Brazil Discovers First-of-Its-Kind Hybrid Canine: A Fascinating Find in Science

2023-10-03 04:37:26

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Curious Canine in Brazil Turns Out to Be a First-of-Its-Kind Hybrid: ScienceAlert

A stray canine in Brazil has been identified as a unique hybrid between a South American pampas fox and a dog, making it the first of its kind. The animal's appearance, behavior, and dietary preferences had puzzled scientists from the beginning. While it barked like a dog and had dog-like eyes and dark fur, its pointed ears and long snout indicated otherwise. Interestingly, it only consumed small rats instead of dog food.

A Stray Canine with Unusual Characteristics

The animal, discovered after a road collision in Vacaria, Rio Grande do Sul in 2021, was initially brought to the Center for Conservation and Rehabilitation of Wild Animals at the Federal University of Grande do Sul for recovery. In a region known to host four species of canid, none of them matched the rescued animal in both appearance and genetics.

Genetic Study Reveals Unprecedented Hybridization

Due to the absence of a suitable candidate species, researchers in Brazil suspected that the animal might be a crossbreed. Subsequent genetic analysis confirmed this hypothesis, uncovering that it was a hybrid between a pampas fox and a domestic dog – a highly rare occurrence of interspecies reproduction. The researchers suggest that despite the significant divergence and belonging to different genera, these two species could still produce viable hybrids.

The Fascinating Genetic Makeup

Examining the animal's chromosomes, it was found to possess a total of 76 chromosomes – visually resembling the chromosomes of both domestic dogs and pampas foxes. While pampas foxes typically have 37 pairs of chromosomes, the rearrangement with the dog's genome resulted in 38 pairs. Even though it differs from the dog's 39 pairs, the genetic similarities may facilitate uncommon combinations of DNA that are compatible.

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Further Indications of Hybridization

The rescued canid's mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed the presence of two X chromosomes with different morphologies, indicating that they originated from two different species. Although no other hybrids have been scientifically documented in the region so far, biologists suspect that this case is not unique and that further hybrids may exist.

A Tragic End for the Hybrid Canine

Unfortunately, after recovering from its injuries, the dog-fox hybrid met an unknown fate at a zoo. Its remarkable existence and discovery provide valuable insights into the extent of hybridization potential between distantly related species.

The study detailing this extraordinary hybrid was published in the journal Animals.

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