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Animal Identification (Advanced)

Zoonosis Control Division – 9/03 Animal Identification - 1

Canine Identification

You need to know dog breeds and groups, in addition to the information you

learned in the basic course. The American Kennel Club currently recognizes 136

breeds of dogs and divides them into seven groups:

! Sporting Dog

! Hound

! Working Dog

! Terrier

! Toy

! Non-Sporting

! Herding

Each group contains many breeds that have common features or a similar use.

This Chapter Covers: ♦ Canine Identification ♦ Feline Identification ♦ Wildlife Identification


Animal Identification - 2 Zoonosis Control Divison – 9/03

# Sporting Dogs The sporting dogs are placed into four basic categories: pointers, retrievers,

setters, and spaniels. This group contains what we usually consider the hunting dogs. Pointers and setters are the breeds that "point" when hunting birds. Spaniels

are generally smaller and are used to flush birds from cover. Retrievers recover

downed birds after they have been shot. In general, these breeds are of good

temperament and most make good family or companion animals. These dogs are very

active and require exercise to stay in shape.

Some of the more popular breeds in the sporting group are:

! American Cocker Spaniel

! Golden Retriever

! Irish Setter

! Labrador Retriever

! Pointer

Other breeds in the sporting group are:

* American Water Spaniel * Brittany Spaniel

* Chesapeake Bay Retriever * Clumber Spaniel

* Curly-Coated Retriever * English Cocker Spaniel

* English Setter * English Springer Spaniel

* Field Spaniel * Flat-Coated Retriever

* German Shorthair Pointer * German Wirehair Pointer

* Gordon Setter * Sussex Spaniel

* Vizsla * Weimaraner

* Welsh Springer Spaniel * Wirehaired Pointing Griffon



# Hounds

The hound breeds are divided into two categories: scent and sight hounds.

Both categories can be used for hunting, although greyhounds and whippets are used in

dog racing. Scent hounds have exceptional olfactory (smell) senses and are commonly

said to Ahave a good nose.@ They are used to trail or track animals by scent. These

breeds are quite popular for rabbit, fox, and raccoon hunting. Sight hounds hunt by

seeing their game and chasing it until capture. They possess very keen eyesight and

great speed.

Some of the more common breeds in the hound group are:

! Beagle

! Bloodhound

! Dachshund

! Greyhound

! Norwegian Elkhound

Other breeds in the hound group are:

* Afghan Hound * American Foxhound

* Basenji * Basset Hound

* Black and Tan Coonhound * Borzoi

* English Foxhound * Harrier

* Ibizan Hound * Irish Wolfhound

* Otter Hound * Pharaoh Hound

* Rhodesian Ridgeback * Saluki

* Scottish Deerhound * Whippet



# Working Dogs The working group can be divided into two classes: guard and draft. Guard

dogs are used to protect the life and property of humans. Draft dogs are still used to

pull sleds or carts. Some of these breeds are large animals and may not be suitable for

a small house with limited yard space.

Some of the more popular breeds in the working group are:

! Akita

! Doberman Pinscher

! Great Dane

! Rottweiler

! Siberian Husky

Other breeds in the working group are:

* Alaskan Malamute * Bernese Mountain Dog

* Boxer * Bullmastiff

* Giant Schnauzer * Great Pyrenees

* Komondor * Kuvasz

* Mastiff * Newfoundland

* Portuguese Water Dog * St. Bernard

* Samoyed * Standard Schnauzer



# Terrier Group Terriers were first bred to be hunters that could go underground after their prey.

They bark freely and make good burglar alarms. Terriers are very playful and

courageous; they also have good feet, good teeth, and a strong jaw. In general, terriers

make good companion animals, and most adapt well to city life.

Some of the more popular breeds in the terrier group are:

! Airedale Terrier

! Bull Terrier

! Miniature Schnauzer

! Scottish Terrier

! Wire Fox Terrier

Other breeds in the terrier group are:

* American Staffordshire Terrier * Australian Terrier

* Bedlington Terrier * Border Terrier

* Cairn Terrier * Dandie Dinmont Terrier

* Irish Terrier * Kerry Blue Terrier

* Lakeland Terrier * Manchester Terrier

* Norfolk Terrier * Norwich Terrier

* Sealyham Terrier * Skye Terrier

* Smooth Fox Terrier * Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier

* Staffordshire Bull Terrier * Welsh Terrier

* West Highland White Terrier



# Toy Group The breeds in the toy group are the smallest of all breeds. These dogs were

bred solely for companionship and are good for home or apartment life. Most breeds in

the toy group are very hardy and live longer than larger breeds.

