- Joined
- Sep 23, 2012
- Messages
- 716
imo , you cannot save a species without maintaining genetic integrity , not diversity ? there are species that are resultant of hybridization , but they are considered neither species they resulted from , they are a species unto themselves …….
They would eventually be classified as a new species, if they are distinct enough and unable to continue interbreeding with the original parent species. It's also extremely common for species to naturally have "contamination" from past hybridization (humans are one example here).
I personally don't find the leoparcata hybrids all that attractive - maybe they look a hair nicer than the average sulcata, but the patterning from the leopard parent is washed out and indistinct. But it's somewhat of a personal preference rather than a value statement. If people are going to breed them, it would be most ethical to breed only the 50:50 genetic ratio. There is potential harm in producing hybrids that could not be distinguished without genetic testing.