Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Back to the basics...
Canine/ Feline...two different species.
Varanus Macraei/ Varanus Prasinus...two different species???
Varanus Albigularus/ Varanus exanthematicus...two different species???
Varanus etc./ Varanus etc...???
From what I learned back in my first biology classes. Two different species cannot interbreed. So all are varanids TECHNICALLY the same species, just different subspecies with variation within each subgroup?
Sorry if these questions seem silly. Ive just seen too many conflicting explanations to this topic. I wanna be 100% clear, so I dont go around saying idiotic remarks.
Thank You,
Michelle

Ok... clearing a bit up...

All monitors are the same genus, Varanus. Just like horses and zebras are in the same genus, Equus. Varanus timorensis would be a species. That's the only one I know how to spell. So if you bred two different kind of montiors together, they would be two different species in the same genus breeding.

Sometimes, certain species in the same genus can interbreed. The thing is, most of the time, especially in mammals, these hybrids aren't fertile. In reptiles, however, hybrids, if born, usually are fertile.

You can almost always breed two subspecies together, from what I've gathered.

Sometimes, quite different genera of reptiles can interbreed, like kingsnakes (Lampropeltis) and ratsnakes (Pantherophis). We're still trying to figure that one out.

I remember reading where the genus Varanus were among the first animals (outside of a few mammals and birds) to have a certain DNA testing done on them to be able to exactly classify them as separate species or subspecies etc. The article noted that several species or sub species of monitor were closely related but were never thought to be because they were classified by appearance until the late 1980s basically. The idea was brought up that in the future this testing will be done on other reptile species and that the entire classification system of genera, species, etc. will be turned upside down and alot of them given totally new classifications, as you mentioned 2 species that can interbreed, they may be found to be the same species after testing is done on them. After all looking similar doesnt mean you are related to one another. This hobby changes everyday as it goes now.