Name:__________________________________________________Date:___________Block:_______________
Weekly Homework: Due Friday 11/6/15
Directions: Read the article below & answer the questions.
Hybrid Animals
Ligers—the result of crossbreeding lions and tigers—have roamed animal preserves and sanctuaries for
years. It wasn’t until recently, however, that these intriguing animals gained wide fame—thanks in part to the
film Napoleon Dynamite.
In one of his many memorable lines, Napoleon declared the liger “pretty much my favorite animal.” He
didn’t mention the zorse, however, which is produced when a zebra and a horse mate.
Ligers and Zorses, but no Ponkey
Not all animals can be crossbred. You’ll never see a ponkey (pig and monkey). In general, the two
animals must belong to the same genus and share the same number of chromosomes. Chromosomes are
threadlike strands that carry genetic information. The offspring of crossbred animals share traits from both
parents. For example, the liger inherits a full mane from the lion and stripes from the tiger. Hybrid animals are
usually born sterile; they cannot produce offspring.
Scientists Are Skeptical
This is an image of a donkey/zebra hyrbrid, called a "Zeedonk.". Hybrid
animals are certainly interesting to look at, but some scientists think cross-breeding
species is a bad idea. Not all of these animals survive to adulthood, and they are at
risk for being born with genetic defects. In addition, crossbreeding is simply
unnatural—it typically does not occur in the wild, only in captivity.
Here are some examples of animals that have been crossbred:

Beefalo or cattalo: American bison and cow
 Tigon: male tiger and female lion
 Cama: camel and llama
 Wolphin: false killer whale and a dolphin
 Grolar or pizzly: grizzly bear and polar bear
 Yakalo: yak and buffalo
 Leopon: leopard and lion
 Zeedonk: zebra and donkey
 Zorse: zebra and horse
 Liger: male lion and female tiger
 Mule: male donkey and female horse
Citation: "Hybrid Animals." Hybrid Animals. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.
Questions:
1. What is a hybrid organism?
2. What does sterile mean?
3. What do two organisms need to have in common in order to reproduce through sexual reproduction?