The species of a particular group of organisms would, therefore, pertain to those that can reproduce and sire fertile offspring of the same kind. However, the number of species in the world is unknown and unimaginably large. ... but it is very certain that organisms from two different genera (plural of genus) can never produce a fertile offspring. For example, you can cross two daylily species (Hemerocallis spp.) These groups can still breed, but they have physical and genetic differences. In fact, all species of the genus Canis can mate and produce fertile offspring (Wayne et al., 1997, re: A. P. Gray, Mammalian Hybrids). In response to other answers: Lions and tigers, and horses and mules, are different species within the same genus, not different "breeds" within the same species. Daylilies are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 11, depending on the variety. They can be different varieties of the same species or different species, but they must be in the same genus. This does not happen very often in nature, and most hybrid animals are sterile, but imagine the possibilities. Yet two entirely different dogs will produce perfectly fertile offspring, and many modern breeds in fact originated in this way. Differences between groups add … A hybrid is something having two kinds of components that produce the same or similar results. • Crossbreeding of different breeds can produce fertile progenies, but offspring having maternal and paternal genes of different species are sterile. These two are the lowest considerable taxonomic levels, but rank above subspecies or breeds or types. • There are many different breeds of mainly domestic animals, and the number of those breeds is countable and known. Chausie, a hybrid between a jungle cat and domestic cat. We can divide some (but not all) species into smaller groups called subspecies. In biology, hybrid has two meanings. To get a hybrid animal, two animals from different species, but from the same genus, must be crossed. A hybrid can also come from something of mixed origin or composition, such as a word whose elements are derived from different languages. Each organism is known by two terms: its genus and species. However, many used to confuse the two terms, genus and species. The first meaning is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa. A species is a group of living things that can breed with each other. The terms work in the same way as our modern-day names and surnames. Genus Panthera The domestic cat, African wild cat and European wildcat may be considered variant populations of the same species (Felis silvestris), making such crosses non-hybrids. because they are in the same genus. Organisms from different species, although they belong under the same genus, generally cannot interbreed as their offspring would likely be infertile. Serengeti, a hybrid crossbreed of a Bengal and an Oriental Shorthair. The genus is the taxological equivalent to surnames (family name), whereas the term species is unique for each … Subfamily Pantherinae. Of course in some cases other factors might make mating very … The resulting animal will be a hybrid. This is so common, that biologists actually use a different formulation of Mayr's definition: they say, "If two populations can NOT interbreed, they are NOT the same species." Spider monkeys can also hybridize between species. Elands can hybridize with cattle, so the elu exposed the close relationship antelope have with cows.