Giraffes May Be Six Separate Species 239
The BBC reports on research, published in BMC Biology, pointing to the possibility that there may be at least six species of giraffe in Africa. Quoting: "'Using molecular techniques we found that giraffes can be classified into six groups that are reproductively isolated and not interbreeding,' David Brown, the lead author of the study and a geneticist at... UCLA told BBC News. 'The results were a surprise because although the giraffes look different, if you put them in zoos, they breed freely.'"
Breeding? (Score:5, Informative)
Assuming they produce viable offspring, isn't that one of the primary definitions for a single species?
Re:Breeding? (Score:3, Informative)
Assuming they produce viable offspring, isn't that one of the primary definitions for a single species?
Re:Breeding? (Score:3, Informative)
I think that's the major definition, but further categories can be made on things like different physical or (like in this study) genetic characteristics. Also, if the populations are genetically (and possibly morphologically, as the summary suggests) and do not interbreed in the wild that would suggest that giraffes may be well divided into subspecies.
Re:Contradiction? (Score:5, Informative)
Speciation is not as cut-and-dried as you might think. Reproductively isolated populations diverge more and more over time, and the speciation becomes more and more pronounced.
The definitive word on giraffes (Score:2, Informative)
They call this science? Bah. Everything you need to know about giraffes is contained in this brilliant, revolutionary book:
http://www.amazon.com/Giraffes-Doris-Haggis-Whey/dp/1932416978
For example:
Re:Breeding? (Score:5, Informative)
You get the same thing with the house mouse, mus musculus -- subspecies that are genetically distinct and geographically isolated, but which will interbreed in captivity (and in bordering zones in the wild). It's presumed that a lower fitness in the offspring of cross-subspecies matings in bordering zones keeps the subspecies separate.
Re:Contradiction? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Contradiction? (Score:3, Informative)