The most devoted animals to each other. The most temperamental and loyal animals

Developments

While monogamy is rare in the animal kingdom, it's not boring at all. What is the male mice of the steppe voles worth. They remain faithful to the female with whom they lost their virginity. The male not only does not even look in the direction of other females, moreover, he is very aggressive towards them and often attacks them. Scientists have traced this form of behavior of potential pests at home, finding in their brain a special combination of hormones responsible for the emergence of aggression towards other females and fidelity to one.

bald eagle

This is the most striking example of fidelity, bald eagles remain faithful friend friend until one of them dies. Recent bird DNA studies have confirmed that monogamy is the norm among these predators.

Wolves

Along with penguins, wolves are characterized by serial monogamy, that is, they can be next to several partners, but not in parallel, but sequentially. She-wolf, as a rule, mates with one male, but in the future she can change him for another if the previous one dies, leaves the pack, or becomes ill to such an extent that she can no longer continue the race.

Warty Clownfish

Among these deep sea fish monogamy goes on weird new level. After mating, the male clown fish sticks to the female's flesh, gradually his mouth is filled with her skin, and their circulatory systems gradually merge into one. After complete union, the male completely degenerates, turning into seminal fluid that fertilizes the female. It often happens that the female "teams" with several males at the same time.

Penguin

After the movie "March of the Penguins", many conservative groups bring monogamy emperor penguins as a role model. While it is true that these flightless Antarctic birds copulate and stay together for a while in order to raise their babies, this usually lasts only one mating season, after which they usually exchange partners.

black vulture

For black vultures, maintaining monogamy is a family obligation and genetics. If an individual of the black vulture is “caught in treason” to its partner, then it will be pursued not only by the partner, but also by other vultures of the flock.

Antelope dik-dik Kirk

Unlike most monogamous mammals, the males of these dwarf African antelopes mate constantly with the same female, but do not take on any parental responsibilities at all.

red salamander

A male red salamander will physically and sexually harass a female if he suspects her of infidelity. But depraved females have become accustomed to this and have become very adept at avoiding the aggression of their socially monogamous partners.

Hammerhead shark

Females of this small shark species tend to mate with several males and store their seminal fluid for later use at the right time, which is why scientists have suggested that the babies of these sharks can have several different fathers at the same time. But subsequent studies have shown that children, nevertheless, have one father. Then experts offered another explanation: female hammerheads are still monogamous, when it comes to procreation, they can mate with several males, but for fertilization they use the sperm of only one male.

orange spiders

Males of many spider species die immediately after mating with a female, but only because the female eats them. The male orange spider also willingly sacrifices himself in the mating process. During mating, the male leaves one of his appendages in the female's body, where it continues to function as a kind of organic chastity belt that prevents her from copulating with other males.

Monogamy in animals

1. Gibbons are the closest relatives of a person who create couples for life. Their unions are unusually strong, and they exhibit low sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females are about the same size. This is proof of the fact that both sexes have approximately the same rights in relationships.

2. Swans form monogamous pairs that exist for many years, and in some cases for a lifetime. Their devotion is so well described in the literature that the image of two swimming swans with their necks curved in the shape of a heart has become an almost universal symbol of love.

3. Black Vultures Looking good is not a requirement for a committed relationship. Black Vultures confirm this fact. They have been known to attack other vultures when they start to whore!

4. French Bristletooth You'll hardly ever see a French bristletooth alone - these creatures live, travel and even hunt in pairs. These fish form monogamous bonds that often last as long as the partners live. Moreover, they act as a team, resolutely defending their territory from neighboring pairs.

5. Wolves In folklore, wolves are portrayed as rogues and swindlers, but in reality these animals lead a family life that is more faithful and pious than many relationships between people. As a rule, packs consist of males and females and their offspring, which, in essence, makes wolf packs look like a nuclear family.

6. Albatrosses An albatross can fly a long distance over the ocean, but despite such long journeys, this bird will always return to the same place - and to the same partner - when it's time to breed. Bonds between males and females are formed over several years and last a lifetime, held together by stupid but loving ritual dances.

7. Termites In an ant colony, the queen mates with one or more males, stores gametes all her life, and the male ant dies shortly after mating. In contrast, male and female termites can mate for life, literally giving life to a whole kingdom.

