Classification-of-animals/”>Common Classification Of Animals – domestic and wild animals
The pets in our households are all descendants of wild animals, many of which still run free today. But dogs, cats, and rodents are all domesticated to varying degrees, with a wide range of consequences for their behavior and genetics.
To understand the nitty gritty of this, let’s get some terminology out of the way first. When we discuss domestication, we’re referring to the process of adapting wild Plants and animals for human use. This definition is frustratingly vague, so we won’t open the entire can of worms: in this column, we’ll focus on pets, so animals intended for human companionship (leaving out plants and animals intended for food or labor).
On one end of the spectrum, we have wild animals – that is, animals that live their entire lives outside the human bubble. They don’t rely on us, and human encounters tend to be detrimental to one party or another. At the other extreme, we are left with domesticated pets, which have, over many generations, grown and changed alongside their human companions, who have selectively bred and chosen the animals who best fit their needs. If only the most human-tolerant members of the Population are allowed to mate, certain genetic traits like reduced fear and increased friendliness will become more prevalent in future generations. The classic example of this is dogs being bred from wolves, which we’ll dive into shortly.
But between wild and domestic, there are at least two shades of gray. First, animals can be tamed, but not domesticated (though some use the terms interchangeably). In these cases, a single wild animal can be adapted to live alongside humans, take their food, and generally benefit from their presence – but the change is entirely behavioral and can occur within a single animal’s lifespan. Genetic changes do not occur, and the rest of the animal’s species remains wild. What’s more, not all domesticated animals are tame: consider chickens or Spanish fighting bulls.
Next, we have the inverse of taming, in which a domesticated species is released to the wild and adjusts to fending for itself, results in a feral animal. In both of these cases, behaviors change ahead of genetics – but tamed and feral animals can be precursors of genetic changes in either direction.
But what do these genetic changes actually entail? The domestication of dogs, bred from their wolf ancestors, is the process that has undergone the most scrutiny. Without going too deeply into the history and philosophy of domestication, it’s thought that dogs were originally domesticated (at least once, if not multiple times) between 10,000 and 33,000 years ago in Asia. Their original purpose was likely to aid in the hunt, but along the way, companionship became a driving factor. And unsurprisingly, when we compare the genomes of modern domesticated dogs to those of wild wolves, there are quite a few differences that have manifested over the years.
Many of the differences account for changes in behavior, including alterations in genes controlling brain development and function that increase animals’ Tolerance of and even friendliness towards humans. But other changes are less intuitive. For instance, unlike their carnivorous wolf ancestors, dogs eat diets more similar to those of their omnivorous human companions. Consequently, dogs’ genomes have changed over the years to produce more proteins involved in starch and fat Metabolism.
These shifts in behavior and diet are two of many characteristics we find in domesticated animals. By no means are these patterns hard and fast rules, and many exceptions exist. But speaking generally and liberally, domesticated animals are more likely to: be smaller or larger than their wild counterparts; undergo multiple periods of fertility within the span of one year (a trait referred to as being polyestrous), unlike wild animals, which often mate seasonally; and have spots or patches in their fur, curly hair, floppy ears, smaller heads, and shorter tails. Many of these last physical characteristics are reminiscent of juvenile versions of domesticated animals’ ancestors; in other words, dogs are the Peter Pans of the wolf world – pups that never grew up.
In fact, after making many of these observations, a few scientists decided to put the genetics of domestication to the test in late 1950s Soviet Russia with a group of silver foxes. The researchers selectively bred only the friendliest or most aggressive foxes of each generation. Forty years later, the scientists found themselves with domesticated foxes that eagerly approached humans, wagging their short and curly tails, pricking their floppy ears, and allowing their soft, speckled fur to be petted. Their wilder counterparts, on the other hand, remained combative, untamed, and anatomically like their ancestors. The researchers showed domestication was breedable and that it came as a package deal with predictable changes anatomy and physiology.
