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Hybridization and Speciation Among New-World Crocodilian Species

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Conservation Genetics of New World Crocodilians

Abstract

In this chapter is analyzed one characteristic of the reproductive behavior that is frequently found among crocodilian species: hybridization. Hybridization is defined as reproduction between members of genetically distinct populations, producing offspring of mixed ancestry. The phenomenon of hybridization and hybrid speciation has been a topic of extensive discussion because it questions the concept of biological species. These discussions include topics such as sexual compatibility between species, fertility or not of hybrid offspring, phenotypic or genotypic similarity of hybrids, hybrid vigor, and potential hybrid zones. Crocodiles are long-lived and ancient species, but their specimens are very promiscuous and sexually actives in their reproduction seasons. In this context, hybridization was and is a significant force in evolution to crocodilians. In this chapter, the different mechanisms that influence hybridization processes, the effects of hybridization at different evolutionary levels, species boundaries in hybrid zones, methodologies for the study of this phenomenon, main results of hybridization studies, and the conservation status of parental and hybrid species in New-World crocodile species are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Genética, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina

    Gualberto Pacheco-Sierra & Patricia Susana Amavet

Authors
  1. Gualberto Pacheco-Sierra
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  2. Patricia Susana Amavet
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Genética de Populações e Evolução Molecular (GENEV), Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Rodrigo Barban Zucoloto

  2. Laboratorio de Genética, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina

    Patricia Susana Amavet

  3. CENA/LE²Ave, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

    Luciano Martins Verdade

  4. Laboratório de Evolução e Genética Animal, Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

    Izeni Pires Farias

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Pacheco-Sierra, G., Amavet, P.S. (2021). Hybridization and Speciation Among New-World Crocodilian Species. In: Zucoloto, R.B., Amavet, P.S., Verdade, L.M., Farias, I.P. (eds) Conservation Genetics of New World Crocodilians. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56383-7_7

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