8. Prairie voles Although most rodents are sexually promiscuous, prairie voles break that reputation by forming, as a rule, monogamous pairs, which sometimes last a lifetime. Moreover, prairie voles are considered an animal model of monogamy in humans. They snuggle and groom each other, share nesting and raising responsibilities, and generally display a high level of supportive behaviour.

9. Common turtledoves In many works, turtledoves appear in pairs, and over time they have become a symbol of love and devotion. They even inspired Shakespeare to write The Phoenix and the Dove.

10. Bald Eagles They are the national emblem of the United States, and when it comes to maintaining relationships, bald eagles rise much higher than the country they symbolize. As a rule, bald eagles create couples for life, except in cases of death or impotence of a partner.

steppe vole
(lat. Microtus ochrogaster)
The relationship of these kids is worthy of admiration and envy even of some human couples. These animals create the only marriage union for life. For male voles, there is only one favorite mouse, to which they are devoted to such an extent that they do not even look in the direction of other females, and in the event of a collision, they show open aggression towards them. By the way, only the male is engaged in the upbringing of offspring. Unfortunately, scientists have dispelled romantic illusions by proving that such behavior is caused by a special combination of hormones in the brains of these little creatures.

bald eagle
(lat. Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
These big proud birds that have become national symbol The US is a prime example of permanence. Bald eagles remain loyal to each other until one of the pair dies. The mating games of these birds are distinguished by their beauty and, to some extent, extreme sports. The male and the female soar up, grapple with their claws, after which they fall down in a spiral! And only at the last second, near the ground itself, they separate and again soar into the sky.

black vulture
(lat. Aegypius monachus)
In black vultures, loyalty to their chosen one is “laid in the blood” and for life. These birds passionately honor family customs. Woe to the one who decides to change and will be caught in this. He will be scorned and punished not only by his deceived half, but by the entire pack.

Wolves
(lat. Canis lupus)
These predators, famous characters of Russian fairy tales, choose one partner. Pairs are created once and for all. The only thing that can break up a wolf family and affect the change of partner are factors that prevent the continuation of the family - illness, death or leaving the pack of one of the pair.

penguins
(lat. Spheniscidae)
Penguins, like wolves, choose one partner for themselves. True, the fidelity of these flightless birds is short-lived and lasts only one season. By human standards, quite a bit, but this time is enough to put your offspring on their feet. After that, the penguins usually change partners.

Dikdik Antelope Kirka
(lat. Madoqua kirkii)
And here is another example monogamous relationships. Unlike penguins, African pygmy antelopes are devoted to only one partner for life. It is interesting that the male antelope with special tenderness protects his beloved while she bears offspring. And when the cubs are born, he does not care about them at all. He is only interested in his beloved - the female.

red salamander
(lat. Pseudotriton Ruber)
Salamander is a legendary amphibian found in the myths of many peoples. And although red salamanders are monogamous, their males are incredibly jealous. If a male just suspects his soul mate of treason, he will begin to physically and sexually pursue her. Well, traitors caught red-handed face not only painful bites, but a break in relations. So, monogamous relationships preserve not only the family, but also health.

Warty Clownfish
(lat. Antennarius maculatus)
This unusual deep sea fish is also known as angler. These fish have brought the concept of "loyalty" to a whole new level. After mating, the male clownfish attaches itself to the partner's flesh. His mouth will gradually fill with her skin, and after a while their circulatory systems will merge into one. After the completion of this process, the male completely degenerates. This is how the clown fish, in the truest sense of the word, gives all of himself to love. Well, the female often enters into such marriages at the same time with several fans, "uniting" with them forever.

Spiders
(lat. Aranei)
Another example of complete self-giving in love. Male spiders, having entered the phase of puberty, go in search of females. When the male finds his soul mate, he begins a long and varied courtship. Each species of spider has its own way of seducing. It could be a mating dance or a "gift" offering. Surprisingly, males are able to turn a female's head without any tricks - with the help of pheromones - special substances that attract individuals of the opposite sex. A beautiful courtship story often ends tragically. Females of most spider species eat their suitors immediately after fertilization, and sometimes right during it. But among the spiders there are those who “put on” a chastity belt on their girlfriends. After mating, they leave one of their appendages in the body of the female. The male dies, and the female remains faithful to him for life - the appendage left by the male does not allow her to copulate with others. Like this unusual shape fidelity.

