Coat color alleles in the domestic cat populations at the Adriatic Coast.

Abstract

Cat populations from the Adriatic Coast- the area of Rijeka (Croatia) and town of Bar (Montenegro, Yugoslavia)-were investigated at six coat color loci (orange, nonagouti, tabby, dilute, piebald spotting, dominant white) and one hair length locus. The results were compared to the data from literature concerning other populations of the Adriatic Coast such as Bol (island of Brac, Croatia), Dalmatia (Croatia), and Venice (Italy), as well as populations of Austria. The results show significant differences between the (northwestern) and (southeastern) parts of the Adriatic Coast in the frequencies of piebald spotting, which was significantly lower in the north, and blotched tabby, which was significantly higher in the north. Genetic distance analysis confirms the existence of northern and southern groups of populations around the Adriatic Coast and in the vicinity. Founder effect and human preferences can be responsible for such a pattern.