What characterizes a species?

Answer 1

A species is a set of groups of naturally occurring populations that do or hypothetically could successfully breed with each other, and that are isolated from other such groups. This means that if two animals belong to the same species, they could reproduce and produce fertile offspring. Also, the second part of the definition means that if an animal had two natural populations, one in South America and one in Siberia, they would have to divide it into two species, even if they seemed identical. This definition of species isn't totally accurate, especially since it assumes that the species reproduces sexually, which isn't always the case.

Answer 2

A species is a set of groups of naturally occurring populations that do or hypothetically could successfully breed with each other, and that are isolated from other such groups. This means that if two animals belong to the same species, they could reproduce and produce fertile offspring. Also, the second part of the definition means that if an animal had two natural populations, one in South America and one in Siberia, they would have to divide it into two species, even if they seemed identical. This definition of species isn't totally accurate, especially since it assumes that the species reproduces sexually, which isn't always the case.

Answer 3

It's difficult even now to determine exactly what makes a new species. The best definition currently available states that a species is a reproductively isolated organism that are able to produce fertile offspring. However, this basic definition of species doesn't take things like fertile hybrids, asexual organisms, and extinct organisms into account. We can now use genetic testing to see the distinct differences between each organisms, but the question then becomes that of how much genetic difference is required for the organism to be considered a new species.

Answer 4

A species is characterized by populations of organisms with the same shared derived characteristics.