Hybrids, dog breeds and DNA: What makes a species?

It's a seemingly simple question from What the Duck?! listener Skylar: how do scientists determine a new species?

Turns out, it's complicated.

And it's got Ann Jones impersonating a dog on the internet to try to find out what breed she is, as well as asking, 'what is a species anyway?'.

Featuring:
Skyla Seltzer, What The Duck?! listener.
Beanz and Henry the dog.
Link Olson, Curator of Mammals, University of Alaska Museum.
Dr Nicola Rivers, Monash University.
Professor Paul Hebert, Scientific Director, International Barcode of Life.
Dr Leo Joseph, Australian National Wildlife Collection CSIRO.
Tim Low, Biologist and author.

Thanks also to Ying Luo for background information.

Production:
Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in December 2023 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.