In general, two different species cannot mate and produce offspring. This is because species have evolved unique reproductive barriers, such as differences in anatomy, genetics, or behavior, which prevent successful reproduction between them. When two different species attempt to mate, they may be able to produce offspring, but these offspring are typically infertile and unable to produce viable offspring themselves (e.g., mules, which are infertile hybrids of horses and donkeys). However, in some cases, hybrids between closely related species can occur under certain circumstances, but these instances are relatively rare.
