Posted by rpcman on August 27, 1999 at 11:02:12:
In Reply to: follow-up answer posted by jiggy on August 27, 1999 at 03:17:05:
: actually, the definition of species is not if they can interbreed themselves, but
: if it is possible for the offspring of the two species to breed.
This is certainly a definition of "species", but it isn't the only one. (Check out the link below)
An outstanding book that deals with the strangeness that makes up a species is Darwin's Dreampond. Although many of the species discussed therein look very different, the keys to speciation include things like what the fish eats, where the fish lives, and who the fish breeds with. It isn't even known if certain closely related species could produce offspring (or offspring that could produce additional offspring). What is known is that they do not breed among different species. That is the key. They don't even try. Once they hit that point there is no turning back. The genes can't mingle if they don't even have the chance and then various environmental factors come into play to further differentiate the various species.