evolution and domestication of cats Flashcards
order and family of cats
carnivora, felidae
felids are the ____ carnivores
strictest
two subfamilies of felidae
pantherinae; tiger, lion, jaguar and leopard
felinae; cougard, serval, lynx, caracal, ocelot and domestic cat
earliest known felid
proailurus from eurasia
protractable claws
the proailurus gave way to
pseudaelurus
eurasia, africa and north america
what is common ancestor for pantherinae and felinae (and extinct subfamily machairodontinae ie saber tooth cats)
the pseudaelurus
wild felids native to every continent except
aus and antarctica
felids share a genetic anomaly that prevents them from tasting
sweetness
due to nonfunctional TAS1R2 protein
felids have what kind of claws
protractable
felid skull
highly domed w short muzzle, wide zygomatic arches and large sagittal crest
wild cat cousins
bengal and savannah (illegal in aus)
why were cats domesticated
they domesticated themselves
domestic cat scientific name
felis silvestris catus
all domestic cats are descended from the near eastern wildcat
felis sylvestris lybica
turkey and Egypt
oldest evidence of cat domestication
cyprus cat burial next to human 9500 years ago
Egyptian history
old kingdom; first illustration of cats w collars
middle kingdom; cats frequently mummified and painted and in statues
new kingdom; worshipped, killing a cat was death sentence
how did cats get form egypt to british isles
phoenician traders exported cats in exchange for tin
ancient romans and cats
symbol of liberty
japan and cats
protect manuscripts from rodents; 2 cats in each temple
in europe during middle ages and cats
demonized
pop gregory IX called them satan, killed and then bubonic plague spread
cat image improved in 1600s
one of earliest and most important changes in cats in europe
development of tabby patterning; camouflage
long hair is result of
spontaneous mutation that became fixed through inbreeding in an isolated and cold environment, likely in turkey
maine coon
geographic isolation and natural selection gave rise to maine coon
coon derived form early belief they were part raccoon
what is an example of one of earliest spontaneous mutations
manx cat
worlds first cat show
london 1871
how many registered breeds
43