What is the primary justification for recognizing the Standard and Toy Poodles as variations within one breed, *Canis lupus familiaris*?
Answer
Breeding between the varieties can still produce viable offspring.
The defining criterion for recognizing distinct species in the Linnaean system is often reproductive isolation, meaning two groups cannot produce fertile offspring. Because breeding between the Standard, Miniature, and Toy Poodle varieties can still result in viable and fertile progeny, they are maintained as variations within the single breed, *Canis lupus familiaris*. This demonstrates that while human selection has artificially stabilized distinct size classes (polymorphisms), the underlying genetic compatibility remains intact, distinguishing them from separate species.
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