When brought together in a zoo,two species are capable of mating and producing fertile offspring.Why may they still be considered two distinct species?
A)Wild populations of the two species have different geographic distributions.
B)In the wild,members of one species prey upon members of the other species.
C)Zoos are not natural environments.
D)The two species look very different.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the two species are capable of mating and producing fertile offspring may suggest that they belong to the same species, but their distinction as separate species is not based on this criterion alone. Rather, a number of factors can contribute to speciation, including geographic separation, ecological divergence, and genetic isolation, among others. Zoos, by their very nature, are artificial environments that can distort natural patterns of behavior and interaction between species, so any conclusions drawn from their behavior in such settings may not apply to their natural habitats. Therefore, the ability to breed in a zoo setting alone is not sufficient to overcome the other factors that distinguish two species, making choice C the best explanation for why they are still considered two distinct species.

When Brought Together in a Zoo,two Species Are Capable of Mating