Some of the more popular breeds in the toy group are:

! Chihuahua

! Pekingese

! Pug

! Toy Poodle

! Shih Tzu

Other breeds in the toy group are:

* Affenpinscher * Brussels Griffon

* Chinese Crested * English Toy Spaniel

* Italian Greyhound * Japanese Chin

* Maltese * Manchester Terrier

* Miniature Pinscher * Papillon

* Pomeranian * Silky Terrier

* Yorkshire Terrier



# Non-Sporting Group The non-sporting group is a "catch-all" group. Breeds which do not fit in the

other groups are placed here. Dogs in the non-sporting group are generally considered

to be companion animals.

Some of the more popular breeds in the non-sporting group are:

! Bulldog

! Chow Chow

! Dalmatian

! Lhasa Apso

! Poodle

Other breeds in the non-sporting group are:

* Bichon Frise * Boston Terrier

* Finnish Spitz * French Bulldog

* Keeshond * Schipperke

* Tibetan Spaniel * Tibetan Terrier



# Herding Group The breeds in this group were bred to help man control and move cattle, sheep,

and other herd animals. Most of these dogs are easily trained and make good pets.

The more popular breeds in the herding group are:

! Australian Cattle Dog

! Collie

! German Shepherd

! Old English Sheepdog

! Shetland Sheepdog

Other breeds in the herding group are:

* Bearded Collie * Belgian Malinois

* Belgian Sheepdog * Bouvier des Flanders

* Briard * Cardigan Welsh Corgi

* Pembroke Welsh Corgi * Puli



Feline Identification

Many breeds of cats that are listed as separate breeds are the same except for

coat length or color. This list shows the names for shorthair and longhair versions of several breeds:

Shorthair Longhair * Abyssinian * Somali * Burmese * Tiffany * Colorpoint Shorthair * Javanese * Exotic Shorthair * Persian * Manx * Cymric * Siamese * Balinese

Other breeds that have both a shorthair and a longhair version but do not

have separate names include:

Shorthair Longhair * Japanese Bobtail * Long-haired Japanese Bobtail * Oriental Shorthair * Oriental Longhair * Scottish Fold * Long-haired Scottish Fold

Breeds that only have one coat length include:

Shorthair Longhair * American Curl * Birman * American Shorthair * Maine Coon Cat

* American Wirehair * Tonkinese * Bombay * Turkish Angora * Cornish Rex * Turkish Van * Devon Rex * Havana Brown * Korat



It is important that you know that cats come in many breeds, colors, and

temperaments. However, unless you live in a large city, you may never see many of

these breeds.

The following are descriptions of some of the breeds of cats:

Abyssinian

An Abyssinian can occur in two colors: brown and copper red. The

coat has distinctive ticking with several grades of dark and light on

each hair. It is medium in size with a hard, muscular body. American Curl

The distinctive feature of the American Curl is curled ears. The ears

are erect and open, curving in a smooth arc backward and away from

the face; they point toward the center of the base of the skull. The

American Curl is a medium-sized cat. American Curl cats can be

long-haired or short-haired. These cats have a wide variety of coat

colors, including some that are solid back and others that have color

characteristics like that of the Siamese. American Shorthair

The American Shorthair has a strong, balanced build designed for

endurance and agility. The massive head and shorter nose are some

of the things that distinguish this breed from the Domestic Shorthair

(DSH). American Shorthair cats have a variety of coat colors and

patterns. These include solid white, solid black, calico, and the tabby

pattern in a wide range of colors. American Wirehair

The coat of the American Wirehair is dense and resilient (springs

back into place); it is also coarse and hard to the touch.



Balinese

The Balinese is a medium-sized, graceful, long cat with a distinctive

combination of fine bones and firm muscles. The coat is medium in

length, silky, and lays flat against the body. Balinese are the long-

haired counterparts of Siamese. They come in a variety of point

colors traditionally associated with Siamese cats. Birman

The Birman is a color-pointed (seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, lynx, or

flame) cat with long, silky hair and four pure-white feet. It has a

sturdy build, which is elongated and stocky. The distinctive head has

strong jaws, a firm chin, and a medium-length Roman nose. The

blue, almost round eyes are set wide apart. Burmese The Burmese is a medium-sized cat with substantial bone structure

