Comment on You have to be orchidding me!

whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

• JillyB@beehaw.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Do they do that naturally?

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  • whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    No, but the criteria is 1. Interbreeding is possible and 2. Can produce fertile offspring

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    • JillyB@beehaw.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Disclaimer: not qualified to talk about this with any degree of authority.

      I thought species were most commonly defined as naturally producing viable offspring. Animals that can produce fertile offspring but only in captivity were lumped in with mules and other hybrids.

      I’m now reiterating the disclaimer that I shouldn’t even be allowed to speak on a public forum about this subject. It’s amazing I haven’t been arrested.

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      • whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        There’s multiple species definitions and none of them are very satisfying because it’s trying to impose a clear distinction where one doesn’t really exist.

        species categorized by fertile offspring want to describe a situation like this with clear, district boundaries:

        abstract picture with rows of distinct colors with clear boundaries

        But evolutionary groups tend to be more like gradients & gaps like this:

        abstract picture with a few colors overlapping each other and areas with no color

        You can try adding specific boundaries to the 2nd, but there’ll always be some weird edges that don’t really fit.

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      • quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Does that mean 3. Desire to do so?

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