With this kind of directed breeding, domestication can produce companions that are almost unrecognizable as descendants of their wild ancestors. But my cats will be the first to tell you that not all the pets we spend our time with have been domesticated to the same extent. After all, bringing wild animals into the home is no simple feat. And while cats have also been a part of human Society for a long time – about 10,000 years – they’re often noted as more aloof, more independent, and less needy of attention than dogs. It may be because they’ve been around for a little less time, but the truer and far more compelling reason is that cats may have domesticated themselves. Many generations ago, the first barn cats found their own way into civilization because they cleverly deduced that grain storehouses were good places to corner mice (which, to go a layer deeper, have also seemingly self-domesticated; the same cannot be said for the grain).
And when we look at the genes of house cats and their wildcat ancestors, the differences are accordingly sparse and minor. While we purposefully selected out subpopulations of friendly wolves until we successfully bred man’s best friend, cats more or less wandered into our lives and decided to stay put. In other words, cats didn’t experience the same pressure to change to fit human needs.
All that said, domesticated or not, cats are of course wonderful companions to many – myself included. One of my cats plays fetch; another sleeps curled up next to me every night without fail. On the other hand, there’s no question about how well my cats have trained me to be at their beck and call. Their internal clocks recognize when we normally eat dinner, when we typically play, and even the strange, amorphous time of evening when the humans scoop their poops. And if I try anything shady – sleeping in on a Saturday, for instance, instead of promptly doling breakfast out at 6 a.m. – my attempts are quickly squelched by their frantic meows and scrabbling paws. My cats are tame – but it’s probably more accurate to say they’ve tamed me.
,
Animals are living organisms that are not plants. They are found all over the world, in every type of Environment. There are many different types of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, arachnids, mollusks, worms, echinoderms, cnidarians, and sponges.
Domestic animals are animals that have been bred by humans over many years to live with us and help us in some way. Some common domestic animals include dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Domestic animals provide us with companionship, food, and labor. They can also be used for recreation and competition.
Wild animals are animals that live in the natural world, without being domesticated by humans. Wild animals can be found in forests, deserts, Oceans, and other habitats. They are often hunted for food or fur, or they may be killed because they are considered pests. However, wild animals play an important role in the environment, and they should be protected.
Mammals are warm-blooded animals that have hair or fur. They give birth to live young and nurse their babies with milk. Mammals include humans, dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, whales, dolphins, bats, and many other animals.
Birds are warm-blooded animals that have feathers and wings. They lay eggs and most birds can fly. Birds include chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, parrots, eagles, hawks, owls, and many other animals.
Reptiles are cold-blooded animals that have scales or scutes. They lay eggs and most reptiles cannot fly. Reptiles include snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, crocodiles, and alligators.
Amphibians are cold-blooded animals that have smooth, moist skin. They lay eggs in water and most amphibians cannot fly. Amphibians include frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians.
Fish are cold-blooded animals that have scales and fins. They live in water and most fish can swim. Fish include salmon, tuna, trout, bass, catfish, and many other animals.
Insects are small animals that have six legs and three body parts. They lay eggs and most insects cannot fly. Insects include butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, ants, bees, and wasps.
Arachnids are small animals that have eight legs and two body parts. They lay eggs and most arachnids cannot fly. Arachnids include spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks.
Mollusks are soft-bodied animals that often have a hard shell. They lay eggs and most mollusks cannot fly. Mollusks include snails, clams, oysters, octopuses, and squid.
Worms are soft-bodied animals that have a long, slender body. They lay eggs and most worms cannot fly. Worms include earthworms, roundworms, and tapeworms.
Echinoderms are spiny-skinned animals that have a radial body plan. They lay eggs and most echinoderms cannot fly. Echinoderms include sea stars, sea urchins, and sand dollars.
Cnidarians are soft-bodied animals that have a radial body plan and stinging tentacles. They lay eggs and most cnidarians cannot fly. Cnidarians include jellyfish, Corals, and sea anemones.
