Hybridization was first studied with vegetables in the 18th century by naturalist Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter. After experimenting with thousands of plants, he managed to produce a hybrid plant, naming it a hybrid mule – referring to the mule, a hybrid animal. In this way, he claimed to have found the first botanical mule produced by man.
We call any and all living organism descending from genetically different individuals as a hybrid, that is, a hybrid is the product of mating between individuals of different species. It is important to remember that only descendants of parents of different species are considered hybrids, and that when animals of the same species are crossed, but of different breeds, animals are obtained mestizos.
We cannot say that every hybrid is sterile, because in nature we find hybrids that have limited fecundity. This degree of fecundity is present in females, because in them the eggs have complete development, while in males it is rare for sperm cells to develop or mature. A clear example of hybridism with limited fecundity occurs in the crossing of the domestic pig with the wild boar, which results in hybrids, with the males being sterile and the females being fertile.
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See below some examples of hybrid animals:
- Mule: result of crossing between a mare and a donkey;
- Zebralo: result of crossing a zebra and a horse;
- Connect: the result of a cross between a lion and a tigress;
- Tambacu: crossing between tambaqui and pacu-spider fish;
- Leopon: cross between a lioness and a leopard;
- Huarizo: result of crossing a llama with an alpaca.
Hybridization, occurring naturally, does not constitute a threat to the conservation of the species involved, being seen, in these cases, as part of the evolutionary history of these species. animal species, but it can become a problem for conservation if it is caused by changes in habitat or species composition caused by human actions.
By Paula Louredo
Graduated in Biology
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
MORAES, Paula Louredo. "Hybrid animals"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biologia/animais-hibridos.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
