A liger is an example blank because it is the result of two different species being bred together.
The correct answer and explanation is:
A liger is an example of a hybrid because it is the result of two different species being bred together.
Explanation:
A liger is the offspring of a male lion (Panthera leo) and a female tiger (Panthera tigris). Since lions and tigers are two distinct species, their offspring is called a hybrid. Specifically, this kind of cross between two different species within the same genus (Panthera) is known as an interspecific hybrid.
Hybrids occur when two different species mate and produce offspring. However, not all hybrids are viable or fertile. In many cases, hybrids face difficulties such as reduced fertility or viability due to genetic incompatibilities between the species. For example, ligers are usually larger than both parent species, a phenomenon known as hybrid vigor or heterosis, but they often face health issues and may be sterile or have reduced fertility.
Ligers do not occur naturally in the wild because lions and tigers have different habitats and behaviors — lions are typically found in African savannas, while tigers live in Asian forests. However, in captivity, where both species can be kept close together, interbreeding can occur, producing hybrids like ligers or tigons (the offspring of a male tiger and a female lion).
The concept of hybrids helps biologists understand genetics, species boundaries, and evolution. It highlights how closely related species can sometimes interbreed but usually remain separate due to reproductive barriers. The liger exemplifies these ideas by being a physical example of the genetic mixing of two different but related species.
In summary, the liger is a hybrid because it is the product of breeding between two different species—lion and tiger—resulting in a unique but generally captive-born animal that showcases the complexities of species reproduction and genetic compatibility.