Crossbreeding is usually done to create a progeny that has traits or characteristics of breeds of the parent lineages. Crossbreeding helps in creating offspring that have superior qualities in terms of better health and vitality. Sometimes crossbreeding might result in creating an organism of superior traits, but they may not have an aesthetic appeal. This list is going to explore those breeds.
Check out the list of ten strangest crossbreeds in the world in terms of appearance:
10. Wholphin
This is a hybrid between the false killer whale and the dolphin that has a bottlenose. They are found in the wild and also in captivity. At the moment, there is only one that is in captive, which is at the sea life park in Hawaii. Kekeimalu- it is the first Wholphin to have survived and was born fertile. This eventually led to Kekeimalu to giving birth thrice- the first one didn’t survive beyond 200 days, but the second and third lived relatively for longer time. They are jumbo-sized when born and resemble the size of a one year old bottlenose.
9. Beefalo
It is also referred as a Cattalo, and it is a fertile hybrid of the American bison and a domestic cattle. They were produced with the agenda of beef production. Though a hybrid, a full beefalo usually has 37.5% genetic information of a bison. The primary reason why the meat of beefalo is preferred over bison meat/cattle meat is that they are low in fat, calories, and cholesterol. Thus making their meat superior (also relatively higher protein content than cattle beef). They are usually tolerant of cold, submissive in nature, have a fast growth rate, and don’t require a lot of care making it ideal for the meat industry.
8. Dzo
This is a hybrid of the domestic cattle and the yak. Dzo is a female hybrid, and Dzomo is a male hybrid and can be backcrossed. As far as the size is concerned, the hybrid is usually larger in size compared to their parents and is relatively stronger than a yak and cattle. This characteristic can be attributed to the genetic phenomenon of heterosis. This makes them perfect pack animals. Additionally, they are much more high-yielding in terms of milk and meat production, making them a superior choice of crossbreed in the dairy industry.
7. Nanulak
This is a rare hybrid in the bear family, and it is also known as a grolar bear or a
In addition to this, there is also another theory which cites that polar bears were forced to migrate southward as the ice caps were melting which eventually brought them closer to the grizzly bears that eventually led to the crossbreeding. Their bodies tend to be smaller than polar bears, but relatively larger in size compared to the grizzly bear. The hybrids generally demonstrated behavior more similar to polar bears than grizzly bears.
6. Geep
This crossbreed is also known by the name
Another significant difference between a chimera and a hybrid is that- a chimera has four parents (since they contain cells from two genetic individuals) and a hybrid has only 2. In conformance with the Haldane’s rule, the hybrid male mammals are usually born sterile. As far as the tail of a geep is concerned, it has characteristics of both a sheep and a goat- the tail extending horizontally from the bottom base of the spine.
5. Coywolf
It is an amalgam of the coyote and gray wolf. They are usually larger than coyotes, but relatively undersized than wolves. One of the uniqueness of this breed is that when they are really small their howl is familiar to that of the gray wolf, but later on, as they grow, it turns into a high pitch yipping. They are generally less aggressive and usually form cooperative social groups when engaged with each other. It has been found that the hybridization of the coyote and the wolf happened in the great lakes region and it is believed to be the largest mammalian hybrid zone.
4. Cockapoo
This is a breed dog that is a cross between a poodle and a cocker spaniel, either American or English. Cockapoos are generally used as a fashion symbol and are not bred for being used as a working dog. Their longevity is usually high, ranging between 14-18 years. Since they are extremely furry, gound formation can get stuck in the fur surrounding the eye. Additionally, they are extremely susceptible to ear infections, hence it is important to keep their ears clean and dry. Basically, the amount of care that is needed by the owner, both in the form of affection and maintenance is relatively high.
Another feature that is a highlight of this breed is the varying color formations that they can have- close to 12- 14. Since they are extremely active, it is important for them to receive regular exercise. Also, since they are not purebred, it is difficult to predict their characteristics as they could inherit traits of either parents or a combination of both. Thus, it causes a variation in appearance and temperament.
3. Liger
An offspring of a male lion and a female tiger results in a Liger, which is the most colossal among all felines (unlike Tigons). They get their swimming capabilities from their mothers (tiger) and their social temperament from their fathers (lion). Female ligers may attain great size and can weigh approximately 320 kg and can reach a length of 10 feet. Hybrid cats were initially considered to be sterile, but later
2. Zebroid
As the name suggests, it is a crossbreed between a Zebra and any equine, usually a donkey or a horse. They usually resemble the non-Zebra parent but have the stripes of a Zebra at few areas of their body. Despite there being a huge difference in the number of chromosomes between a zebra and any other equine, hybrids are possible as long as the hybrid facilitates embryonic development to birth. They are usually bred for riding and to be used as show animals during events like a circus. Like Zebras, that are wild and aggressive, they cannot be easily domesticated. Hence they have a strong temperament and are wildly aggressive. Zorses, a crossbreed of a zebra and a horse, are used as pack animals for trekking purposes. They are extremely resistant to animal trypanosomiasis.
1. Bedlington Terrier
Bedlington or Rothbury terriers are dogs that resemble in appearance to lambs. They don’t usually weigh more than 10 kg, but they are extremely agile and sharp dogs. They don’t just score high inland agility, but they have superior swimming capabilities too. Their size and weight can be deceiving as they are very well capable of killing another animal of its size. Due to its speed and endurance, they are used for dog races and other animal sports.
Even though the primary intention of producing the Bedlington Terrier was to produce a working capacity dog, they are been primarily being bred now for the show. Apart from few eyes related problems like Copper toxicosis, they are usually devoid of health ailments. They have