Breed vs. Species — What's the Difference?

Recognized by particular standards in physical traits and behavior.

A basic unit of biological classification and a taxonomic rank.

Developed for specific roles such as herding, hunting, or companionship.

Can be further divided into subspecies, varieties, and breeds.

Managed by breed registries and associations that maintain breed standards.

Defined by the ability to reproduce and produce fertile offspring naturally.

A specific group of domestic animals with similar characteristics bred by humans.

Exhibits common characteristics and genetic makeup which differentiate it from other species.

Can interbreed within the same species to produce fertile offspring.

Is a measure of biodiversity, reflecting the evolutionary processes over millennia.

A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slightly deviating definitions.

A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. The species is the principal natural taxonomic unit, ranking below a genus and denoted by a Latin binomial, e.g. Homo sapiens.

To produce (offspring); give birth to or hatch.

A kind or sort

To bring about; engender

The visible form of each of the elements of consecrated bread and wine in the Eucharist.

To cause to reproduce, especially by controlled mating and selection

(Biology) A group of closely related organisms that are very similar to each other and are usually capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. The species is the fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking below a genus or subgenus. Species names are represented in binomial nomenclature by an uncapitalized Latin adjective or noun following a capitalized genus name, as in Ananas comosus, the pineapple, and Equus caballus, the horse.

To develop new or improved strains in (organisms), chiefly through controlled mating and selection of offspring for desirable traits.

(Logic) A class of individuals or objects grouped by virtue of their common attributes and assigned a common name; a division subordinate to a genus.

To inseminate or impregnate; mate with.

(Chemistry) A set of atoms, molecules, ions, or other chemical entities that possess the same distinct characteristics with respect to a chemical process or measurement.

To rear or train; bring up

A kind, variety, or type

To be the place of origin of

The outward appearance or form of the Eucharistic elements that is retained after their consecration.

To produce (fissionable material) in a breeder reactor.

Either of the consecrated elements of the Eucharist.

To produce offspring.

Type or kind. race.}}

To copulate; mate.

A group of plants or animals having similar appearance.

To originate and develop

A category in the classification of organisms, ranking below genus; a taxon at that rank.

A group of organisms having common ancestors and certain distinguishable characteristics, especially a group within a species developed by artificial selection and maintained by controlled propagation.

A particular type of atom, molecule, ion or other particle.

A kind; a sort

(mineralogy) A mineral with a unique chemical formula whose crystals belong to a unique crystallographic system.

(Offensive) A person of mixed racial descent; a half-breed.

An image, an appearance, a spectacle.

(transitive) To give birth to; to be the native place of.

(obsolete) The image of something cast on a surface, or reflected from a surface, or refracted through a lens or telescope; a reflection.

Of animals, to mate.

Visible or perceptible presentation; appearance; something perceived.

To keep animals and have them reproduce in a way that improves the next generation’s qualities.

(Christianity) Either of the two elements of the Eucharist after they have been consecrated.

To arrange the mating of specific animals.

Coin, or coined silver, gold, or other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie.

To propagate or grow plants trying to give them certain qualities.

A component part of compound medicine; a simple.

To take care of in infancy and through childhood; to bring up.

Plural of specie

To yield or result in.

Visible or sensible presentation; appearance; a sensible percept received by the imagination; an image.

To be formed in the parent or dam; to be generated, or to grow, like young before birth.

A group of individuals agreeing in common attributes, and designated by a common name; a conception subordinated to another conception, called a genus, or generic conception, from which it differs in containing or comprehending more attributes, and extending to fewer individuals. Thus, man is a species, under animal as a genus; and man, in its turn, may be regarded as a genus with respect to European, American, or the like, as species.

(sometimes as breed up) To educate; to instruct; to bring up

In science, a more or less permanent group of existing things or beings, associated according to attributes, or properties determined by scientific observation.

To produce or obtain by any natural process.

A sort; a kind; a variety; as, a species of low cunning; a species of generosity; a species of cloth.

(intransitive) To have birth; to be produced, developed or multiplied.

Coin, or coined silver, gold, or other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie.

(transitive) to ejaculate inside someone's anus

A public spectacle or exhibition.

All animals or plants of the same species or subspecies.

A component part of a compound medicine; a simple.

A race or lineage; offspring or issue.

The form or shape given to materials; fashion or shape; form; figure.

(informal) A group of people with shared characteristics.

(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed

To produce as offspring; to bring forth; to bear; to procreate; to generate; to beget; to hatch.

A specific kind of something;

To take care of in infancy, and through the age of youth; to bring up; to nurse and foster.

To educate; to instruct; to form by education; to train; - sometimes followed by up.

To engender; to cause; to occasion; to originate; to produce; as, to breed a storm; to breed disease.

To give birth to; to be the native place of; as, a pond breeds fish; a northern country breeds stout men.

To raise, as any kind of stock.

To produce or obtain by any natural process.

To bear and nourish young; to reproduce or multiply itself; to be pregnant.

To be formed in the parent or dam; to be generated, or to grow, as young before birth.

To have birth; to be produced or multiplied.

To raise a breed; to get progeny.

A race or variety of men or other animals (or of plants), perpetuating its special or distinctive characteristics by inheritance.

Class; sort; kind; - of men, things, or qualities.

A number produced at once; a brood.

A special lineage;

A special variety of domesticated animals within a species;

Half-caste offspring of parents of different races (especially of white and Indian parents)

A lineage or race of people

Call forth

Copulate with a female, used especially of horses;

Of plants or animals;

Have young (animals);

Typically, breeds do not become different species as they remain capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring within their species.

Breed distinctions help in specific roles like herding, hunting, companionship, and also in competitive events like dog shows.

The concept of a species provides a framework for biologists to study evolution, ecology, and behavior. It helps in categorizing organisms in a way that reflects evolutionary relationships and ecological roles, facilitating comparisons and research across different areas of biology.

A breed is a selective breeding result within a species for certain traits, while a species is a natural grouping based on reproductive isolation and genetic distinctiveness.

Scientists use criteria such as reproductive isolation, genetic differences, and sometimes geographic separation to classify organisms as different species.

Artificial selection can lead to health issues in breeds due to limited genetic diversity and the propagation of deleterious traits, underscoring the need for responsible breeding practices.

Generally, the concept of breeds applies to domesticated animals. Wild animal variations are more often referred to as subspecies or variants, not breeds.

Understanding and classifying breeds and species aids in biodiversity conservation efforts, allowing for targeted protection and breeding programs that preserve genetic diversity and ecological balance.

Yes, ethical considerations in breeding include the potential for genetic disorders due to inbreeding, the welfare of the animals involved, and the implications of creating breeds with extreme physical traits that may affect their health and quality of life.

Breeds have been created through selective breeding, where humans choose specific animals with desirable traits to reproduce, over many generations. For example, different dog breeds have been developed for various tasks like hunting, guarding, or companionship.

Each species plays a specific role in its ecosystem, contributing to energy flow and nutrient cycling. Species diversity ensures ecosystem resilience, allowing it to maintain function and provide ecosystem services even when conditions change.

Yes, understanding the distinctions can guide better management practices tailored to the specific needs of different breeds and species, improving health, welfare, and conservation efforts.