Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
The shape of the cat's skull is somewhat flattened; the neck is short and the
body heavy. With quadrupeds there is a direct correlation between the length
of the neck and that of the legs. As a result the cat's neck is short but very
powerful. Coupled with large muscles in the shoulder, this feature makes it
ideal for subduing prey and then tearing flesh from bone. The cat's retractable
claws help to ensure that they remain sharp.
Despite their rather squat shape, cats are very agile and are capable of
jumping to considerable heights, balancing on very narrow surfaces such
as the branches of trees or garden fences and, when falling from a height,
they have the ability to right themselves to land on their feet. They possess
an ability to climb and cling to the trunks of trees or branches using their
paws. To do this they have a quite free use of their forelimbs, and they are
able to rotate their paws as a result of the radius's ability to turn around
the ulna.
Dogs
There is a huge range of modern dog species, thanks largely to the
intervention of man, who has, through selective breeding, enhanced
certain qualities in each breed. Originally these qualities were chosen
for the practical purposes of hunting and controlling livestock, but more
recently characteristics have been bred simply for aesthetic purposes. Dogs'
distinct qualities continue to offer practical benefits to humans; some are
favored for their particular physical attributes, others for their temperament.
Working dogs have been bred specifically to undertake certain specialist
activities, from the hunting qualities adapted to help in herding sheep to
the fearless and aggressive temperaments of guard dogs and war dogs.
Others have a more even temperament suited to becoming guide dogs
for the blind; still other dogs with an extremely sensitive sense of smell
are trained to sniff out all manner of things, from drugs and explosives to
missing people.
Dog species range from the large, such as Great Danes and St. Bernards,
to what have become known as toy dogs, such as the Chihuahua and the
Pekinese. Some of man's selective breeding has developed conditions that
have become problematic for the health of dogs.
These breeds may be very different from one another, but they all share
certain physical traits and a common ancestor: the wolf. If we look at a
wolf-like dog—that is, one retaining a similar body shape—we can see
that the body is positioned much higher from the ground than a cat, on
legs that are long and slender and most suited to running at speed over
extended periods. The dog's head has a considerably long snout and is held
in a more upright position on a relatively longer neck than a cat. The ears
are held upward. The tail, although capable of a sideways wagging action,
is far less maneuverable than a cat's. Unlike cat claws, dog claws are not
retractable.
