Hybrid/Not a Hybrid (Cichlids)

"A working definition of a species is a group of fauna or flora which will not mate with other groups of its genus"

In the wild none of these species cross with each other. Only in the unatural environment of the home aquarium can you see such behaviour. Just as lions and tigers do not mate together in the wild, but do in captivity.
 
Actiually hybridization does occure in the wild. Having kept orchids some time back I do remember reading about some commonly occuring hybrids where species overlap - as a matter of fact I think there was a few instances of hybridization between not only different species but different (closely related) genera.

As for animal hybridization not occuring in the wild - just ask anyone who has ever seen a jack-a-lope and they will tell you different:D .
 
I refering to these Central American cichlids only.
 
Actually, no. Many of these fish are found in the same rivers and lakes and they have NEVER been reported to cross. As a good example, many species of the Midas Complex are found in the same small lakes. Yet even those who are low in numbers and may ahve trouble finding a mate (sp. "Fat Lips" for example) are not known to breed with any other fish. Where have you heard otherwise?

Back to lions and tigers (which may not be the best example, but still), which can be found in the same area (atleast in the recent past, if not still), but do not cross.

Originally posted by Haggisman
They will hybridise in the wild, they may not be found in the same area but they would hybridise if they were.
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Originally posted by Rare Cichlids
Actually, no. Many of these fish are found in the same rivers and lakes and they have NEVER been reported to cross. As a good example, many species of the Midas Complex are found in the same small lakes. Yet even those who are low in numbers and may ahve trouble finding a mate (sp. "Fat Lips" for example) are not known to breed with any other fish. Where have you heard otherwise?

Back to lions and tigers (which may not be the best example, but still), which can be found in the same area (atleast in the recent past, if not still), but do not cross.
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This is a good example and in my home country.You could say that the feral cat shouldnt be there in the first place but they do hybridise regularly and are actually causing the wildcat genepool to be polluted.If it happens with cats then I'm quite sure it will happen with fish, does it not happen with wild african cichlids(I think I heard that somewhere).
Scottish Wildcat Hybridisation
 
Thats interesting webpage, but still as irelevant as my lion x tiger comments.

When it comes down to it, we're not talking about cats, or orchids or any other form of life. The most professional studies that I have ever come across concerning Cichlids of all regions (including African cichlids) state that hybrids never occur in the wild. Although one article goes as far as to say that the Amphilophus species may have hybridized in the distant past. Yet none of the cichlid collectors that I have ever heard of have spoke of hybrids occuring in the wild.

"If it happens with cats then I'm quite sure it will happen with fish,"

Why?
 
Originally posted by Rare Cichlids


JimG, you said "Very possibly they are in effect sub-species though I know that seems mind boggling".

If you were to do some research on American cichlids you will run across articles and websites by those people, and others who are now working to divide and join previously known species. Not to mention trying to asign newly discovered species. Do some research on the subject and you will see what they are talking about.
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OK I just didn't find your remark very clear, by the rest of your post though it is quite clear you have as poor reading comprehension as you often have the ability to make yourself clear. I have been saying all along that 'species' is not a solidly definable thing and that taxonomists argue back and forth. If YOU were familiar with their published articles over the past century you'd see the species and even genera fall in and out of favor, as I have stated multiple times.

Perhaps you should put your high horse out to pasture before you end up looking even dumper, OK?
 
Originally posted by Rare Cichlids
"A working definition of a species is a group of fauna or flora which will not mate with other groups of its genus"

In the wild none of these species cross with each other. Only in the unatural environment of the home aquarium can you see such behaviour. Just as lions and tigers do not mate together in the wild, but do in captivity.
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It really doesn't matter whether the species are in captivity or in the wild, if they would recognize each other's sex cues and breed in captivity they'd do so in the wild. Though the offspring between lions and tigers are true hybrids, the male offspring are all sterile. Do some research.
 
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