and good muscle development. Cornish Rex

The Cornish Rex is distinguished from other breeds by its soft, short,

wavy coat. The cat is small to medium in size, and its back is

naturally arched. This breed has an Oriental body type, and its hair

coat lacks the outer primary guard hairs. The lack of primary guard

hairs may make the cat uncomfortable when the weather is wet or

cold. This breed’s coat comes in a wide range of colors, patterns,

and points. This breed is alert and usually likes to be handled. Devon Rex

The Devon Rex has a unique appearance. It has large eyes, a short

muzzle, prominent cheekbones, and large, low-set ears. This breed

has a medium, fine frame and is covered with a soft, short, wavy

coat. Unlike the Cornish Rex, this breed has both the primary and

secondary guard hairs in its coat. These hairs are more twisted than

the Cornish Rex. Like the Cornish Rex, Devon Rex coats come in a

wide range of colors, patterns, and points.



Havana Brown

The Havana Brown is a medium-sized cat with good muscle tone. It

has a long, square muzzle, brilliant and expressive eyes, and large

ears that are tilted forward. The coat is a solid brown color. Japanese Bobtail

The Japanese Bobtail is a medium-sized cat with a strong, slender

build. The unique set of its eyes, high cheek bones, and long parallel

nose give its face a unique Japanese look. It has a short tail (like a

rabbit tail) which is often kinked. The Japanese Bobtail’s tail is about

4 inches long and relatively inflexible. Although there are no

restrictions on the colors of this breed, the red and white bicolor coat

and the tortoiseshell pattern are the most favored. Korat

The Korat has a medium-sized, muscular body and huge eyes. The

coat is a silver-blue color. This breed was developed in Thailand and

is very rare. Maine Coon Cat

The Maine Coon Cat is the native American long-haired cat. It was

recognized as a specific breed in Maine, where they were known for

their mousing ability. This breed is a sturdy cat that was adapted to

harsh winters. It is a large, rugged cat with a soft, shaggy coat.

These are large cats, with males weighing up to 18 lbs. Their coats

come in a wide range of colors, patterns, and points. Manx

The Manx has a broad chest, short front legs, a short back which

arches, and rounded, muscular thighs. Its head is round with a round

muzzle and prominent cheeks. The Manx cat can be born with any

length of tail. Only the ones born without a tail can be shown in

championship competition.



Ocicat

The Ocicat is a medium- to large-sized cat with a muscular body and

a full body and chest. The coat is agouti (each hair has several

bands of color). The area where the color bands fall together form a

thumbprint-shaped spot. This is a powerful, athletic, and graceful cat

that looks like a wild cat. Persian

The Persian is a medium- to large-sized cat with thick bones and a

soft, round body. The large, round eyes are set wide apart in the

large, round head. They have a distinctive Apug-nosed@ face. The

Persian has a cobby build (short legs and a broad, deep chest). The

coat can be a variety of colors and is the longest coat of all breeds. Russian Blue

The Russian Blue, or Russian Shorthair, is a fine-boned cat with a

regal appearance. The head is broad and flat with round, green eyes

and large, open ears. The coat is soft and dense. Those with blue

coats look very similar to Korats. Black and white forms of the

Russian Shorthair have recently been developed in Australia and

New Zealand. Scottish Fold

The Scottish Fold occurred as a spontaneous mutation among farm

cats in Scotland. Scottish Fold kittens are born with straight ears. At

approximately three to four weeks of age, their ears either fold or not.

Ones with straight ears are used for breeding. Only cats with folded

ears can be shown in competition. The ears fold forward and downward on the head. They come in a variety of coat colors and

patterns.



Siamese

The blue-eyed Siamese is believed to have originated in Siam, now

Thailand, where only members of royalty were allowed to own them.

This is a medium-sized, muscular, refined cat with long tapering lines.

It is slender and has long legs. The head is a long, tapering wedge with a flat skull. The eyes are shaped like almonds and are a deep blue color. It is a color-pointed (seal, chocolate, blue, lilac,

lynx, or flame) cat. Tonkinese

The Tonkinese was the result of breeding a Siamese to a Burmese.

The ideal Tonkinese is intermediate in type, it is neither cobby or

svelte (sleek). The cat has a muscular, medium build and is heavy

for its size. There is considerable variation in coat colors and points. Turkish Angora

The Turkish Angora is a solid, firm cat. The ears are large, wide at

the base, pointed, and tufted. The silky, wavy coat is medium in

length and is long at the ruff. White is the traditional color of this

breed, although other colors and patterns occur.

