# Can taxonomy "prove" that two separate populations belong to the same species?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-taxonomy-prove-that-two-separate-populations-belong-to-the-same-species/943870>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 8, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-taxonomy-prove-that-two-separate-populations-belong-to-the-same-species/943870 "2021-06-08T20:49:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-taxonomy-prove-that-two-separate-populations-belong-to-the-same-species/943870/22 "2021-06-12T01:42:11Z")

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> [@mbh](#):
>
> The Northern Spotted Owl was threatened by logging. The California Spotted Owl was thriving. Are they different enough that the Northern needs protecting? Or is the Northern just a slight variation of the California?

And heck, [just to make it even MORE complicated](https://www.audubonva.org/news/2019/5/1-sparred-owl) 😆.

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