Sponges are simple animals that have a porous body. They do not have a true body plan and they do not have a nervous system. Sponges lay eggs and they cannot fly.
Animals are an important part of our world. They provide us with food, clothing, and shelter. They also help us to understand the natural world. We should all do our part to protect animals and their habitats.
What are the different types of animals?
There are many different types of animals, but they can be broadly divided into two categories: domestic animals and wild animals. Domestic animals are animals that have been bred by humans over many years to live with us and help us with our work. Wild animals, on the other hand, are animals that live in the wild and have not been domesticated.
What are some examples of domestic animals?
Some examples of domestic animals include dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, and chickens. These animals have all been bred by humans for different purposes, such as companionship, food, transportation, and labor.
What are some examples of wild animals?
Some examples of wild animals include lions, tigers, bears, elephants, giraffes, and zebras. These animals live in the wild and are not typically kept as pets.
What are the benefits of having domestic animals?
There are many benefits to having domestic animals. For example, dogs can provide companionship and security, cats can help to keep rodents away, and horses can be used for transportation and recreation.
What are the benefits of having wild animals?
There are also many benefits to having wild animals. For example, lions and tigers can help to control populations of other animals, bears can help to disperse seeds, and elephants can help to create watering holes.
What are the challenges of having domestic animals?
One challenge of having domestic animals is that they can be expensive to care for. They also require a lot of time and attention, and they can sometimes be destructive.
What are the challenges of having wild animals?
One challenge of having wild animals is that they can be dangerous. They can also carry diseases that can be harmful to humans, and they can sometimes damage property.
What is the difference between domestic and wild animals?
The main difference between domestic and wild animals is that domestic animals have been bred by humans over many years to live with us and help us with our work. Wild animals, on the other hand, are animals that live in the wild and have not been domesticated.
What is the importance of animals?
Animals are important for many reasons. They provide us with food, clothing, and shelter. They also help to pollinate plants, control pests, and disperse seeds. Animals are also important for our mental and emotional Health. They can provide us with companionship, love, and support.
What is the impact of humans on animals?
Humans have a significant impact on animals. We hunt them for food, clothing, and sport. We also pollute their habitats and destroy their homes. This has led to the decline of many animal populations around the world.
What can we do to help animals?
There are many things we can do to help animals. We can reduce our consumption of animal products, support organizations that protect animals, and recycle and reduce our waste. We can also educate others about the importance of animals and the impact of humans on them.
-
Which of the following is not a type of animal?
(A) Mammal
(B) Bird
(C) Fish
(D) Plant -
Which of the following is a domestic animal?
(A) Dog
(B) Cat
(C) Cow
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a wild animal?
(A) Lion
(B) Tiger
(C) Elephant
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a characteristic of mammals?
(A) They give birth to live young.
(B) They have hair or fur.
(C) They are warm-blooded.
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a characteristic of birds?
(A) They have feathers.
(B) They lay eggs.
(C) They can fly.
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a characteristic of fish?
(A) They have scales.
(B) They live in water.
(C) They breathe through gills.
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a characteristic of plants?
(A) They make their own food through Photosynthesis.
(B) They have roots, stems, and leaves.
(C) They are usually immobile.
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a type of domestic animal that is used for transportation?
(A) Horse
(B) Camel
(C) Elephant
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a type of domestic animal that is used for food?
(A) Cow
(B) Pig
(C) Chicken
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a type of wild animal that is dangerous to humans?
(A) Lion
(B) Tiger
(C) Elephant
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a type of wild animal that is endangered?
(A) Panda
(B) Rhinoceros
(C) Tiger
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a type of plant that is used for food?
(A) Wheat
(B) Rice
(C) Corn
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a type of plant that is used for medicine?
(A) Aloe vera
(B) Ginseng
(C) Echinacea
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a type of plant that is used for decoration?
(A) Rose
(B) Lily
(C) Orchid
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a type of animal that is used for companionship?
(A) Dog
(B) Cat
(C) Bird
(D) All of the above