by Todd Elder at Exploring Creation
The word 'bara' means to create , as in a formative process, and it is used only of the Almighty and not of man. Yet we see that this process was done by declaring things into being. In several verses of Genesis chapter 1 we see that Elohim spoke, or perhaps better translated, declared that things should exist. They were spoken into being. The Hebrew word used here is (amar) and which means 'to declare' something. This in in contrast to the word (deber) which means to instruct or command and which is used with the 10 commandments.
There is a pattern in the following verses where Elohim something should be in the Hebrew Imperfect tense (ongoing) [occurs] and then it has happened [occurred] both from the same verb (hayah).
The word 'baramin' technically does not exist in the Hebrew language. Instead, it is a compound word made up of the separate words for 'create' and 'kind'. The Hebrew word בּרא (bara) means to create or a formative process. This word is never used in relation to the things that mankind makes, but rather is only used in regards to the Almighty. The Hebrew word םין (meen) means to portion out or to sort.
It is very difficult to take the taxonomic language used for the evolutionary concept of species and apply it to the Scriptural concept of kinds. In fact, such language should not be used. Instead, the language of a farmer or gardener works much better. When looking at the differences between types of animals like dogs or of plant crops like oranges the language used is of breeds and varieties rather than genus, species, and sub-species. Further, the development or refinement of certain traits within a type of plant or animal is a processs called breeding.
The breeding of animals and plants for certain qualities confines and reduces the genetic variability within that type. There is no new genetic information created when breeding. Actually, if anything, there is a loss of genetic information and less variation can occur within a specific breed.
Pure breeds carry with them great difficulties as genetic problems increase in frequency. It is not uncommon for a pure-bred English Setter to be deaf. In nature, if this were to happen, the number of these dogs would quicly decrease because of the inability to hear predators and prey.
The mixing of two breeds of similar kind can increase problems as well. In oranges certain traits, such as good appearance and low numbers of seeds, were hybridized frequently. The resulting oranges may sell well, but they are unable to reproduce and grafting is the method that must be used to make new fields of this type of orange. Again, no new genetic information was formed. Instead, so much has been lost that the plant is now infertile.
I grew up in Northeast Ohio. Something that was fun to watch was the running of the mole salamanders in the spring. These salamanders will spend almost all year underground. They only come above ground for a short time each spring to mate and lay eggs in water (often vernals pools after the snow melt). In our area there were Yellow Spotted Salamanders due to the yellow dots on their body. Nearby there were also Blue Spotted Salamanders due to the blue dots on their body. They are closely related. In fact, where their regions overlap they can breed together and the result is called a Jeffersons Salamander which has blue speckles.
As we go through the world, there are many types of salamanders living in different environments and with different functions. Some like the mole salamanders spend their time underground. Others spend their time in freshwater streams and lakes. Still others psend time in salt water. As I am researching, I will put forth that there are probably four distinct kinds of Salamander. this is suggesting theat there were four separate created kinds of Salamander at the garden of Eden as well as four kinds found at the time of Noah's flood. All four kinds have living members present today.