5 animal hybrids that sound fake but actually exist
Over the years, the animal kingdom has given us some truly surprising hybrids, which include creatures born when two different species mate and produce offspring that share traits from both parents.
These hybrid animals aren't science fiction; they're real, living beings.
Some occur naturally in the wild, while others are produced through formulation in the lab, and also while in captivity. While most hybrids are sterile, meaning they can't reproduce, they can still live long and healthy lives.
Whether it's a massive cat that's part lion, part tiger, or a dolphin-whale hybrid that swims in Hawaii's waters, these animals challenge what we think we know about biology.
Many of them even retain the personalities or behavioral quirks of both parent species, making them even more unique.
Here are some of the most bizarre
animal hybrids
that seem to be from a fantasy world.
Hinny and mules
Mules or hinnies are classic hybrids, created by crossing a horse and a donkey. A mule is the offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare), while a hinny comes from a male horse (stallion) and a female donkey (jenny). Mules are more common and used for domestic purposes for their strength, endurance, and intelligence.
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Both hybrids are generally sterile due to mismatched chromosomes, but can live long, healthy lives and are widely used as working animals worldwide.
Geep
A geep is the result of a goat and a sheep mating. The two animals that are similar in size, belong to different genera. Geep births are extremely rare and often spontaneous. Most geep embryos don't survive, but a few confirmed cases have lived into adulthood, with fuzzy bodies and goat-like faces.
Because of their genetic differences, geeps are usually sterile. They're often born accidentally when goats and sheep graze together and aren't prevented from mating.
Liger
The liger is one of the most famous animal hybrids. It's the offspring of a male lion and a female tiger. Ligers are massive, often growing larger than both parent species, and are only found in captivity, since lions and tigers don't share habitats in the wild.
They tend to have a mix of both lion and tiger traits: faint stripes, a partial mane, and a powerful build. While generally sterile, some female ligers have reproduced.
Jaglion
A jaglion is the rare hybrid of a male jaguar and a female lion. Unlike ligers, jaglions are almost unheard of and have only been seen in captivity. One famous pair was born in a Canadian sanctuary to a jaguar and lion that had bonded while growing up together.
Jaglions have an attractive appearance with tan fur and faded jaguar-like rosettes. They also carry the bold, solitary temperament of the jaguar, are sterile, and have not been bred beyond a few individuals.
Wholphin
The wholphin is a rare marine hybrid between a female bottlenose dolphin and a male false killer whale. These two species are technically part of the dolphin family but are quite different in size and behavior. Wholphins have been spotted in the wild but are most famously represented by Kekaimalu, a wholphin born at Sea Life Park in Hawaii. She surprised scientists by not only surviving but also reproducing, making her one of the few fertile hybrids ever recorded.
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