mixed and intermediate.

[Ophiolite]

It's a hybrid, a mix of the parent species.

Intermediate refers to a range between two extremes, so what are the two extremes in question?

Need it be only two extremes? Ternary diagrams are commonly used in petrology to describe the composition of rocks. In such instances the intermediate composition is the balance of three major components, or groups of components.

What about this? intermediate makes sense or not? Part Coyote, Part Wolf, Part Dog: Enter the Coywolf

I'm not really sure ho to answer that, since I don't really understand what point you are trying to make. Based on your definitions, if you cannot answer that question unreservedly, then your definitions are probably flawed. Hence my intital post in this thread.

Before someone says it for me, this is a question of semantics. Unlike many, I consider semantic arguments to be fundamental, not frivilous distractions. If we are not clear as to what we mean, an intelligent conversation is impossible. I think that's where we are at present.

 

[Sammy-San]

It's a hybrid, a mix of the parent species.

Intermediate refers to a range between two extremes, so what are the two extremes in question?

The hybrid resembling all 3, in one.

 

[Brightmoon]

.

 

[Brightmoon]

Then it’s a double hybrid: wolfdog mixed with coyote ;coydog mixed with wolf; or coywolf mixed with dog. A lot of red wolves are actually coywolves.

 

[Sammy-San]

Then it’s a double hybrid: wolfdog mixed with coyote ;coydog mixed with wolf; or coywolf mixed with dog. A lot of red wolves are actually coywolves.

A tri hybrid.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Need it be only two extremes? Ternary diagrams are commonly used in petrology to describe the composition of rocks. In such instances the intermediate composition is the balance of three major components, or groups of components.

Yes, you're right. I should have inserted 'usually' (or not specified the dimensionality of the extremes); but the point remains, what extremes does 'intermediate' refer to here?

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

The hybrid resembling all 3, in one.

Yes, but what property, attribute, or characteristic, of these species are you talking about?

For example, if the wolf was always aggressive when threatened, and the coyote and dog always ran away, then if the hybrid was aggressive some of the time, but often ran away, you could say it was intermediate in that respect.

 

[Sammy-San]

Yes, but what property, attribute, or characteristic, of these species are you talking about?

For example, if the wolf was always aggressive when threatened, and the coyote and dog always ran away, then if the hybrid was aggressive some of the time, but often ran away, you could say it was intermediate in that respect.

theres no "tri" version of intermediate, looks wise?

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

theres no "tri" version of intermediate, looks wise?

It doesn't look particularly wise to me, but maybe I don't know what you mean...

If there's some trait that the hybrid expresses that you feel is intermediate between the corresponding versions of that trait expressed by its parent species, then you can say it's intermediate with respect to that trait, and that can be discussed; did you have something in mind?

 

[Brightmoon]

Behavior can be so stereotypically intermediate that it can actually prevent the hybrid from mating. There are two species of small birds that have slightly different coloration and have different ways of carrying nest building material. One tucks it into the feathers the other carry it in the bill. They hybrids will tuck it into the feathers and forget what it’s for or they’ll carry it in the bill and drop it. The hybrids are fertile and healthy but they cant build nests . This is an example of behavior forming a barrier between species.