I see a lot of confusion in postings about breeds and species, and while the issues involved aren't easy, they can bear a quick look.
When you have one species of fish, dedicated breeders can select traits and 'fix' them - have them breed true to the chosen form for generations. A breed is a created form - a decision worked upon and refined, as in a tail type in a guppy, or a dumbo Betta. Breeds are all within the same species, as my ancient golden retriever is compared to my niece's Labrador. All breeds can produce babies with each other.
A species is a tough one. It has developed naturally, without planned human intervention. It has been shaped by its environment and by the potential mutations within its DNA. Scientists used to say a species could not hybridize with another species, but further learning has thrown that out the window. A lot of creatures can hybridize within their Genus (their larger group of relatives), but they simply never encounter them in the wild, because of barriers. And DNA research has shown almost identical fish to be different species, within the same region but unable to hybridize with fish that look just like them. The idea of species was developed with a religious worldview, that it was necessary to catalogue unchanging life.
The job of a taxonomist is seriously affected by our ability to look into DNA. As usual, we've learned we don't know much, and there are many many species as yet undescribed (formally named) or even discovered. There isn't a lot of funding for taxonomists to work, unless they are looking at commercially interesting fish.
Species usually have a barrier of sorts separating them from other species- feeding habits, watershed, isolation, temperature, changes in body shape for breeding, Sometimes, we get hybrids in nature, but for them to become species, you need them to become a stable breeding unit that reproduces itself. It happens, but more often than not, hybrids come and go, often where species that favour different temperatures, foods or water flow meet., Nothing is set in stone (even stone).
What does this have to do with us as aquarists? That's a matter of philosophy and engagement. A breeder should be informed. Someone just keeping fish and not breeding them may see this as a window for learning about nature, or may not want to be bothered. If you want a dog and the pet shop sells you a wolf, that matters. If you make a hybrid and sell it as a species, that matters if it is or becomes endangered, and someone running a conservation breeding program gets them.
Some aquarists see fish like Pokemon - they have to catch them all. It's an impossible job. And once you catch them, that's when stuff gets serious. Going back to nature to discover how they live, what they eat, what conditions they need - this info may let you keep them around for more than being something you collected on a shelf.
When you have one species of fish, dedicated breeders can select traits and 'fix' them - have them breed true to the chosen form for generations. A breed is a created form - a decision worked upon and refined, as in a tail type in a guppy, or a dumbo Betta. Breeds are all within the same species, as my ancient golden retriever is compared to my niece's Labrador. All breeds can produce babies with each other.
A species is a tough one. It has developed naturally, without planned human intervention. It has been shaped by its environment and by the potential mutations within its DNA. Scientists used to say a species could not hybridize with another species, but further learning has thrown that out the window. A lot of creatures can hybridize within their Genus (their larger group of relatives), but they simply never encounter them in the wild, because of barriers. And DNA research has shown almost identical fish to be different species, within the same region but unable to hybridize with fish that look just like them. The idea of species was developed with a religious worldview, that it was necessary to catalogue unchanging life.
The job of a taxonomist is seriously affected by our ability to look into DNA. As usual, we've learned we don't know much, and there are many many species as yet undescribed (formally named) or even discovered. There isn't a lot of funding for taxonomists to work, unless they are looking at commercially interesting fish.
Species usually have a barrier of sorts separating them from other species- feeding habits, watershed, isolation, temperature, changes in body shape for breeding, Sometimes, we get hybrids in nature, but for them to become species, you need them to become a stable breeding unit that reproduces itself. It happens, but more often than not, hybrids come and go, often where species that favour different temperatures, foods or water flow meet., Nothing is set in stone (even stone).
What does this have to do with us as aquarists? That's a matter of philosophy and engagement. A breeder should be informed. Someone just keeping fish and not breeding them may see this as a window for learning about nature, or may not want to be bothered. If you want a dog and the pet shop sells you a wolf, that matters. If you make a hybrid and sell it as a species, that matters if it is or becomes endangered, and someone running a conservation breeding program gets them.
Some aquarists see fish like Pokemon - they have to catch them all. It's an impossible job. And once you catch them, that's when stuff gets serious. Going back to nature to discover how they live, what they eat, what conditions they need - this info may let you keep them around for more than being something you collected on a shelf.
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