To which shared Genus must a zebra and donkey belong for a viable zonkey cross?
Answer
*Equus*
The biological viability of the zonkey cross is fundamentally dependent on both parental species—the zebra and the donkey—sharing the same Genus, which is *Equus*. This shared genus classification places them closely enough on the evolutionary tree for successful mating and embryonic development, resulting in a viable offspring. While they belong to the broader Family Equidae and the Order Perissodactyla, it is the shared *Equus* genus that allows the combination of different species (interspecific hybridization) to occur. This genetic proximity is the basis for classifying the zonkey as an *Equus* hybrid, even though it lacks its own formal species designation.
Related Questions
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