What Will Their Offspring Look Like?

Jackwow · 7 Mar 2016

This male Mandarin duck took up residence in the pond in Figgate Park in Edinburgh a couple of months ago and has become a bit of a local celebrity. Anyway he has taken a shine to this female Mallard and follows her everywhere as well as aggressively chasing off any other ducks (of any species), male or female, who come anywhere near her. She doesn\'t seem to mind his attention. Has anyone seen a mandarin / mallard hybrid?

22 Feb 2016

gentle lemur · 7 Mar 2016

I predict that they will look like eggs, to start with

Alan

FBBird · 7 Mar 2016

What will their offspring....?

They will start off looking like eggs, and carry on looking like eggs. Mandarins have a different number of chromosomes from any other waterfowl and cannot produce hybrids. Mandarin hybrids have been claimed, but never proved to have occurred.

Jackwow · 7 Mar 2016

Very interesting, thanks FBBird.

savethelephant · 7 Mar 2016

FBBird said:
They will start off looking like eggs, and carry on looking like eggs. Mandarins have a different number of chromosomes from any other waterfowl and cannot produce hybrids. Mandarin hybrids have been claimed, but never proved to have occurred.

Tsk tsk someone is forgetting about Motty the elephant

Chlidonias · 8 Mar 2016

savethelephant said:
Tsk tsk someone is forgetting about Motty the elephant

it's been a while since I checked, but I don't think elephants are mandarin ducks?

Pertinax · 8 Mar 2016

FBBird said:
They will start off looking like eggs, and carry on looking like eggs.

Or hatch as pure Mallards because the duck was mated by a Mallard too- although maybe the Mandarin drake keeps them all at bay- in which case- nothing...

savethelephant · 8 Mar 2016

Chlidonias said:
it's been a while since I checked, but I don't think elephants are mandarin ducks?

Yes but I was referring to the fact that, although extremely rare, animals of different genuses (geni?) mate and apparently can produce offspring.

LaughingDove · 8 Mar 2016

But FBBird was talking about the number of chromosomes, not the genus.
And based on a google search, African and Asian elephants have the same number of chromosomes.

(though I believe there are examples of animals with different numbers of chromosomes breeding and producing hybrids)

Ps. It's genera

Jackwow · 9 Mar 2016

Pertinax said:
Or hatch as pure Mallards because the duck was mated by a Mallard too- although maybe the Mandarin drake keeps them all at bay- in which case- nothing...

He keeps everyone at bay, feisty wee fellow he is.

What Will Their Offspring Look Like?

Jackwow

gentle lemur

FBBird

Jackwow

savethelephant

Chlidonias

Pertinax

savethelephant

LaughingDove

Jackwow

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