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This puzzled me as well. Do we not have a word for this? Is _subspecies_ really the word? In linguistics mutually intelligible but distinct `languages' are call

This puzzled me as well. Do we not have a word for this? Is _subspecies_ really the word? In linguistics mutually intelligible but distinct `languages' are called dialects. Similarly is there a term for mutually interbreedable but distinct `species'?

epochwolf 11y ago
> Similarly is there a term for mutually interbreedable but distinct `species'? It's species or subspecies. Animal classification has always been a little bit fuzzy and has some legacy cruft laying around. Like wolves, coyotes, and dogs are distinct animals with different behaviors but are definitely capable of interbreeding. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subspecies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subspecies For domestic animals, we have the noun breed, as in breed of dog.
maxerickson 11y ago
Similarly is there a term for mutually interbreedable but distinct `species'? There's not really any objective standard to draw the line between such populations. A clear line exists between populations that cannot reproduce, and there is probably something similar for populations that can reproduce but largely make sterile offspring (Ligers, Mules).