Kristian Leonard O.

Orante 2011 20595/BS Public Health

July 11, 2011 History 1

______________________________________________________________________________ Thesis Statement The existence of the killer whales (Orcinus orca) did affect the evolution of Dalmatians (Canis familiaris). Introduction Life on Earth is a struggle. In order to live well, organisms need to change for the better. One way of changing is evolution. Evolution is the gradual change or development of a certain organism or species over time due to some factors like competition, adaptation and fitness. It involves mutation wherein genes present within the species change or develop into something new. Evolution is a very significant topic in the fields of biology. It helps us trace the descent of certain species which is very necessary for us to really understand the internal anatomy and physiology of that organism. In the evolution of a Dalmatian, killer whales commonly referred to as the orca, played a significant role. Killer whales greatly influenced the evolution of Dalmatians not just with their physical appearance but also with their survival. I infer that this is true because I believe that, in a higher level of understanding of evolution, this argument falsifies the existing knowledge of todays people about the evolution of Dalmatians. In this thesis, evidences will be established to have a new perspective of evolution. Dalmatians (Canis familiaris) are dogs of a breed having short and white coat with black spots while killer whales (Orcinus orca) are toothed whales great in swimming and are efficient predators. Evolution, in simpler terms, is change over time. Adaptation is a process wherein an organism becomes better suited to its environment and habitat. Hypothesis This paper will answer the following queries: Is there a significant role played by killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the evolution of Dalmatians (Canis familiaris)?

Did Dalmatians adapt the skin coloration of the killer whales? Are Dalmatians and killer whales related to each other?

Sub-Thesis Statements 1. Dalmatians adapted the skin coloration of the killer whales. Evolutionary adaptation was what dogs have done to survive from predation. Adaptation occurs whenever there is Survival of the Fittest or simply competition. Killer whales were the most efficient and feared predators. Even lions fear them. I have observed that the skin coloration of Dalmatians resembles the pigmentation killer whales possess. Dogs adapted the skin coloration of the killer whales so that they wont serve as foods for the fierce lions. Dogs blended their skin coloration with that of the killer whales to scare the predators just like how tigers adapt their skin coloration in the color of tall grasses to ambush their prey. This adaptation led to the birth of a breed of dogs which were later called Dalmatians. 2. Both Dalmatians and killer whales have mammalian characteristics. Mammals have many characteristics in common. Mammary glands are present and are used to produce milk to nourish their young. The presence of a diaphragm, which is a muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity, is also a characteristic. Both Dalmatians and killer whales are endothermic which means they are capable of regulating their own body temperature so that it remains at a relatively constant temperature regardless of the temperature of the surrounding environment like in Dalmatians, a warm environment while in killer whales, a cold environment. Mammals also possess hair though killer whales, compared to land mammals, have less hair. They only have hair when they are still young. Both Dalmatians and killer whales give birth to their offspring alive. Another thing is that they are warm-blooded vertebrates. Vertebrates are the animals possessing a vertebral column or vertebrae. Mammals have lungs. Well, Dalmatians breathe air to live just like other land mammals and killer whales breathe air at the surface of the water through a blowhole located near the top of their head. 3. The functionality of the teeth of both Dalmatians and killer whales is the same.

Teeth play a main role in the digestive system of the body. In both organisms, the teeth are well suited for their prey. They both have multiple numbers of teeth in their mouths and most of their teeth are sharp and pointed. These teeth are intended to grind and chew their meal. The presence of sharp and pointed teeth pertains to a characteristic of a predator. Nowadays, dogs are feared for they have the capability to bite. This means that dogs did not only adapt the physical characteristics of a killer whale but also its capability of being a predator. 4. Dalmatians as well as killer whales have the capability to swim. Generally, when a dog is placed in a pool, it will not drown. Instead, it will move its legs and swim to stay floating in water. This fact supports the idea that killer whales did really affect the evolution of Dalmatians. How come a dog knows how to swim on its own? I think evolution answers it. Well, those legs of the dog might have been evolved from the appendages of killer whales or the capability to swim have been adapted from what killer whales do to survive the challenges brought by the environment. Whatever the reason may be, it still supports the idea that killer whales did affect the evolution of Dalmatians. 5. Both Dalmatians and killer whales are sociable and friendly organisms. Dalmatians are naturally sociable and friendly. That is why we consider dogs as mans best friends. Dogs know what to do to please their human friends. On the other hand, k iller whales exhibit a wide variety of activities as they go about their daily lives. They socialize through various aerial displays including breaching, spy -hopping, tail slapping, beach rubbing, and flipper slapping. Whales also interact with inanimate objects such as kelp and have also been seen to surf in the wake of passing boats. _____________________________________________________________________ Sources: http://www.whale-images.com/info/killer-whale-facts.htm http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/zoology/classmammalia/GeneralMammalian /GeneralMammalian.htm