Neoteny is seen in domesticated animals such as dogs and mice. This is because there are more resources available, less competition for those resources, and with the lowered competition the animals expend less energy obtaining those resources. This allows them to mature and reproduce more quickly than their wild counterparts. The environment that domesticated animals are raised in determines whether or not neoteny is present in those animals. Evolutionary neoteny can arise in a species when those conditions occur, and a species becomes sexually mature ahead of its "normal development". Another explanation for the neoteny in domesticated animals can be the selection for certain behavioral characteristics. Behavior is linked to genetics which therefore means that when a behavioral trait is selected for, a physical trait may also be selected for due to mechanisms like linkage disequilibrium. Often, juvenile behaviors are selected for in order to more easily domesticate a species; aggressiveness in certain species comes with adulthood when there is a need to compete for resources. If there is no need for competition, then there is no need for aggression. Selecting for juvenile behavioral characteristics can lead to neoteny in physical characteristics because, for example, with the reduced need for behaviors like aggression, there is no need for developed traits that would help in that area. Traits that may become neotenized due to decreased aggression may be a shorter muzzle and smaller general size among the domesticated individuals. Some common neotenous physical traits in domesticated animals (mainly rabbits, dogs, pigs, ferrets, cats, and even foxes) include floppy ears, changes in the reproductive cycle, curly tails, piebald coloration, fewer or shortened vertebra, large eyes, rounded forehead, large ears, and shortened muzzle.Bertone, J. (2006). Equine geriatric medicine and surgery. Saunders, MI.
Neoteny is seen in domesticated animals such as dogs and mice This is because there are more resources available less competition for those resources and with the lowered competition the animals expend less energy obtaining those resources This allows them to mature and reproduce more quickly than their wild counterparts The environment that domesticated animals are raised in determines whether or not neoteny is present in those animals Evolutionary neoteny can arise in a species when those conditions occur and a species becomes sexually mature ahead of its "normal development" Another explanation for the neoteny in domesticated animals can be the selection for certain behavioral characteristics Behavior is linked to genetics which therefore means that when a behavioral trait is selected for a physical trait may also be selected for due to mechanisms like linkage disequilibrium Often juvenile behaviors are selected for in order to more easily domesticate a species; aggressiveness in certain species comes with adulthood when there is a need to compete for resources If there is no need for competition then there is no need for aggression Selecting for juvenile behavioral characteristics can lead to neoteny in physical characteristics because for example with the reduced need for behaviors like aggression there is no need for developed traits that would help in that area Traits that may become neotenized due to decreased aggression may be a shorter muzzle and smaller general size among the domesticated individuals Some common neotenous physical traits in domesticated animals (mainly rabbits dogs pigs ferrets cats and even foxes) include floppy ears changes in the reproductive cycle curly tails piebald coloration fewer or shortened vertebra large eyes rounded forehead large ears and shortened muzzleBertone J (2006) Equine geriatric medicine and surgery Saunders MI