Unusual Mix

[Ashling]

I think it was only animals from the same genus that can breed and produce young that can also breed (ie. fertile young). Yay for today's biology lesson :D

[Monica]

Birds of different genus can hybridize.... same goes for other creatures as well... big cats, horses/zebra/donkeys, etc.

[Ashling]

Hmmm... it might have been animals from the same family? My biology exam is tomorrow of course

[Monica]

Same family, yes! At the moment, I can't think of any species that have hybridized out of their own family... so probably not...

[Koki]

Unfortunantly, when animals decide to hybridize they don't generally look in the taxonomic books to make sure people have decided they're in the same genus:)

Most animals, even in the same genus, can't hybridize. Very few from different genera can hybridize. At least not without the help of people.

[Monica]

LOL Koki! Yes, your right, animals don't look in the taxonomic books!

However, I'd have to disagree with you about animals not being able to breed even within the same genus, unless with human help... (disregarding the actual fact of people bringing two different species together) I'd be interested in hearing your explanation here, as I can think of several hybrids within the same genus, as well as various genera, but same family...

[Koki]

Well, while the biological species concept is not entirely acceptable accross all phyla, it is generally the best species concept we have for vertabrates, including birds and mammals.

Biological Species Concept-If two animals can produce viable offspring, they are the same species.

Of course, this doesn't take into account 'The Origin of Species' i.e. that evolutionry moment when one species becomes two. This 'moment' may last 1000 years or more and requires reproductive isolation, e.g. cattle egrets found their way from africa, across the atlantic ocean, to north america, around 60 years age. In 1000, or 10,000 years, it is unlikely these two populations will be able to breed or hybridize at all. At that point they will be seperate species.

At some point in the meantime, they may evolve to look differnt, with different calls, mating displays, nesting habits, etc. But there will be a point when a few of them placed together would have a little trouble producing viable offspring, then a point where they produce only half the time, then a point where they almost never succed, then finally a point where it just doesn't happen. During this time, some scientist will call these two seperate species that hybridize, some will say they are the same species, there will be differences of opinion among educated people.

I apologize for all that, my explanation why very few animals can actually hybridize;

According to recent taxonomic works, there are approximatly 4,444 species of mammals on the earth today. How many examples can you give that hybridize?

There are over 9,000 species of bird. How many do you know of that hybridize?

And there are always the scientist that say, if you show me an example of two species that hybridize, I'll show you what you thought was two species is really just one. I'm not one of those, but still hybridization is very rare.

[Monica]

I would say that I could probably find hundreds of examples of various species that have hybridized! With as much possibilities that are out there, I'd say there's probably more species that can hybridize than ones that can't... but then I can't say that for sure!

Certainly is confusing, but considering the Adelaide Rosella, I get what you mean! So it's certainly a matter of opinion! I disagree that hybridization is rare.... maybe uncommon in the wild, but not rare... although I'd say quite common if we are speaking about captivity!

[Koki]

Well, what's the meaning of uncommon and rare?

If 1 in 1000 individuals is the result of hybridization, is that uncommon? What about 1 in 100,000?

And I agree about captivity, but that's entirely different.

Also, if two sister-species, e.g. Blue-winged Teal X Cinnamon Teal, or Blue-winged Warbler X Golden-winged Warbler, hybridize, I'm not sure I'd agree that's hybridization. It's just evidence of evolution and the origin of species per Darwin, and a case in the process of becoming seperate species.

[Monica]

Rare I would say that it practically never happens... Uncommon meaning that it happens but we don't know how frequently... after all, there are hybrid flocks of parrots out there! (but this is due to human intervention... since the parrots are living in non-native places)

I really doubt I could name all the animals that have hybridized naturally (so to speak) in the wild... but a fcouple I could think of (the rest I'd have to google, and surely, they would not include all that have hybridized)

Crimson Rosella x Yellow Rosella (you could call this one evolution of a species!)
Grizzly Bear x Polar Bear