Rare Cats

[Inuyasha]

Liger and tigon males are sterile. But most females are actually nonsterile. That is how combinations of ligers and tigons can be formed. Some hybrids mostly females can reprocue. Ligers and Tigons females can reproduce.

[Solid Snake]

so then hybrids can not mate but a hybrid can mate with a nonhybrid?

[Cyranian]

Well Snake, take the example of dogs today. People crossbreed different types of dogs to form a new, more desirable breed. So IMO, I'd think that hybrids could breed, but just more rare in the wild. Where else would you get a Chinese Hairless Crested Dog?

[Inuyasha]

hybrids cannot mate with other hybrids because most hybrid males cannot mate. Yes a hybrid can mate with a nonhybrid that is how you can get things like li-ligers, ti-tigons, etc.

[Solid Snake]

but am i wrong in saying that breeds are not seperate species? its not like a wolf and great dane mated and then that hybrid mated. These are all domesticated animals.

[Inuyasha]

No breeds are not seperate species. Actually they are not considered species at all. They don't have genus speices names. Very weird.

[Inuyasha]

Could any one tell me why ligers and tigons dont' have a genus species name? Or any name besides the nickname.

[Cyranian]

A problem in classifying a newly discovered organism is in determining the specific characteristics that actually distinguish it from all other types of organisms. Arguments between scientists often erupt over whether a certain trait is important or not. Some would rather define new species based on minor differences, while others would emphasize on major differences. Even though breeding experiments may be performed, members of closely related species could mate with each other, which in our case, we have tigers and lions. As Inu had mentioned earlier, tigon males tend to be infertile, so breeding experiments aren't practical. Sure, we've got this DNA technology nowadays, but there may still be difficulties in determining whether tigons and ligers are an entirely new species, or if they're just simply hybrids.

[Inuyasha]

Thanks for the information but i really don't understand how hybrids don't have a genus and species name if they are creatures? Please explain

[Cyranian]

My apologies for the ranting, Inu. I wasn't refering to your question. Hybrid plants have genus species names, I don't see why hybrid cats have no genus species.

Site about taxonomy:
http://www.bluelion.org/largeprintbasicinfo.htm

There's a forum with a topic similar to yours, Inu. Even though there are quite a few joking around with the issue, it might be quite useful to you- esp towards the middle of the page.

http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2003/ ... _oh_my.php

[Inuyasha]

This could go on just about forever

[Inuyasha]

Hybrids are ignored too much. Webster doesn't have ligers, tigons, and many other hybrids defined. I have no idea why not. Maybe because it messes up the definitio of speciation