Ever Heard of Hybrid Animals? Here Are 15 of Them

The animal kingdom is full of surprises, and one of the most fascinating is the existence of hybrid animals. These creatures are born from breeding two different species, resulting in a unique mix of traits and appearances. Want to expand your knowledge of the natural world (and learn something a little weird)? Swipe to read about 15 hybrids.

Liger (Lion + Tiger)

The king of hybrids, the liger, is the offspring of a lion and a tigress. Inheriting the lion’s size and the tiger’s stripes, ligers are the most gigantic cats on Earth. They can grow to a staggering 12 feet long and often exhibit gigantism, a condition causing abnormal size.

Grizzly-Polar Bear Hybrid (Pizzly or Grolar Bear)

A rare sight in the wild, these hybrids occur when a grizzly bear and a polar bear mate. Their fur can range from white to grizzled brown, and they may inherit traits from both parent species, like the polar bear’s swimming ability and the grizzly’s humped back.

Mule (Donkey + Horse)

One of the most common hybrids, mules, result from breeding a male donkey and a female horse. Renowned for their strength, stubbornness (a mix of both parents’ personalities), and surefootedness, mules have been used for centuries for transportation and agriculture.

Cama (Camel + Llama)

Camas are the product of artificial insemination. They are a hybrid of a camel and a llama. Developed to combine the camel’s size and strength with the llama’s gentler disposition, they have yet to achieve widespread use. Still, they are an exciting experiment in animal breeding.

Wholphin (Bottlenose Dolphin + Killer Whale)

An uncommon hybrid in captivity, the wholphin is a cross between a bottlenose dolphin and a killer whale (orca). These dolphins can be larger than bottlenose dolphins but smaller than orcas and may exhibit vocalizations from both species.

Tigon (Tiger + Lioness)

Unlike a liger, a tigon comes from a male tiger and a lioness. They tend to be smaller than ligers and inherit a mix of parental features. Tigons may have the tawny coat color of a lioness with faint tiger stripes.

Pumapard (Cougar + Leopard)

This exotic hybrid results from breeding a cougar (also known as a mountain lion) with a leopard. Pumar leopards are spotted like leopards but with a more robust build inherited from the cougar. They are typically oversized for wild cats and quite rare.

Savannah Cat (Serval + Domestic Cat)

Bred for their wild appearance and temperament, Savannah cats are a hybrid between a serval, a slender African wildcat, and a domestic cat. These energetic felines can be enormous for domestic cats, reaching up to 20 pounds, and retain some of the serval’s hunting instincts.

Dzo (Yak + Domestic Cow)

Primarily found in Central Asia, the dzo combines a yak and a domestic cow. Larger than both parents, dzo is prized for its meat and milk production. They are also known for their hardiness and ability to thrive in high altitudes.

Beefalo (Cow + Bison)

A hybrid between cattle and bison, beefalo were once thought to be a promising source of meat due to their hardiness and potential for leaner meat. However, breeding difficulties and challenges in raising them have limited their popularity.

Coywolf (Coyote + Wolf + Dog)

More common than you might think, coyotes, wolves, and dogs can interbreed, creating coywolves. Depending on their ancestry, these adaptable canines can vary significantly in appearance and behavior. Eastern coyotes in North America are considered coywolves due to past interbreeding with wolves and dogs.

Zonkey (Zebra + Donkey)

This striped wonder is a mix between a zebra and a donkey. Zonkeys inherit their zebra parent’s black and white stripes but on a coat that’s typically brown like a donkey. They are less common than zebras or donkeys and can be pretty vocal, possessing brays from the donkey side and neighs or zebra barks.

Żubroń (Wisent + Domestic Cow)

The żubroń is a European hybrid between the wisent, a European bison, and domestic cattle. These hybrids are bred to conserve the wisent and are larger than domestic cattle.

Narluga (Beluga Whale + Narwhal)

This rare hybrid combines the white whale (beluga) with the tusked narwhal. Spotting one in the wild is a remote possibility, but they have been documented in captivity. They may have a mostly white body with some mottling and possess characteristics from both parents, including potentially a single erupting tusk.

Leopon (Leopard + Lioness)

A less common cat hybrid than the liger or tigon, the leopon is the offspring of a leopard and a lioness. They tend to have a rosetted coat pattern like a leopard, but with some influence of the lioness’s tawny color. Their size can vary depending on the leopard parent’s subspecies.