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The original was posted on /r/biology by /u/YouVe_BeEn_OofEd on 2025-06-29 18:20:59+00:00.

Mainly, I’m a bit confused about how dogs are considered subspecies of the gray wolf, Canis lupus, and are therefore named as such, while the domestic cat and the african wildcat seem to be considered different species, or at least taxonomically defined as such, despite the fact that the former is descended from the latter and both are known to interbreed. Why is there such a difference in taxonomy?