Cospecies

/koʊˈspiʃiz/ noun

Definition

A species that exists alongside and often breeds with another related species in the same geographical area.

Etymology

From co- + species (Latin for 'appearance' or 'kind'). Used in biology to describe sympatric species that share habitat and can sometimes interbreed.

Kelly Says

Wolves and dogs are cospecies in some regions—they can actually interbreed and create fertile offspring, which challenges our basic definition of what makes a 'species' distinct from another.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.