In nature, when two animals of the same species mate, their offspring inherit half of their genes from each parent. This fundamental genetic principle explains why offspring resemble a combination of both their mother and father.
However, when two animals from different species mate, the result is a hybrid. These hybrids receive 50% of their genetic makeup from each parent species. Below is a fascinating list of some hybrid animals you might not have known existed.
Liger Cub: A Crossbreed Between a Male Lion and a Female Tiger.
This playful liger cub, just two-and-a-half months old, is the result of male lion & a female tiger mating. Ligers typically have a golden coat with a spotted face and faint stripes on their backs. Male ligers can sometimes develop a partial mane, and these hybrid cats are known for their impressive size.
Ligers’ Unique Genetics Drive Massive Growth.
Ligers are massive animals, often weighing around 1,000 pounds and standing nearly 12 feet tall when on their hind legs. Their bones are thicker, and their teeth are longer than those of both lions and tigers.
This growth is due to a genetic quirk: female lions carry the gene that limits growth in their species, while male tigers carry the equivalent gene. Since ligers inherit neither, their growth is unchecked, making them significantly larger than their parent species.
Ligers and Gigantism.
Ligers, hybrids between male lions and female tigers, often suffer from gigantism. By adulthood, they grow to nearly twice the size of an adult Siberian tiger, making them the largest cats on Earth. On average, a fully grown liger stands about 4.5 feet tall at the shoulder and 6 feet tall when measured to the tips of their ears. To maintain their massive size, ligers consume around 25 pounds of meat daily—double the amount a typical captive tiger requires.
The Jaglion: A Jaguar-Lion Hybrid.
A jaglion is the hybrid offspring of a male jaguar and a female lion. Most jaglions have a caramel-colored base coat similar to a lion, but with the jaguar’s distinctive spots. Although breeding between these two species is rare, it has occasionally occurred unintentionally in captivity.
Accidental Breeding in Captivity.
In 2006, two jaglions were born at the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, following an accidental breeding. Jahzara (female) and Tsunami (male) were the result of an unexpected mating between a black jaguar named Diablo and a lioness named Lola. Raised together from birth, the two big cats were inseparable. In 2022, the jaglion siblings celebrated their 16th birthday.
Infertility in Hybrid Species.
Most hybrid species are infertile due to the genetic complications of cross-species breeding. This means they cannot reproduce, which limits their ability to have offspring. As a result, cross-species breeding is generally discouraged, especially in conservation and animal husbandry, as it can disrupt natural breeding patterns and negatively impact already endangered species.
Hybrid offspring like these litigons have genetic faults.
Hybrid offspring, like these litigons, often face genetic challenges. While some hybrid animals can reproduce, their offspring frequently encounter developmental difficulties. These issues include a higher risk of genetic disorders, growth abnormalities, and infertility. The litigon cubs in this example, just six months old, are the result of crossbreeding a male African lion with a female tigon (itself a hybrid of a male tiger and a lioness).
A Male Tigon.
Tigons, like ligers, are the result of crossbreeding lions and tigers, but with the parents reversed—a male tiger and a female lion. Their coat is typically light tan with pale stripes and a white underbelly. Tigons are not naturally occurring and are bred solely in captivity. They are usually infertile, preventing them from reproducing.
Zebroids: Hybrids Between Zebras and Other Equines.
Zebroids are hybrid animals resulting from the cross between zebras and other members of the equine family, such as donkeys or horses. Although not rare, it’s uncommon for the zebra to be the mother in these cases. Zebroids typically have a head and body resembling a donkey, while their legs and undersides feature the distinct black stripes of a zebra.
Zonkies Inherit Traits from Both Parents.
Zebroids, such as the zonkey in the image above, inherit a mix of both physical and behavioral traits from their parents. These rare creatures, while few in number, are known for their energetic and unique personalities. Physically, they often resemble donkeys, but with the iconic stripes and the wild temperament of a zebra.
Zebroids Are Generally Infertile.
When zebras and horses are housed together in captivity, accidental breeding can occur. However, such breeding is generally discouraged by zoo professionals. This is due to the fact that zebroids typically inherit an unusual number of chromosomes, leading to infertility. While they are unlikely to produce offspring, zebroids can still enjoy long, healthy lives.
Zebroids Would Struggle in the Wild.
This particular zebroid, a hybrid of a male zebra and a female horse, resides at the Mount Kenya animal orphanage in Kenya. It closely resembles its mother but retains the distinct stripes from its zebra father. While they thrive in captivity, these hybrids are unlikely to survive in the wild due to their unique characteristics and needs.
Goats and Sheep Can Rarely Reproduce.
In rare cases, goats and sheep kept together in captivity, like those in this petting zoo, can crossbreed. Although the two species are often housed together in shared pastures, it’s highly uncommon for them to mate successfully.
Geep Are Often Stillborn.
Due to significant genetic differences between goats and sheep, the offspring of these two species, known as geep, are typically stillborn. In very rare instances, a geep hybrid may be born alive and survive for a few years. However, even if they make it through birth, they often face severe health issues and usually have shorter lifespans.
Some Rare Geep Hybrids Have Lived Longer.
