In an area of Europe where the fire-bellied toad overlaps and breeds with the yellow-bellied toad, hybrid offspring exhibit abnormalities such as misshapen mouths, fused vertebrae, and reduced numbers of vertebrae.Hybrid survival is not zero, but low compared with purebred individuals.Nevertheless, hybridization between these species is believed to have occurred at this location for centuries.This scenario describes an example of
A) a hybrid zone
B) habitat isolation.
C) gametic isolation.
D) behavioral isolation.
E) the inability of closely related species to hybridize.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario describes a hybrid zone where two species overlap and produce hybrid offspring with abnormalities, but some individuals survive. It suggests a long history of hybridization between the fire-bellied and yellow-bellied toads in this area.

In an Area of Europe Where the Fire-Bellied Toad Overlaps