The Pig: A Natural History

Description

At any given time there are around one billion pigs in the world; that’s one for every seven of us. And where would we be without them? Prolific, ubiquitous, smart, adaptable, able to turn garbage into good-quality protein just by eating it, pigs have been our companions since neolithic days when they obligingly domesticated themselves, coming in out if the wild to truffle around our waste pits. It’s not all about the bacon: the resourceful pig, now reformatted in micro packages, has developed a whole new career as a portable pet.  And thanks to the recent genome mapping we now know that pig physiology is remarkably similar to our own. The Pig: A Natural History covers evolution from prehistoric “hell pig” to placid porker; anatomy, biology, and behavior; the pig’s contribution to our lives; and the high profile of this remarkable beast in popular culture.  Cover Half Title Title Copyright Contents Introducing the Pig CHAPTER 1 Evolution & Domestication The Pig’s Forebears The Family Tree How Pigs Were Domesticated Conquering the World CHAPTER 2 Anatomy & Biology Anatomy of a Pig So Like a Human Life Cycle Reproduction Specialized Snout Tusks & Teeth Other Senses Thinking Like a Pig Eating Like a Pig Feet & Tails Skin & Hair CHAPTER 3 Behavior Eating & Sleeping Rooting & Burrowing Glorious Mud Courtship & Mating Nest Building & Farrowing Piglet Growth & Nursing Communications & Vocalization Aggression & Defense Cognition Pigs Behaving Badly CHAPTER 4 Pigs & People Subtle Influence on Humankind Pigs in Literature & Movies Pigs in Art Familiar Sayings Truffle Hunting Sheep-pigs Gun Pigs Pigs in Harness A Pig in the Pulpit Contentious Pigs in Religion Pigs as Pets Industrial Pig Production Extensive Systems Everything Bar the Squeal The Gourmet’s Delight CHAPTER 5 The Breeds Pigs in the Middle Ages The Advent of Breeds The Breeds Pig Populations The Future Appendices Name Your Pig Glossary of Terms Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Acknowledgments