Question

Two species of antelope, one from Africa, the other from Asia, are put into the same enclosure in a zoo. To the zookeeper’s surprise, individuals of the different species begin to mate and produce healthy, hybrid baby antelopes. Explain why a biologist might not view these offspring as evidence that the two species of antelope are in fact one.

Answer 1

The biologist may not take it as an evidence because, hybrid speciation do occur in animals and is very common among plants. Usually animals of different species do not mate because of different breeding habits and requirements. When two different species mate,as described in the question, do mate and reproduce a hybrid, the hybrid may be sterile and can be reproductively isolated from either of the two species. Eventually the fitness level of such species will be very low.