Concept of Species

Table of Contents

In taxonomy, the species is the most fundamental unit of classification. A species is a group of similar organisms that can breed with each other to produce fertile offspring. The key to identifying a species is the ability to interbreed.

Organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring are considered to be of the same species. For example, lions and tigers are both felines and can produce offspring, so they are considered to be of the same species. On the other hand, lions and zebras cannot produce offspring, so they are considered to be of different species.

The definition of a species can be a little blurry at times. For example, some scientists argue that there is only one species of human, while others argue that there are several. The debate arises because there is significant variation within the human population, but all humans can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

What is Species in Biology?

A species is a group of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring. The offspring are genetically similar to the parents because they share the same DNA.

Types of Species

There are three types of species:

1) Endemic Species: These are species that are found only in a specific area. For example, the mountain gorilla is endemic to the mountains of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

2) Native Species: These are species that are found in an area, but also occur in other areas. For example, the American black bear is native to North America, but can also be found in parts of Europe and Asia.

3) Alien Species: These are species that are not naturally found in an area, but have been introduced there by humans. For example, the common carp is an alien species in North America, where it was introduced in the 1800s.