Crossbreeding between the rare California tiger salamander and an invasive species has given the mixed offspring a surprising boost in survival, say geneticists.
BARRED INVADER. The barred tiger salamander, brought to California from Texas decades ago, mates readily with an imperiled native-California species. Getty Images
Though the lineages of barred tiger salamanders and the California tigers split some 5 million years ago, the species crossbreed in the Salinas Valley, according to Benjamin M.
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