boar subspecies

Question 3

when did domestication occur?

Answer 3

1) Domesticated from wild boar ~ 13,000 BC in the Near East in the Tigris Basin.

2) Separate domestication in China.

3) First domestic pigs in Europe came from the Near East , stimulated the domestication of local European wild boar which resulted in a third domestication event. Asian pigs were introduced into Europe during the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Question 4

how were domestic pigs dedomesticated to the wild?

Answer 4

◦ Domestic pig that have escaped from farms or were allowed to forage in the wild, and in some cases wild boar who were introduced to area as prey for hunting.
◦ These populations of feral pigs have grown exponentially in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and in other areas where pigs are not native, have experienced severe environmental damage.

Question 5

are pigs herb/ omin/ carnivores

Answer 5

omnivores.

◦ Partnered with an aggressive behavior and feeding method of rooting in the ground can seriously damage ecosystems that are not suited to sustain pigs.

Question 6

what are feral pigs and what are the disadvantages of feral pigs?

Answer 6

dedomesticated pigs.
Pigs are on the list of the worlds’ 100 worst invasive species.
Along with damaging crops and home gardens they have the ability to potentially spreading disease.

Question 7

what are micro-evolutionary consequences?

Answer 7

– Changes caused through domestication and evolution of species, in this case comparison between wild boar and their domesticated descendants.

Question 8

micro-evolutionary consequences: ears

Answer 8

• Wild boar: upright standing
• Pig: frequent dropping, loping ears or standing

Question 9

micro-evolutionary consequences:

Question 10

micro-evolutionary consequences: body

Answer 10

• Wild boar: compact body
• Pig: thick body with coarse hair

Question 11

micro-evolutionary consequences: head

Answer 11

• Wild boar: larger, longer and narrower head and snout
• Pig: snout for a nose, small eyes

Question 12

micro-evolutionary consequences: legs

Answer 12

• Wild boar: longer legs
• Pig: short legs

Question 13

micro-evolutionary consequences:

Question 14

micro-evolutionary consequences: tail

Answer 14

• Wild boar: shorter and straight
• Pig: small tail-may be curly, kinked, or straight

Question 15

micro-evolutionary consequences: coat

Answer 15

• Wild boar: thick, short bristly coats; stiff bristles and usually finer fur; a prominent ridge of hair matching the spine is also common, giving rise to the name razorback.
• Pig: coarse hair

Question 16

micro-evolutionary consequences: colour

Answer 16

Wild boar: range from brown to grey and black
Pig: commonly white and less colorful

Question 17

micro-evolutionary consequences: size

Answer 17

• Wild boar:
  ◦ Female: ( 5 year or older)- body length of 135 cm; weight of 55-75 kg. tusks absent.
  ◦ Male: body length 140-150 cm; weight 80-90 kg but max weight in eastern Europe can be 200-300kg. with both upper and lower tusks.
• Pig:
  ◦ 90-190 cm (Javan Warty Pig),
  100-160 cm (Palawan Bearded Pig);
  80-150 kg

Question 18

micro-evolutionary consequences: behaviour and feeding habits

Answer 18

Wild boar: usually nocturnal, foraging from dusk until dawn with resting periods during both day and night; Omnivorous; Dig burrows (only hoofed animal to do so!).

• Pig: omnivorous but more scavengers; More likely to eat rotting carcasses, garbage and other pigs; When stressed in captivity may eat young piglets.

Question 19

micro-evolutionary consequences: puberty

Answer 19

• Wild boar: late maturation ~ 18 months
• Pig: early maturation ~ 5-6 months

Question 20

micro-evolutionary consequences: sexual activity

Answer 20

• Wild boar: seasonally monoestrus
• Pig: polyestrous, no breeding season (continuous breeders)

Question 21

micro-evolutionary consequences: fertility, litter size

Answer 21

• Wild boar: 4-6 piglets per litter
• Pig: more fertile, 8-12 piglets per litter; “vittatus” types are even more prolific.

Question 22

micro-evolutionary consequences: sensory organs

Answer 22

• Wild boar: well developed; fitness high
• Pig: vision is less effective

Question 23

similarity btw wild boar and pig?

Answer 23

both have an excellent sense of smell

Question 24

do pigs have sweat glands?

Answer 24

fun fact: pigs are the only mammals known to lack sweat glands

Question 25

why do pigs burrow into the ground?

Answer 25

pigs are the only known mammal to lack adipose tissue and it is believed this is why they burrow into the ground to find warmth.