Saturday, November 14, 2026
Science

Colorful fish reveal how species stay distinct despite interbreeding

Vividly colored fish dwelling at the bottom of shallow Midwestern streams may help biologists understand the evolutionary mechanisms by which species remain distinct despite their similarities and overlapping ranges. Orangethroat and rainbow darters regularly interbreed where their ranges overlap, y...

Colorful fish reveal how species stay distinct despite interbreeding
Image: Phys.org
Vividly colored fish dwelling at the bottom of shallow Midwestern streams may help biologists understand the evolutionary mechanisms by which species remain distinct despite their similarities and overlapping ranges. Orangethroat and rainbow darters regularly interbreed where their ranges overlap, yet—millions of years after they first diverged—they remain separate species.

Originally published at Phys.org

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