2007-01-26 10:28:33 · 8 answers · asked by julie g 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Surprisingly, yes they can. It is not common but it does happen. Read about it and see a picture here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geep
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep-goat_hybrid
2007-01-27 12:02:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to an answer above, goast and sheep can mate and produce viable (albeit infertile, I believe, although there would be some cases where they are fertile) offspring. Yes, they are different species, they even belong to different genera, and most matings between sheep and goats result in the embryos dying before being born, but it CAN happen.
Now, onto something more interesting.
"Geeps" are sheep-goat chimeras, which means they are created by combining sheep and goat embryos to make a mosaic animal. I know this sounds a bit weird but bear with me. Each cell is either from the goat embryo or the sheep embryo, and not a blend of the two, so therefore it's a like a clone except it uses two different species. Thus, the geep actually has four parents. The cute thing about geeps is that that parts that are from the sheep embryo are woolly, whilst the parts from the goat embryo are hairy.
And no, this is not something I just made up, I swear.
2007-01-27 00:19:07 · answer #2 · answered by Jessica. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do people keep asking these questions. If different SPECIES could get together and produce offspring, don't you think we'd see TONS of whatever it is that you think they'd create? I've never seen a "geep" or would it be a "shoat". So no, I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that they cannot produce offspring.
That said... these days it seems anything is possible. Look at the "liger" that scientists managed to create. I guess they feel some sort of obligation to produce new species to offset all the ones they're making go extinct?
2007-01-26 10:38:00 · answer #3 · answered by kittikatti69 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's not highly likely, but technically possible. However, if they did, those offspring would not be able to produce any others, so it wouldn't be a new species, simply a freak of nature.
The thing that actually defines a species is not its ability to produce offspring, but actually to produce offspring that can continue to reproduce.
Sperm plus an egg will often result in a living creature...But not necessarily a new species.
2007-01-26 10:41:06 · answer #4 · answered by abfabmom1 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's called a "Shoat"......or is it a "Geep?" Must be a "Geep" because a shoat is a young weened pig.
2007-01-26 10:41:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, they call them "shoats", they eat steel cans and grow steel wool. (Where did you think it comes from?)
2007-01-26 10:37:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I doubt it, but if they did....Wales would have some intressting animals roaming around...
2007-01-26 10:36:10 · answer #7 · answered by mindless 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no
2007-01-26 12:00:00 · answer #8 · answered by hill bill y 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