Saed News: In this article, we introduce you to monogamous animals—creatures that live with one mate for life.
Saed News: In this article, we introduce animals that are monogamous and live with one mate for life.
According to Saed News, quoting Khabar Fori:
Animals live in a beautiful, unpretentious world and are usually content with what they have. One of their characteristics is mate selection. Like all living beings, animals need a partner to reproduce, and breeding seasons trigger the search for a mate.
With more research into animal life, interesting facts come to light—such as the fact that some animals choose a single mate for life. Contrary to popular belief, which assumes animals have multiple partners due to lack of knowledge, some species form lifelong bonds and remain loyal to their partners, making them "monogamous."
Research estimates show that less than 5% of all animals and about 90% of bird species are monogamous. In sexual monogamy, the male and female form a pair bond, mate, raise their young together, and spend time together. However, in some cases, they may still mate with others outside the bond.
Swans are symbols of eternal love. Their iconic image of forming a heart shape with their necks is globally recognized. Swans are loyal, monogamous birds that often stay with one partner for life. Although this loyalty has some drawbacks—like the time it takes for mating rituals, territory defense, and raising offspring—it allows them to learn from previous breeding experiences.
These birds form lifelong pair bonds, but if a mate can’t reproduce, the bond may end. They also seek new partners if a mate dies. This ensures the survival of the species.
Often cited in literature as symbols of love and loyalty—Shakespeare even referenced them—doves are monogamous. Male cuckoos woo females with unique wing-whistling sounds, and once bonded, they remain loyal.
Prairie voles are among the most faithful mammals. Males only mate with the female they first lose virginity to, remaining loyal for life and even fighting off other females. Brain chemistry in these voles causes a bonding similar to love in humans. When they lose a mate, they often suffer from depression.
These owls usually stay monogamous for life, but in times of food abundance, a male might mate with two females.
These birds are extremely loyal. Cheating is rare, and if it occurs, the cheater is attacked by other vultures. This is believed to be why infidelity is uncommon among them.
Despite being portrayed as cunning in stories, wolves are very loyal. A wolf pack often forms around one mated pair. The social order in the pack revolves around them, and they mate once a year.
Once they find a mate, they form lifelong bonds. European beavers are particularly monogamous, while North American beavers may stray occasionally.
These Australian lizards can maintain pair bonds for over 20 years. Like other socially monogamous species, about 20% mate outside the pair bond.
These small, tree-dwelling primates are the only nocturnal monkeys and are strictly monogamous. Males take on most of the parenting duties.
These rodents are socially and sexually monogamous. Like owl monkeys, males are actively involved in raising offspring.
Always seen in pairs, these fish live, travel, and hunt together. They form lifelong monogamous bonds and work as a team to defend their territory.
Gibbons are among the few monogamous primates, showing strong emotional bonds and equal partnerships. They groom each other often and swing through trees together. However, recent research shows that even gibbons may cheat or abandon their mates in rare cases.
Over 90% of birds are monogamous, but few match the devotion of macaroni penguins. They perform a “courtship dance” involving chest puffing, head swinging, and grumbling sounds. Once the chick is born, the father guards the nest while the mother hunts for food.
