From Savannah to Couch: The Evolutionary History of Cats

From Savannah to Couch: An Evolutionary History of Cats by D. B. Losos: Do lions and tigers meow, and if not, why not? Where and how did cats make their evolutionary leap from the African savannah? Why does a cat leave a dead mouse at your feet, or even on your pillow? Is it really that bad to have an ocelot at home? And what did cats mean in Egyptian hieroglyphics? Evolutionary biologist Jonathan Losos deciphers complex scientific and historical mysteries, finds out how modern researchers are uncovering the secrets of felines’ past and present using cutting-edge scientific technologies, from GPS tracking to genomics and forensic archeology, and shows how natural and artificial selection over the past few millennia has shaped the modern cat, which in a relatively short time has become the most successful and diverse biological species on the planet. People change cats, and cats change the world around them, and this fascinating and fact-filled book tells, among other things, what the future holds for both Felis catus and Homo sapiens. Read more…