Inkriql Posted October 19, 2022 Posted October 19, 2022 0 LISTEN Lion and tiger at the same time? Half zebra, half horse? A dog that looks like a wolf? No, it is not the description of the mythological beings that are often seen in fictional films; on the contrary, it constitutes only a sample of the innumerable, surprising and strange phenomena that nature hides. According to Erica Larsen, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Denver, in dialogue with National Geographic, a hybrid animal "is the result of interbreeding between divergent lineages." That is, those from the crossing of two organisms by sexual reproduction of different races, species or subspecies. Although the hybridizations are, initially, the product of the crossing of two different species in natural environments; genetic combination can also occur by human intervention, for example, through mechanisms such as artificial insemination or captivity. The foregoing, without leaving aside the fact that, in the current context, climate change can be a determining factor for species to change their breeding season until it coincides with other species, or move to different places where they did not exist before, giving step to countless possibilities of sharing genetic information. Contrary to what many might think, their name is not the only thing that makes them unique compared to other types of animals. Their rarity and uniqueness are equivalent to their innate characteristics: they can not only be stronger than other species, but also more productive. Miracles of nature for some and scientific anomalies for others, it is estimated that 10 percent of all animals in the world are hybrids; however, how many do you really know? ligers Just when it was believed that nature could no longer surprise with its peculiarities, the liger emerged, a hybrid animal product of the cross between a panthera leo lion and a panthera tigris tigress. Considered the largest feline in the world, it can measure up to four meters long -including the tail-, and weigh more than 400 kilos, that is, almost twice the weight of its parents, according to the Spanish media La Vanguardia . In the case of females, they can reach 320 kilos or less and 2.50 meters in length. The answer to the question of why it has such a large size lies in the genes. While growth inhibitory genes are transmitted maternally in lions and paternally in tigers, the liger receives none. His physical appearance is not far behind: he has the mane and size of his father, but he inherited the tiger stripes -albeit diffuse- from his mother. Even with its tail and legs much shorter than those of its parents, the liger is possessed of unparalleled beauty and majesty; however, not everything is rosy. It would be a subspecies created by man, since it is extremely unlikely that the pairing of both classes of animals occurs "in nature because the distribution areas of lions and tigers almost never overlap," Larsen explains to National Geographic. Of all the ligers that exist throughout the world, it is estimated that the majority are found in the United States -with 30 in zoos- and China -with just over 20 animals of this species-, according to the digital newspaper Spanish OkDiario. Germany has nine ligers, but they are also present in Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France and Italy. Cebrallo If you've ever wondered what a cross between a zebra and a mare would look like, all you have to do is look at the zorse: a hybrid animal that, despite its genetic heritage, seems to have inherited almost all the genes of the equine family. From a distance, anyone would think that it is a horse, if it were not for the stripes that often cover its face and much of its body. Zebrals typically inherit the color of the mares - their mothers - but also acquire the predominant stripes of their parents - the zebras - in colors such as bay or brown. THE MAN WHO RESCUED MORE THAN 200 STREET DOGS AND LIVES WITH 16 OF THEM: "I HAVE NO WHERE TO LOCATE THEM" The zorse is ultimately a worthy descendant of a zebra stallion and a mare that bears the most defining characteristics of its parent. Like most other hybrids, it is infertile; which is why, he cannot conceive on his own. Although this genetic combination may seem a bit strange to some, the cross between equines is much more common than is believed. According to the American journal mentioned above, “equids can be especially prone to hybridization. Donkeys and horses can breed to create mules, while zebras and horses make zorses or other combinations." https://www.lanacion.com.ar/lifestyle/animales-hibridos-la-fascinante-cruza-de-especies-que-dio-como-resultado-a-ligres-cebrallos-y-perros-nid14102022/
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