Wildlife Identification

As an animal control officer, you may need to solve problems with wildlife. You

may have to remove wildlife from residential areas, capture potentially rabid wildlife, or

just identify a wild animal. You must be able to recognize and identify the high- and

low-risk animals for transmitting rabies as stated in Chapter 826 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. It is important to know the difference between high- and low-risk

animals when dealing with wildlife bites to humans.



High-Risk Animals - animals that have a high probability of transmitting rabies,

including:

! Bats - belong to the scientific order Chiroptera. They are the only

mammals that fly. There are approximately 30 species common to

Texas. Four of these species are:

* Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat (formerly known as the Mexican free- tailed bat) - scientific name is Tadarida brasiliensis. It is a medium- sized bat with broad ears and large feet; its body varies from reddish to black, while membranes and ears are black.

* Hoary Bat - scientific name is Lasiurus cinereus. It is a large, distinctive bat with short, rounded ears; its upper parts are gray- brown frosted with white, while membranes are black (yellowish along the forearm).

* Red Bat - a medium-sized migratory bat that can be found in Texas during the summer months; it is rusty-red to brown in color. The eastern red bat (scientific name is Lasiurus borealis) has

white-tipped hairs; the western red bat (scientific name is Lasiurus blossevillii) does not.

* Silver-Haired Bat - scientific name is Lasionycteris noctivagans. It is a medium-sized, nearly black bat with white-tipped hair, giving it a silvery color.

! Raccoons - belong to the scientific order Carnivora. The scientific name

for the raccoon is Procyon lotor. Raccoons are found throughout the

state. They are medium-sized animals weighing, on average, from 9 to 29

pounds. Raccoons are easily recognized by their black face mask

outlined in white and their alternating black and buff ringed tail.



! Coyotes - belong to the scientific order Carnivora. The scientific name

for the coyote is Canis latrans. The coyote is found throughout the state.

It is a medium-sized, 20- to 40-pound, dog-like animal. The coyote has a

grizzled gray color with buff-colored under parts.

! Foxes - belong to the scientific order Carnivora. Foxes are small dog-like

animals; there are three species found in Texas:

* Red Fox - scientific name is Vulpes vulpes. It is found mainly in the central and eastern parts of the state. The red fox has rusty- red upper parts and is white underneath. The tail is long and bushy with a white tip. Red foxes weigh from 8 to 15 lbs.

* Gray Fox - scientific name is Urocyon cinereoargenteus. It is found throughout the state except in the northern Panhandle. The gray fox is similar in size to the red fox, weighing from 7 to 13 pounds. The gray fox has grizzled gray upper parts, reddish sides, and a whitish throat and belly.

* Swift/Kit/Desert Fox - now all classified as Vulpes velox. It is found in the open desert areas of West Texas, and it is the smallest American fox, weighing 3 to 6 pounds. It is a buff-yellow color above and white below with a black-tipped tail.

! Skunks - belong to the scientific order Carnivora. Skunks are small, low-

slung animals. All skunks have paired anal scent glands which can spray

their scent up to 15 feet as a defense. There are four species of skunks

found in Texas:

* Striped Skunk - scientific name is Mephitis mephitis. It is the most common skunk in Texas. It usually has 2 broad white stripes from the back of the head to the tail. Sometimes the stripes are narrow or nonexistent. It weighs from 3 to 14 2 pounds (depending on age and amount of fat).



* Spotted Skunk - scientific name is Spilogale putorius (eastern) or Spilogale gracilis (western). It is a small skunk found throughout most of Texas. It has irregular stripes and spots.

* Hooded Skunk - scientific name is Mephitis macroura. It is found mainly in the Big Bend area of Texas. It is marked similar to the striped skunk, but it has a large tail and a distinct ruff (a fringe of long hairs) on the back of the neck. * Hog-Nosed Skunk - scientific name is Conepatus mesoleucus or Concepatus leuconotus (eastern). Commonly called the "rooter skunk.@ Found in Central and West Texas. It is a large skunk with a single stripe from the back of the head to the tail. It often roots with its nose in search of food and has long front claws adapted for digging.

Low-Risk Animals - animals that have a low probability of transmitting rabies,

including:

! Order Rodentia - Rodents

* Rats * Mice * Squirrels * Beavers * Prairie Dogs * Gophers * Voles * Muskrats * Porcupines * Nutria

! Order Lagomorpha

* Eastern Cottontails * Desert Cottontails * Swamp Rabbits * Black-Tailed Jack Rabbits



! Order Didelphimorphia (formerly Marsupialia) * Virginia Opossums

! Order Insectivora

* Shrews * Moles

! Order Xenarthra

* Nine-Banded Armadillos

Snakes

Snakes are reptiles. There are over 100 different kinds of snakes in Texas. The

snakes that will concern you the most will be the four groups of venomous snakes.

