Content
- Characteristics of hybrid animals
- Are hybrid animals sterile?
- 11 examples of hybrid animals
- 1. Narluga
- 2. Turn on
- 3. Tiger
- 4. Beephalo
- 5. Zebras
- 6. Zebralo
- 7. Balfinho
- 8. Bardote
- 9. Mule
- 10. Pumapard
- 11. Animal bed
- Other examples of animal crosses
Hybrid animals are the specimens resulting from the crossing of animals of different species. This crossing gives rise to beings whose appearance mixes parental characteristics, so they are quite curious.
Not all species are able to mate with others, and this event is infrequent. Next, the Animal Expert presents a list of examples of real hybrid animals, with its most significant features, photos and videos that show them. Read on to discover rare, curious and beautiful hybrid animals!
Characteristics of hybrid animals
A hybrid is a animal born from the cross between two parents of species or subspecies many different. It is difficult to establish physical peculiarities, but these specimens mix characteristics of both parents.
In general, hybrids or crossbred animals can be stronger, so that in many cases it is humans who encourage the crossing between some species to use their offspring as work animals. However, this phenomenon can also occur in nature. Now there are fertile hybrid animals? That is, can they have children and thus generate new species? We answer this question below.
Are hybrid animals sterile?
Among the characteristics of hybrid animals is the fact that most be sterile, that is, unable to generate new offspring. But why can't hybrid animals reproduce?
Each species has a specific chromosomal charge that it is passed on to your children, but that it also needs to coincide at the cellular level during the process of meiosis, which is nothing more than the cell division that takes place during sexual reproduction to give rise to a new genome. In meiosis, the paternal chromosomes are duplicated and receive genetic load from both to define specific characteristics, such as coat color, size, etc. However, being animals of two different species, the number of chromosomes may not be the same and each chromosome corresponding to a specific characteristic may not match the one of the other parent. In other words, if the father's chromosome 1 corresponds to the coat color and the mother's chromosome 1 corresponds to the tail size, 'the genetic load is not manufactured correctly, which means that most hybrid animals are sterile.
Despite that, fertile hybridization is possible in plants, and it seems that global warming is encouraging the crossing of animals of different species as a way of survival. Although most of these hybrids are sterile, there is a possibility that some animals from parents of closely related species may, in turn, generate a new generation. It was observed that this occurs among rodents Ctenomys minutus and Ctenomys lami, since the first of them is female and the second male; otherwise, the offspring are infertile.
11 examples of hybrid animals
To better understand the hybridization process and which animal crosses currently exist, we will talk about the most popular or common examples below. You 11 hybrid animals are:
- Narluga (narwhal + beluga)
- Ligre (lion + tigress)
- Tiger (tiger + lioness)
- Beefalo (cow + American bison)
- Zebrasno (zebra + ass)
- Zebralo (zebra + mare)
- Balfinho (false orca + bottlenose dolphin)
- Bardot (horse + donkey)
- Mule (Mare + Donkey)
- Pumapard (leopard + puma)
- Bed (dromedary + llama)
1. Narluga
It is the hybrid animal that results from crossing a narwhal and a beluga. This one marine animal crossing is unusual, but both species are part of the family. Monodontidae.
The narluga can only be seen in the waters of the Arctic Ocean and, although it may be the result of a crossing caused by global warming, there are records of a first sighting made in 1980. This hybrid can measure up to 6 meters in length and weighs around 1600 tons .
2. Turn on
the liger is the cross between a lion and a tigress. The appearance of this hybrid animal is a mixture of the two parents: the back and legs are usually tiger-striped, while the head is more like that of a lion; males even develop a mane.
The liger can reach 4 meters in length, and that is why it is considered the largest feline that exists. However, their legs are often shorter than those of their parents.
3. Tiger
There is also the possibility that a hybrid will be born from the crossing of a male tiger and a lioness, which is called a tigress. Unlike the liger, the tiger is smaller than its parents and has the appearance of a lion with striped fur. In fact, size is pretty much the only difference between a liger and a tigress.