Approximately 12 cases have been documented where geep hybrids survived both gestation and birth, managing to live for a few happy years, often on farms or in petting zoos. Nonetheless, such pregnancies can be stressful for the mother, and livestock owners generally avoid breeding sheep and goats due to the associated risks.
Grolar Bears Exist!
A rare hybrid species between polar bears and grizzly bears, known as grolar bears or pizzly bears, has been observed both in captivity and in the wild. These large bears, with a cappuccino-like color, inherit traits from both parent species. They are skilled swimmers, fishers, and predators in their natural habitats.
Grolar Bears: A Natural Hybrid in the Wild.
Grolar bears, also known as pizzly bears, are a naturally occurring hybrid species found in regions where polar bear and grizzly bear habitats overlap. While sightings of grolar bears in the wild have been reported over a dozen times, the first confirmed case of a bear hybrid occurred in 2006.
In this instance, a Canadian hunter killed what appeared to be a polar bear but with striking grizzly-like features. DNA tests later confirmed that the bear was a wild hybrid, a fascinating result of interspecies breeding.
The Massive Beefalo Hybrid.
The beefalo is an enormous hybrid that results from the rare mating between a buffalo and a domestic cow. Though such interbreeding is uncommon, it has occurred on farms and ranches under specific conditions.
Beefalo vary in appearance, with some inheriting large horns reminiscent of a bull, while others display a more heifer-like flat head. This hybrid showcases the surprising potential for size and strength when two distinct species crossbreed.
Exciting Discovery of a New Jamaican Fruit Bat.
Interspecies breeding doesn’t always result in infertile offspring, and a recent discovery of a new species of fruit bat in the Lesser Antilles proves just that.
Researchers were thrilled to find that the DNA of this bat species revealed ancestry from three different bat species. This unexpected discovery stunned scientists, showing that even in small, isolated populations, interspecies breeding can occur, producing viable hybrids.
The Mystery of the Unknown Ancestor.
Although scientists were able to identify two of the parent species for the newly discovered bat, the third ancestor remains a mystery. It is unclear whether this species has gone extinct or is yet to be discovered. While new bat species are continually being found, hybrids between existing bat species are incredibly rare, making this find even more significant for researchers.
Coywolves: A Unique Hybrid of Coyotes and Wolves.
Coywolves are the result of occasional breeding between coyotes and wolves in the wild. Although such crossbreeding is rare, it has been observed in both natural environments and in captivity, such as at animal sanctuaries. The term “coywolf” refers to the offspring of a coyote and a gray wolf or eastern wolf. These hybrids are typically larger than coyotes but smaller than wolves.
The species share chromosomes.
Coyotes and wolves share a total of 78 chromosomes, which makes hybridization between the two species possible. Coywolves are among the most common natural hybrids due to this genetic similarity. They have been documented in the wild, particularly in eastern Ontario, Canada, a region considered one of North America’s largest natural hybridization zones for these species.
Savannah Cats: A Domestic and Wild Hybrid.
Savannah cats are the offspring of a domestic cat and a serval, a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa known for its large ears. These cats have a tall, slim body that gives them an appearance of being larger than they are, though they generally weigh less than most domestic cats. The size of a Savannah cat depends on its gender and how many generations removed it is from its wild serval ancestor.
Savannah cats are bred in captivity.
Savannah cats have been bred in captivity since the early 1990s and are sold as exotic pets. Their wild traits and personalities are more pronounced in cats that are closer in lineage to their serval ancestors. These cats gained additional fame when pop star Justin Bieber purchased two and even set up an Instagram account for them.
Wholphins: A Rare Captive Hybrid.
The wholphin is a rare hybrid between a male false killer whale and a female bottlenose dolphin. Unlike coywolves and Savannah cats, wholphins exist only in captivity, with no known examples surviving long in the wild. Most wholphins that have been documented did not live past three years. Though they inherit the playful characteristics of dolphins, like other cetaceans, they tend to struggle in captivity.
A hinny is a hybrid between a female donkey and a male horse.
A hinny is the offspring of a female donkey (jenny) and a male horse (stallion). Compared to a mule, a hinny tends to be smaller with shorter ears, stronger legs, and a thicker mane and tail. Its head more closely resembles that of a horse, although it inherits personality traits from both parent species.
A cama is a hybrid between a llama and a camel.
A cama is the result of breeding a male camel with a female llama, created exclusively through artificial insemination at the Camel Reproduction Centre in Dubai. The goal was to combine the size, strength, and cooperative nature of a camel with the higher wool production of a llama.
Dzos are common farm animals in parts of Tibet and Mongolia.
The dzo is a hybrid between domestic cattle and a wild yak, sometimes called a “yattle” in English. Female dzos are fertile, while males are sterile. These animals are larger and stronger than the typical yak, making them valuable in farming.
The mulard duck.
The mulard (or moulard) duck is a hybrid species resulting from interbreeding two duck breeds, the Muscovy duck and the domestic (or wild mallard) duck. The American Pekin duck, known for its high meat production, is often used in breeding. While mulards can be produced naturally, farmers generally achieve more success through artificial insemination.