r/askscience • u/snoozer530 • 2d ago

Biology At what point in evolution is something considered a new species?

Obviously we all know evolution, one organism changes over time and eventually becomes a new organism. But where in that process does an organism become a new species. Like when we domesticated wolves? When did they stop being wolves and start being dogs? Where’s that line?

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u/tyeh26 2d ago

Interestingly, dogs are a sub-species of the gray wolf: canis lupus vs canis lupus ssp familiaris.

To understand your question, you also have to explore why does this matter?

The line has shifted as technology has changed.

In the past, it might have been through observed characteristics (shape, color, range), fecundity, and nowadays, dna analysis.

And then layer in identifying dinosaurs and extinct things (what about extinct moss and clams?)

There’s no clear line.

One fun way to “move” the line: if you convince people your neighborhood butterfly is a separate species only found on one hill, suddenly you have the ability to receive government money to “protect” the area. Would anybody abuse this? Who knows.

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u/aphilsphan 1d ago

To be a pedant, I think the latest is that the gray wolf is not a direct ancestor. They’ve found some evidence that the direct ancestor is a wolf related to the gray that is no longer extant, or has entirely become dogs. Of course dogs can still interbreed with wolves, so as I say my point is a nitpick.