4. Beephalo
Beefalo is the result of the cross between a domestic cow and an american bison. The breed of the cow influences the appearance of the beefalo, but in general it is similar to a large bull with a thick coat.
This crossing is generally encouraged by farmers, as the meat produced has less fat than that of cattle. Interestingly, we can say that among these hybrid animals reproduction is possible, so they are one of the few that are fertile.
5. Zebras
the mating of a zebra with a donkey results in the appearance of a zebrasno. This is possible because both species come from the equine family. This crossbreeding of animals occurs naturally in the savannahs of Africa, where the two species coexist.
Zebrasno have a zebra-like bone structure but with gray fur, except on the legs which have a striped pattern on a white background.
6. Zebralo
Zebras are not the only hybrid that zebras can develop, as these animals are also able to mate with another member of the equine family, the horse. Zebralo is possible when parents are a male zebra and a mare.
The zebralo is smaller than a horse, with a thin, stiff mane. In its coat, with backgrounds of different colors, there are typical stripes of zebras. Without a doubt it is one of the rare but beautiful hybrid animals, and in Vaenney's video below we can see a beautiful specimen.
7. Balfinho
Another curious hybrid marine animal is the balfinho, the result of mating between a false killer whale and the bottlenose dolphin. Being the false orca or black orca belonging to the family Delphinidae, in reality the balfinho is a cross between two species of dolphins, and for this reason its appearance is similar to that known in these species. Its size and teeth are characteristics that help to differentiate it, as the balfinho is a little smaller and has fewer teeth than the orca whale and the bottlenose dolphin.
8. Bardote
This crossing of animals again involves members of the equine family, as the bardote is the result of a cross between a horse and an ass. This mating is possible due to human intervention, since the two species do not coexist in the same habitat. Thus, the bardote is one of the hybrid animals created by man.
The bardot is the size of a horse, but its head is more like a donkey. The tail is hairy and its body is usually bulky.
9. Mule
Unlike the bardote, a cross between a mare and a donkey results in a mule, a common mating in livestock areas. This animal has been known since ancient times, and can be born both males and females. In fact, the mule is probably the best known and most widespread hybrid animal in the world, as it has been used for centuries as a work and transport animal. Of course, we are facing a sterile animal, so its reproduction is not possible.
Mules are taller than donkeys but shorter than horses. They stand out for having more strength than donkeys and for having a coat similar to them.
10. Pumapard
The pumapardo is the result of crossing between a leopard and a male cougar. It is slimmer than a puma and has spotted leopard skin. The legs are short and their general appearance is intermediate between the two parent species. Crossing does not occur naturally, and the pumapard is on the list of hybrid animals created by man. For this reason, no live specimens of this cross are currently known.
11. Animal bed
As a result of the cross between a dromedary and a female llama, comes the cama, a curious hybrid animal whose appearance stands out for being a total mixture of the two species. Thus, the head is more like that of the llama, while the color of the coat and body is more like that of the dromedary, except for the hump, as the bed does not have one.
This hybrid animal does not occur naturally, so it is a human-made crossbreed. In the WeirdTravelMTT video below, you can see a specimen of this type.
Other examples of animal crosses
Although the hybrid animals mentioned above are the best known, the truth is that they are not the only ones that exist. We can also find the following animal crosses:
- Goat (goat + sheep)
- Bed (camel + llama)
- Coidog (coyote + bitch)
- Coiwolf (coyote + wolf)
- Dzo (yak + cow)
- Savannah cat (serval + cat)
- Grolar (brown bear + polar bear)
- Jagleon (jaguar + lioness)
- Leopão (lion + leopard)
- Tigard (tiger + leopard)
- Yakalo (yak + American bison)
- Zubrão (cow + European bison)
Did you already know all these rare and curious hybrid animals? Although most were developed by humans, some of them appeared completely natural.
If you want to read more articles similar to +20 real hybrid animals - Examples and features, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.