Two Species Become One in the Lab

Two butterfly species have been bred in the lab to make a third distinct species. In a species, individuals need to be capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring. The study demonstrates that two animal species can evolve to form one, instead of the more common scenario where one species diverges to form two. There is growing circumstantial evidence for hybrid speciation in Ragoletis fruit flies, swordtail fish and African cichlid fish. Some also suspect the American red wolf could be the product of hybridisation between coyotes and wolves