Re: A New Rainbow Species?
Andrew Hamilton (andrewha at tafe.sa.edu.au)
Tue, 27 Aug 1996 12:56:36 -0700
>Depends a little on ones philosophy regarding species. There are a
>number of described species which are obviously, or at least thought to
>be of hybrid origin. The cyprinid genus Gila and some pupfish are good
>examples. There is a unique cichlid that lives in the Colorado River.
>It probably comprises genes from three species and has formed a stable
>hybrid swarm. I'm sure there have been numerous species created via natural
>hybridisation than many folks realise. I think the word natural is the
>key one in whether or not they would be recognised at species or not.
>
One only needs to look into the world of Native orchids. Those species that
have been naturally crossed are refered to as a Hybrid in their own right.
Those that man has created have been given names but are not recognised by
the purists.
Andrew Hamilton