Are All Felines Really The Same Species?
Filed in Category Answers about Ligers
I realize that the different types of cats tend to be sexually isolated from each other due to mechanical isolation (the penis of a large cat wouldn’t fit into the vagina of a smaller cat, and vice versa). However, different types of cats have been selectively bred by biologists with some success. For example, lions and tigers can be bred through in-vitro fertilization, yielding ligers. The mynx cat can be produced by cross breeding a manx and a sphinx. Bear in mind that a species consists of organisms that can reproduce with one another. Humans from China, England, and Hawaii, and Kenya all have different physiological appearances, but they are still the same species since they can reproduce with one another. The biological classification refers to the feline family, but are all felines really the same species?
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no they are not. Lions and tigers (for example) may interbreed in the artificial conditions of captivity but the offspring are infertile. The two species do not interbreed in the wild. In relation to another part of your ridiculous question, manx and sphinx cats are both breeds of domestic cat ; they are just artificially bred varieties of the same species. There is ample scientific proof (if it was in fact needed) that the many species of wild cats in the world are absolutely NOT all the same species!
“Basically in the real world a tiger and lion would never meet up so they are reproductively isolated by location.”
Tigers and lions both live in India but only lions live in Africa. Tigers and lions could meet naturally in the real world.
Not only are different felines different species, there are also different genera of felines which puts them even further apart.
No, only CLOSELY related species can reproduce togeter…but they are still different species.. having different DNA. Keep in mind tigers and lions can cross breed because they are members of the same genus: Panthera. Other big cats not so closely related would not be able to produce offspring.
No.
..
You came very close to answering your own question.
To ask 20 professional zoologists with concentration
in that area(master’s degree or a doctor), you might
get varying answers.
I quote you here. Human interventions changes any
or everything in animal populations.
“different types of cats have been selectively bred by biologists”
………
No, they are not the same species but they are in the same Genus.
No, felines are not the same species. While you are correct, biologists have bred a lion and a tiger it is probable that their offspring would be infertile. Without having viable offspring the two are considered seperate species. Additionally, even if the liger is able to reproduce the tiger and lion would still be considered seperate species because they would not mate because of geographic isolation. Basically in the real world a tiger and lion would never meet up so they are reproductively isolated by location.