[Polybius]

Ok. If you want to enforce your definition of "species", then the title of the artical could simply be changed to "our sub-species mated with other human sub-species, says study".

That would be the taxonomically correct way to phrases it.

I think we can agree on the meaning of the title, regardless of the terms or definitions of those terms, can't we?

As long as the author was just careless in his definitions and not trying to convey a sensationalist "Tarzan mated with Chita to produce Boy's ape-man step-brother" headline.

My own personal opinion is that Homo sapien males probably never mated with Neandertal females until they had invented alcoholic beverages. ;-)

[mamelukesabre]

Would you say a donkey is merely a subspecies of horse? Because there have been rare instances where mules have been able to reproduce.

[scouse]

Neandertal females

My uncle Nub used to call them sheep.