In the case of Grizzly and Polar bears; they are functionally the same species.
Bullshit. They diverged possibly over a million years ago.
There’s also wolves and coyotes, cows and American bison, dolphins and whales… oh, and humans and Neanderthals. Not to even get into all the hybridization that goes on in plants.
Mules, tigrons, and ligers are not fertile, therefore they* are different species.
In the case of Grizzly and Polar bears; they are functionally the same species.
They were considered different species because of geographical limitations (which are shrinking).
*Donkey/Horse or Lion/Tiger
Bullshit. They diverged possibly over a million years ago.
There’s also wolves and coyotes, cows and American bison, dolphins and whales… oh, and humans and Neanderthals. Not to even get into all the hybridization that goes on in plants.
Grizzly and Polar bears can produce fertile offspring.
By definition, that makes them the same species.
That is not the definition of a species. All the different species I listed in my previous post also produce fertile offspring.
Incorrect.
As I said, mules are not fertile, nor are Tigrons/Ligers; neither can have their own offspring.
A species (pl. species) is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. It can be defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction.