Can you crossbreed A.Genic & B.Smithi?

[thumpersalley]

Can you breed the 2 of them together to produce offspring? No, Im not looking to do this.

 

[blazetown]

Usually crossbreeding only works within closer perimeters. Think P.Cambrigei and P.Iriminia or B. Smithi and B. Vagans.

 

[Exo]

Can you breed the 2 of them together to produce offspring? No, Im not looking to do this.

Nope, they have to be in the same family or in very closely related families.

 

[Link]

Yep. What they said.

 

[Kirk]

Nope, they have to be in the same family or in very closely related families.

Not necessarily. There are no criteria to determine equality of taxa of the rank of family.

 

[FuzzOctave]

And, by the way, it's a very frowned upon practice. :wall: Nature does enough to confuse the study of Theraphosidae without human meddling. Hybridizing is not good for the hobby.

 

[Jackuul]

Aren't all tarantulas technically in the same family (Theraphosidae)? I would assume, although it might be possible and since the whole thing is still in need of major sorting by genetics, that anything within the same genus would have a greater chance than in the family.

 

[Mina]

I think the best answer is I don't know. A. geniculata are bigger and usually more defensive then B. smithi, but that doesn't mean they could not breed, it just makes it a bit more unlikely of successfully happening.
Cross breeding attempts are usually kept within the same genus. For instance, breeding B. vagans and B. albopilosum has been done with success.
FuzzOctave: I think the OP understands your statement. He did say he has no intention of doing it, he is asking for information only.

 

[Kirk]

And, by the way, it's a very frowned upon practice. :wall: Nature does enough to confuse the study of Theraphosidae without human meddling. Hybridizing is not good for the hobby.

Try telling that to the world's horticulturists!

 

[Kirk]

Aren't all tarantulas technically in the same family (Theraphosidae)? I would assume, although it might be possible and since the whole thing is still in need of major sorting by genetics, that anything within the same genus would have a greater chance than in the family.

Families, subfamilies, or genera -- it's largely irrelevant to the question of interfertility since none of the taxa assigned to these ranks are comparable. While one might be on firmer grounds knowing phylogenetic relationships among species, this really provides no solid empirical evidence. But, your bets for producing viable hybrids might get better.

 

[Jackuul]

It would be bad if irresponsible people did it willy nilly and then mislabled them and sold them off as something they were not.

However if a breeder were to undertake a selective breeding program to create a "perfect" spider while documenting each step, and not selling them until they had a 'type' specimin that had proven results, would they be wrong for doing so and cast out?

 

[thumpersalley]

crossbreeding

Thanks for all of the responses. The reason I ask is because I do private small animal rescue (yes that does include Ts & scorpions) I received in 3 Ts today. One of each of the ones I mentioned in my post & then one sling. I was told it was a baby from the 2 adults. I will post pics of the 2 adults & the sling when I can get him out of his tube so that maybe he can be identified so I know if hes arboreal or terrestrial. Thanks! Kim

 

[Exo]

It would be bad if irresponsible people did it willy nilly and then mislabled them and sold them off as something they were not.

However if a breeder were to undertake a selective breeding program to create a "perfect" spider while documenting each step, and not selling them until they had a 'type' specimin that had proven results, would they be wrong for doing so and cast out?

Not sure there is such a thing as a perfect spider, or ever will be.

 

[Exo]

Not necessarily. There are no criteria to determine equality of taxa of the rank of family.

They would have to be closely related, otherwise it would be like trying to breed a python with a cobra.

 

[Kirk]

They would have to be closely related, otherwise it would be like trying to breed a python with a cobra.

Even being closely related does not guarantee interfertility. For instance, even though humans and chimpanzees are 'closely related,' they have different numbers of chromosomes, thereby precluding hybridization.

 

[Exo]

Even being closely related does not guarantee interfertility. For instance, even though humans and chimpanzees are 'closely related,' they have different numbers of chromosomes, thereby precluding hybridization.

I have heard that some animals with different counts can occasionaly reproduce, but the offspring are sterile.

 

[Lumberguy]

An interesting documentary was made on "Humanzee" where there is speculation that the said specimen is the product of a human and a chimp procreating.

That is, however, not on the subject of tarantulas anymore, but only the subject of interbreeding.

 

[Jackuul]

I of course meant "perfect" as in specifications laid out for said "breed". Much like there is a "perfect" form of any racing breed of horse or of hunting dog.

 

[FuzzOctave]

I think the best answer is I don't know. A. geniculata are bigger and usually more defensive then B. smithi, but that doesn't mean they could not breed, it just makes it a bit more unlikely of successfully happening.
Cross breeding attempts are usually kept within the same genus. For instance, breeding B. vagans and B. albopilosum has been done with success.
FuzzOctave: I think the OP understands your statement. He did say he has no intention of doing it, he is asking for information only.

True... I guessd my response was better intended for those potential readers, not the original poster, who might get the idea that it was okay to do. I found a slew of hybrid B. vagan/ albopilosum slings at my LPS last weekend... They were advertising them as "rare", so as to get unknowing folks to buy them, thus perpetuating a problem... Not cool.

 

[FuzzOctave]

Try telling that to the world's horticulturists!

lol! Very good point.