ELI5 Blood Types - do animals have different blood types just like humans?

ELI5 Explain Like I'm 5: Bite sized answers to stuff you should know about - in a mini podcast

What fascinating adaptations led to the evolution of diverse blood types in humans over millennia? How does our immune system interact with foreign entities to determine blood type responsiveness? Why is Type AB blood considered rare, and how does intermixing populations contribute to its existence?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: greengulred, foxtofu, darthrado, ezekielraiden.

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