Hello! I was wondering, and I searched, but since the Brevs used to be Rhampholeon, how come it wouldn't work for a Brev and Temporalis to breed? Would it have made a difference if they hadn't changed? Also, would it be possible to get fertile eggs out of these? I was just wondering because I'm getting some Temporalis in May, and I was just wondering if it was even possible.

Thanks!

LPR08

From what I have learned in school about cell communication between an egg and sperm is that the oocyte (egg) releases chemicals that attract male gametes (sperm). However these chemicals are species specific, if a sperm from another species does not recognize the chemical it wouldn't be able to locate the oocyte to get fertilized. Now lets just say somehow it located the egg, the sperm must release a protein (bindin) that signals the receptor to identify the correct species to induce fertilization.This is done to prevent cross-species hybrids.

The genus is Rhampholeon and in this genus you have many species R. brevicaudatus and R. temporalis for an example. So technically it wouldn't work.

According to adcham.com these species live in different areas but the same biome(Evergreen rain forest). The reasons why there are different species is through genetic variation and dispersal (there are other reasons but I forget). Each of these areas are different in some way, so they change in ways that they can adapt to its environment

R. brevicaudatus: Coastal Tanzania
R. temporalis: Usambara Mountains of Tanzania

If I'm wrong someone correct me haha

So it has to be the same Species not Genus? If so, how would it be allowable to breed different types of dogs? If there is sperm that goes into the female, her egg can cause the sperm to not know where its going?

In nature you can't usually breed a small and a large breed together (due to it's size). The reason why you get offspring is because you have an intermediate breed (Between large and small). What happens is now you have created what is called a gene flow. It is transfered from population to population. This gene flow stops the breeds from becoming one distinct species. From what I understand most dogs are considered one whole species but you have different breeds...not sure if I'm right but heres a link that I got some information from

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives...3054.Ev.r.html

The answer to your other question is yes if it is unrecognized by the sperm. How else would the sperm in people be able to find the egg? What happens is that once the sperm recognizes the chemical, it will follow this concentration gradient. As it gets more concentrated the closer the sperm is to the egg

A great dane and a chihuahua are the same species. They have been selectively bred over time for specific traits and over time have diversified to the extent you see now. This is similar in some ways to the evolution of species but to a lesser degree and over a shorter period of time. In the case of R. brevicaudatus and R. temporalis, these species are far further removed from eachother then dog breeds. Actually, the two species are in different genera as well (Rieppeleon brevicaudatus and Rhampholeon temporalis). Additionally, they have quite different environmental requirements as well. I do not think you would be able to hybridize these two species nor do I think it is in the benefit of the animals to keep them together in the first place.

Chris

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Didn't realize that the adcham species link wasn't updated since 2004. Which is why I thought they were the same genus. I take it more research has found another genus

But, if someone was successful in breeding them and hatching eggs, would the young be sterile? Like a Mule? They are mixed between a Horse and a Donkey, and Mules are sterile. So could that be the case IF you were able to successfully breed and hatch them?

Thanks,

LPR08