Hybrid Animals

Under normal circumstances in nature, two different species will not mate with each other. There are various biological barriers that prevent this, such as genetic incompatibility or anatomical incongruity. Every once in a while, however, two closely-related species manage to mate, resulting in odd hybrid offspring. Moreover, in the past century scientists and animal enthusiasts have been pushing the limits of creating hybrid creatures by intentionally crossing two different species. The results of these experiments often produce animals that would be more appropriate for the island of Dr. Moreau than in a zoo. 

Crossing two different species is a common practice in botany. It is easier to cross two different plant species than animal species due to the genetics of plants; they are more stable as polyploids than animals. Plant genetics have been utilized by farmers and scientists, who have come up with many hybrids that are common today. The majority of the produce offered in supermarkets is derived from plant hybridizations; everything from seedless watermelons to corn are a result of thousands of crosses. 

Until recently, hybrid animals were thought to be much less common than hybrid plants. The first case of natural hybridization was the Lonicera fly, the offspring of two different species of fruit flies. Up until its discovery, it was believed that natural hybridization could only occur in plants. 

It is now known that a variety of animals cross in nature. An example of this is the Grizzly Polar Bear, which results from the natural hybridization of a grizzly and polar bear. The offspring are healthy and fertile and display a mix of characteristics from each parent. The necks, for example, are long like in polar bears, but the shoulders are short like in grizzly bears. 

Although hybrids do occur in nature, the majority of recognized hybrids are man-made by mating two species that would not normally mate in nature. Most often the hybrids are sterile due to an uneven number of genes. Here are some of the most common hybrids:

·         Mule- Mules are often mistaken for a natural species, though in reality they are the result of the cross between a male donkey and a female horse. They are commonly used as beasts of burden on farms.

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·         Liger-The liger is the offspring of male lions and female tigers. They date back to at least the 18^th century, where Indian rulers would keep them as a sign of power. Ligers are the largest cats in the world, and look exactly like one would imagine a lion-tiger child to look like.

 

        

·         Leopon- Leopons come from a male leopard and a female lion. Like the liger, they appear much like one would expect the cross to look like. They were first documented in India.

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·         Zebroid- These are a mix of a zebra and any member of the equine family. There are many different types, including a Zorse (zebra and horse), Zony (zebra and pony), and Zebonkey (zebra and donkey).

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·         Beefalo- One of the more useful species on this list is a hybrid of a cow and a buffalo. Beefalos produce red meat that is lower in fat and cholesterol than beef. Currently beefalo meat is not widely utilized in the United States, though it has the potential to supplement demands for beef.

·         Wolphin- One of the few aquatic hybrids, the wolphin is a cross between a dolphin and a false killer whale. It looks like an intermediate between its two parents. Wolphins are very rare, and there are currently only two in Hawaii.

·         Blood Parrot- This is another aquatic hybrid, coming from two different species of cichlids. The blood parrot is a controversial hybrid because it has various physical malformations, including an excessively small mouth that makes it difficult for the fish to eat. It is prized by fish enthusiasts because of its rarity. 

The creation of hybrids by man has been a subject of debate for bioethicists. Opponents argue that hybrids are unnatural creations made by man for fun. They often result in sterile offspring that cannot reproduce on their own. Thus it is necessary to continually mate the parents from different species to keep the hybrid populations constant. This can be physically taxing for the animals and uses a lot of resources that could otherwise be put to better use. Likewise, not all of the hybrid offspring are physically fit. The blood parrot, for example, has deformities that make eating difficult. This creates a hard life for the fish and results in early deaths. It is argued that it is unfair to create an animal that will struggle throughout its life simply for the enjoyment of man.

Conversely, proponents of hybrid animals state that the crosses are made in the name of science in order to better understand genetics and biology. Hybrids are very useful in studies of the inheritance of various traits as well as ecology. Moreover, many crosses result in offspring that are fitter than either of their parents, such as mules. These hybrids play an important economical and biological role for humans. Other hybrids, such as beefalos, may help to relieve the burden placed on cattle and other food sources. 

Regardless of one’s opinions on the ethics of hybrids, it is commonly accepted that hybrids form a very intriguing subsection of animals. They are the result of mankind’s natural curiosity about life and the desire to create. As science and technology advances, so too will the variety of hybrids that can be created. As this progress continues it is important to remember that even though they were created by man, hybrids are still creatures of nature and will act as such. Care and caution need to be taken to ensure that this science experiment does not face the same fate as seen on Dr. Moreau’s island.