Animal Domestication

Beef Cattle

4500 B.C.(6000-6500 years ago)

Ancestors: Auruch

Domesticated for religious reasons and food

Wild cattle- “old world” (Europe and Asia)

Brought to the Americas by New Zealand, Australian and European Explorers

Pigs

7000 B.C ( 8000-9000 years ago)

Ancestor: Banded Pig

Domesticated for food

China, Asia and Europe

Equine

4000 B.C (5000-6000 years ago)

Ancestor: Przewalski and Tarpan

Domesticated for transportation and food

Brought to the Americas via European and Asian Explorers

Goats

8500- 9000 years ago

Ancestor: Bezourgoat

Domesticated for food, milk and clothes

Brought to North/South America, New Zealand and Australia via European and Asian explorers

Sheep

6000-7000 years ago

Ancestors: European Mouflon and Asiatic Urial which had ranges from Western Europe to China

Domesticated for food, milk, and clothes

Brought by European and Asian Explorers

Ancient ancestors probably had predominantly hair (as opposed to wool) c

Dogs

10,000 B.C (12,000 years ago)

Ancestors: Wolves or Jackals

Domesticated for companionship and hunting

Domesticated around modern-day Germany

Cats

4000 B.C ( 6000 years ago)

Ancestors: African Bush Cats

Domesticated for religious reasons and companionship

Domesticated in Ancient Egypt

Rabbits

1100 B.C (3000 years ago)

Lagomorpha

Domestication of rabbits is credited to French Monks during the Middle Ages.

First domesticated in Spain then in the 19th century to New Zealand and Australia

Gerbils and Hamsters

55-65 million years ago (Evolved during the Paleocene and Eocene era)

Ancestors: Paramys

Golden Hamster is native to desert areas of Syria

Gerbils are often called “sand rats” and are native to dry, desert like regions of Asia and Africa

Rats

55-65 million years ago (Evolved during the Paleocene and Eocene era)

Ancestors: Paramys

Domesticated for pets (black rats and brown rats)

Black rats originated in Southern Asia and prevalent Europe ( 1200s)

Brown Rats originated in Eastern Asia and Northern China

Introduced to Europe and North America in 1500s

Mice

0 A.D

Ancestors: Paramys

Domesticated for medical purposes

Frogs and Toads

Fire-bellied Toad, Southern Asia

Bison-dart Frogs, Southern America

American Clawed Frog, Africa

Bullfrogs, most countries

Lepard Frog, U.S.A/ Canada

FACTS: Have permeable skin, nocturnal, prefer semi tropical environments (75 degrees F and 80% humidity), Adults are strict carnivores while tadpoles and strict herbivores.

Lizards

Iguana, Central and Southern Americas

Dragons, Australia and Oceania

Skinks, Forest Floors of most Countries

Geckos, Southern Asia, India, Oceania

Monitors, Africa

FACTS: Smooth dry skins covered with scales that sheds, 3 chambered hearts (2 atria and 1 ventricle), ectotherms (like to bask on rocks), Most Lizards are Omnivores, Monitors are mainly carnivores and have been known to eat mice, Iguanas need to be exposed to ultraviolet light to properly metabolize, vitamin D.

Snakes

Boas, Central and South Americas

Pythons, Southeast Asia, Africa, South America

Garter Snakes, North America

Hognose snakes, United States

FACTS: Snakes shed their skin every 2 weeks, most species only have 1 lung (Left), use tongue to explore environment, feeding decreases when snakes get cold, most are carnivorous.