sibling species

noun

, Biology.

1. one of two or more species that closely resemble one another but whose members cannot interbreed successfully.

sibling species

/ sĭb′lĭng /

1. Any of two or more related species that are morphologically nearly identical but are incapable of producing fertile hybrids. Sibling species can only be identified by genetic, biochemical, behavioral, or ecological factors, and are thought to have become divergent very recently.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sibling species¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

By contrast, D. sechellia’s sibling species Drosophila simulans and more distant cousin, Drosophila melanogaster, retain their dislike for noni8.

From Nature

With pufferfish heading north to seek cooler waters, sibling species of the fish have begun to inter-breed, triggering a sudden increase in the number of hybrid fish.

From Reuters

There, they bred with their sibling species and multiplied.

From Reuters

Adaptive introgression between Anopheles sibling species eliminates a major genomic island but not reproductive isolation.

From Nature

“We’re calling this a Neanderthal sibling species in Africa,” Akey said.

From Washington Post