An evolution question I've often wondered about.

[trashleg]

Khuutra said:

sc94597 said:

Khuutra said:
Hey guys it turns out that only male Tiglons are sterile all the time: the females actually aren't, and can mate with lions and tigers and so forth.

I don't really know how that affects the discussion, but doesn't that make lions and tigers genetically compatible?

That is wierd. Can you link me, or tell me where you read/heard that? Maybe it has something to do with mtDNA and Y-DNA. Y-DNA being is transfered Paternally, and mtDNA is tranferred Maternally. I'm thinking maybe a closer Maternal ancestor?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liger#Fertility

Apparently taken from Wild Cats of the World (1975) by C. A. W. Guggisberg.

but doesn't that mean that you'll never be able to breed "pure" tigons or ligers, because the only way they can breed is with tigers or lions. therefore, they'll never breed for more than a couple of generations before their traits are pushed to the depths of recession.

also, this thread makes me want a pumapard ^___^