Dyreart

Dyreart, in biology, refers to the animal species concept—the basic unit of classification for animals. A dyreart is a population or group of populations that share a common evolutionary history and characteristics and that, under natural conditions, can interbreed to produce fertile offspring. In practice, however, the definition is not fixed; the most widely used framework is the biological species concept, which emphasizes reproductive isolation from other such groups. Other concepts, such as morphological (based on shared physical traits) or phylogenetic (based on shared ancestry) approaches, may classify organisms differently, especially for organisms that reproduce asexually or have complex hybridization patterns.

Taxonomy places dyrearter within higher ranks such as genus, family, and order, and assigns each dyreart a binomial scientific name in Latin. Examples include Canis lupus for the gray wolf and Homo sapiens for humans. Within a dyreart, populations may diverge over time and give rise to subspecies or varieties when geographic or ecological factors reduce interbreeding while maintaining overall distinctness.

Determining species boundaries can be challenging, particularly in groups with frequent hybridization or recent divergence. Still, recognition of dyrearter is central to biodiversity studies and conservation, guiding assessments of rarity, population trends, and protection needs. The term is used in many Nordic languages, where dyreart corresponds to the national term for animal species.