Abyssinian

Abyssinian may refer to:

Cultures

Domestic animal breeds

Other

See also

Abyssinian horse

The Abyssinian is a light horse breed that originated in Ethiopia.

Characteristics

Abyssinian horses generally stand around 13.3 hands (55 inches, 140 cm) high but show wide variability in coloration, size and conformation.

The breed's coat is generally short and harsh, but unique in that it displays many 'rosettes' and ridges, and also generally grows a moustache around its nose. Many breeders, especially those in England, have worked to improve this rosette pattern. Because the hair grows in so many directions, it can be hard to brush, and great care must be taken to keep the coat clean and free of dirt. Most are green eyed, due to uncommon genes.

Breed history

The Abyssinian has spread from Ethiopia along the coastline of the Red Sea. The breed was first exported to England in 1861, and Abyssinian horses also live in Sudan.

Uses

Despite its small size, the Abyssinian has been bred for strength and for the ability to live and work in mountainous areas.

References

Abyssinian cat

The Abyssinian /æbᵻˈsɪniən/ is a breed of domestic shorthaired cat with a distinctive "ticked" tabby coat, in which individual hairs are banded with different colors.

It is named after Abyssinia (now called Ethiopia) the country from which it was first thought to have originated; more recent research now places its origins somewhere near the Egyptian coast. The Abyssinian has since become one of the most popular breeds of shorthair cat in the USA.

History

The Abyssinian cat as it is known today was developed in Great Britain. The name 'Abyssinian' refers to Ethiopia, in reference to widely-spread stories of British soldiers deployed to North Africa in the nineteenth century returning home with kittens purchased from local traders.

Description

Appearance

The Abyssinian is a slender, fine-boned, medium-sized cat. The head is moderately wedge shaped, with a slight break at the muzzle, and nose and chin ideally forming a straight vertical line when viewed in profile. They have alert, relatively large pointed ears. The notably expressive eyes are almond shaped and are gold, green, hazel or copper depending on coat color. The legs should be long in proportion to a graceful body, with small oval paws; the tail is likewise long and tapering.