These can be divided into two families, the coral snake family (Elapidae) and the pit

viper family (Viperidae).

! Elapidae - Coral Snakes. These are strikingly colored snakes with

alternating broad bands of red and black separated by a narrow yellow

band. The head is black with a yellow band behind the eyes. These

snakes possess a neurotoxin (poison that affects the nerves) that is very

dangerous.

* Texas Coral Snake - scientific name is Micrurus fulvius tenere. This is the only coral snake found in Texas. It has random black spots on the red bands.

Remember: Red and yellow, kill a fellow. Red and black, venom lack!



! Viperidae - Pit Vipers. The name is derived from the heat-sensitive pit on each side of the head that is used to locate warm-blooded prey. These

snakes also have vertical pupils, while most snakes have round pupils.

Their venom is a hemotoxin, a complex mixture of proteins which act on

the victim=s blood tissue. There are three groups of pit vipers in Texas:

rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths.

Rattlesnakes - represented by two scientific genera - Crotalus and

Sistrurus. They are easily recognized by the rattle on their tail. There

are nine different rattlesnakes found in Texas:

* Western Diamondback - scientific name is Crotalus atrox. Inhabits most of the state.

* Timber Rattlesnake - scientific name is Crotalus horridus. Inhabits

eastern 2/3 of the state.

* Mottled Rock Rattlesnake - scientific name is Crotalus lepidus lepidus. Inhabits mainly the Trans-Pecos to South-Central Texas.

* Banded Rock Rattlesnake - scientific name is Crotalus lepidus

klauberi. Found only in extreme West Texas.

* Northern Black-Tailed Rattlesnake - scientific name is Crotalus molossus. Found mainly in West Texas and parts of Central Texas.

* Prairie Rattlesnake - scientific name is Crotalus viridis. Found in

West Texas and Panhandle regions.

* Western Pygmy Rattlesnake - scientific name is Sistrurus miliarius. Found only in East Texas.

* Western Massasauga - scientific name is Sistrurus catenatus

tergeminus. Found in North-Central and South-East Texas.

* Desert Massasauga - scientific name is Sistrurus catenatus edwardsi. Found in West and South Texas.



Copperheads - belong to the genus Agkistrodon. These are stout- bodied snakes with a copper, orange, or pink-tinged color and bold chestnut or reddish-brown crossbands. Their bite is painful, but rarely

fatal.

* Southern Copperhead - scientific name is Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix. Found mainly in East Texas. * Broadbanded Copperhead - scientific name is Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus. Found in North Texas through South-Central

Texas. * Trans-Pecos Copperhead - scientific name is Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster. Found only in the Davis Mountain-Big Bend area of Texas.

Cottonmouth - also called water moccasin. Belong to the genus

Agkistrodon. They are dark, heavy-bodied water snakes with the head

noticeably wider than the neck.

* Western Cottonmouth - scientific name is Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma. It is the only cottonmouth in Texas, and it is found in the northern, eastern, and central regions of Texas.



References: Alderton, David. Cats. New York: Dorling Kindersley, Inc., 1992. Alderton, David. Dogs. New York: Dorling Kindersley, Inc., 1993. American Kennel Club. The Complete Dog Book. New York: Howell Book House, Inc., 1997. Davis, William B., and Schmidly, David J. The Mammals of Texas. Austin: Texas Parks and Wildlife Press, 1994. Fletcher, Walter R. Dogs of the World. Toronto: Bantam Books, 1977. Grady, Wayne. The World of the Coyote. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1994. National Audubon Society. Field Guide to North American Mammals. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996. Price, Andrew H. Poisonous Snakes of Texas. Austin: Texas Parks and Wildlife Press, 1998. Pugnetti, Gino. Simon & Schuster=s Guide to Cats. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1983. Schmidly, David J. The Bats of Texas. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1991. Warner, Matt. Cats of the World. Toronto: Bantam Books, 1983. Wright, Michael and Walters, Sally, eds. The Book of the Cat. New York: Summit Books, 1980. The American Kennel Club (http://www.akc.org) has additional resources, including a video series on dog breeds and identification. The Texas Department of Health has a video available on bat identification. A copy can be borrowed through your Regional Zoonosis Control Program or the Audiovisual Library at (512) 458-7260.

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