Zebras Unhappy Marriage

8- Chapter 9: Zebras, Unhappy Marriages, and the Anna Karenina Principle

Throughout history, there were fourteen large domesticated mammals that each had an impact on the areas in which they existed. These animals were divided into two types of groups that demonstrated their important livestock for people all around the world. The first category was for the major five large domesticated mammals. This included mostly of animals that could be found on a farm today. On the very top of the list is the sheep. Its wild ancestor is the Asiatic mouflon sheep of West and Central Asia. Secondly, is the goat whose wild ancestor is the bezoar goat of West Asia. Thirdly, is the cow, alias ox or cattle that had the now extinct aurochs as its wild ancestor who used to be found

As for the next set, it contains the minor nine large domesticated mammals. The Arabian (one-humped) camel is placed first under the sixth spot. It has a wild ancestor that is now extinct, but formerly lived in Arabia and adjacent areas. Seventh, is the Bactrian (two-humped) camel whose wild ancestor is now also extinct who lived in Central Asia. Next, are the llama and alpaca. They appear to be well-differentiated breed of the same species, rather than different species. Their wild ancestor is the guanaco of the Andes. Ninth, is the donkey with a wild ancestor of the African ass of North Africa and formerly the adjacent area of Southwest Asia. The reindeer which has a wild ancestor of the northern Eurasia reindeer is tenth. Under the eleventh spot is the water buffalo with a wild ancestor that lives in Southeast Asia. Twelfth, is the yak that has a wild ancestor of a Himalayan and Tibetan plateau yak. Thirteenth, with a wild ancestor of the bateng in Southeast Asia is the bali cattle. Finally, the fourteenth animal is the mithan. It has a wild ancestor of the gaur found in India with Burma. All fourteen of these mammals had a very