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This little corner of my site is dedicated to my beloved chihuahua, Bruiser. |
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| "Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies." --Gene Hill |
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| "Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant." --Unknown |
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| "Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car ride he sticks his head out the window.--Steve Bluestone |
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| "The other day, I saw two dogs walk over to a parking meter. One of them says to the other 'How do you like that? Pay toilets!"--Dave Starr |
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| "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between dog and man."--Mark Twain |
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Chihuahua Origin |
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The chihuahua is an ancient breed which is believed to have its origins in the late Paleozoic period. The chihuahua's earliest know ancestor, cannis raptor rodentis (meaning: killer dog-mouse) scoured the almost uninhabitable desers of what is now Mexico and the southern United States. Millions of years of evolution allowed this cannine species to thrive on the arid plain while other dog species, such as the cannis wimpor frenchus (desert poodle) struggled for survival, eventually becoming extinct. The early chihuahua's oversized specially adopted ears, acted as water gathering surfaces. Collecting moisture from the air via its giant ears, this remarkable animal was able to absorb the condensate through the skin, allowing it to go weeks without actually drinking water.
The chihuahua's ancestor's large ears also served as heat transfer and shading devices. Using their ears as parasols during the day, elder cannis raptor rodenti could take turns shading pups from the harsh desert sun. At night, the animals could vover their tiny brood with their humongous ears to keep them warm. Along with an acute sense of hearing which allowed the animals to detect prey and danger for up to 5 miles away, some scientists speculate that early chihuahuas were equipped with bat-like sonar. By emitting high frequency squeals and yelps and acquiring the reflected signal with its large ears, the dog might have been able to home in on subsurface or nocturnal prey. There is an ongoing debate in the bioacoustic community as to whether this theory is feasible.
The fossil record indicates that the animals were extremely social and lived and hunted in packs. Canthropologists(scientists who study the origins of dogs) theorize that the creatures were highly intelligent problem solvers and that while feeding mostly on carrion and large insects, the canines had the capacity to bring down much more formidable prey; such as desert cats, coyotes and even wolves. One can only imagine the horrible cries of an ancient big cat being torn limb from limb, subsequently being eaten alive by these survivors of the sand. |
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