# Can taxonomy "prove" that two separate populations belong to the same species? **URL:** \ **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\ **Showing post:** 6
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-taxonomy-prove-that-two-separate-populations-belong-to-the-same-species/943870/6 "2021-06-09T17:53:23Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > If you’ve not heard of ring species, try reading about them. Two words: Saint Bewawa. > [@Human evolution from apes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-evolution-from-apes/800942/42): > > There is also the concept of [ring species](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_species). And similarly, dog breeds. While Saint Bernards and chihuahuas aren’t likely to directly breed with each other and produce Saint Bewawas, St.Bs can breed with slightly smaller dogs and chihuahuas can breed with slightly larger dogs, and those viable offspring can breed with similar sized dogs and so on, so theoretically in a mixed population of dog breeds there can be gene flow between Saint Bernards and chihuahuas and both breeds still count as being t… --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-taxonomy-prove-that-two-separate-populations-belong-to-the-same-species/943870)._