Monogamy in animals is a relationship between the sexes, characterized by the fact that the male mates with one particular female for a more or less long period of time and usually takes part in caring for the offspring. Monogamy is observed in most birds, and swans, storks, eagles, vultures pair up for several years, in some cases - for life, others - only for one season, parting after hatching and feeding chicks (for example, geese) or even immediately after the nest is built, even before the eggs are laid (many ducks). All wild geese are monogamous. Among mammals, monkeys form pairs for several years; wolves, arctic foxes, foxes, badgers, ermines, beavers - rarely for more than one season. Monogamy sometimes also refers to the relationship of insects and other invertebrates, in which both sexes (or only males) die shortly after a single mating (females after oviposition).

Love lives for three years. Exceptions only prove the rule. Amazingly, the animal world has its own laws. To the envy of people, some species of our smaller brothers still choose monogamy. Here are 12 animals that pair up for life, caring for and supporting each other through difficult situations.

Wolves
The she-wolf is real fighting girlfriend. Without it, a wolf, one might say, as without paws. Despite the image ferocious predators, wolves are very caring and gentle creatures. They are passionate about family life taking care of offspring.

penguins
If for women best friends- diamonds, then a simple pebble is enough for an unpretentious female penguin. In search of an ideal specimen, the male is ready to search the entire coast. Handing over a souvenir to his chosen one, he, as it were, makes her a marriage proposal.

pandas
Everyone has heard about the incredible slowness of pandas. Maybe they're just too lazy to go left? No. Scientists consider these funny bears the most romantic and devoted in the animal kingdom. The faithful head of the family anxiously looks after his companion all his life: before, during and after the long-awaited pregnancy.

lovebird parrots
The very name of these beautiful birds speaks for itself. Both in the wild and at home, they choose their partner for life.

Sea Horses
Seahorses are not like humans. First, the male becomes pregnant in such a pair. Secondly, the female is the first to show sympathy for her partner, attracting his attention with a kind of dance. Then she arranges a race for him. If he turns out to be hardy and strong, you can start a family with him.

barn owls
Barn owls are a real role model. The male takes care of the female whole year. He gives her many different gifts, carefully equips the nest. This is the only way to achieve the location of a capricious girlfriend.

gibbons
Unlike all primates, gibbons do not like packs. They prefer to live in small families away from their relatives. Gibbons are ready to spend more than one year looking for their soulmate. If only it was the same...

Albatrosses
Albatrosses spend most of their lives alone, hovering in the air or on the water. Only during the mating season and during the incubation of eggs, these birds fly to land. It would seem that in such conditions it is possible to breed with anyone. But parting, the albatrosses renew their relationship a year later. They choose a partner once and for all.

whales
Whales are one of the most faithful representatives of the animal world. Having created a family, most of them swim away to give birth to offspring in warm waters. At the same time, the future father does not leave the female even for a minute. And after giving birth, he takes care of her and the baby.

beavers
Beavers are very fond of all sorts of tenderness. The male often caresses the female with his front paws, as if stroking her with his hands. By the way, the beaver is a typical henpecked. The head of a happy family is often a female.

Swans
Swans have long been an unspoken symbol of fidelity and love. They say that only death can separate these wonderful birds.

French bristle teeth
Incredibly, even fish strive for monogamy. For example, this fish is generally difficult to meet alone, without its soulmate. Together they are a team and protect their territory from unexpected guests.

While true monogamy is quite rare in the animal kingdom, it does exist among some species. Check out this list for eight amazing animal pairs that mate for life.

1. Swans are symbols of true love.

Two swans touching with their beaks are the universal symbol of true love in the animal kingdom. And they really show true love- at least in the human interpretation of this concept. Swans form monogamous couples that live together for many years, and in some cases this relationship can last a lifetime.

Romantic? Of course, but the explanation for such a relationship is more a matter of survival than love. Considering the amount of time it takes swans to set up a territory, incubate and raise their chicks, it makes sense that they don't want to spend extra time looking for a new mate each season.

2. Wolves - loyalty for life.

These cunning old dogs are not as independent as you think. Let's leave the lone wolf stereotype aside. Most wolf families consist of a male, a female and their cubs. Everything is like in a normal human family.

Wolves - the leaders of the pack - share a share of dominance in the pack with their "wife", with the exception of the mating season, when the she-wolf becomes the main one.

3. Albatross - always faithful.

Many species of birds mate for life, but the albatross is a step above them, trying not only to start a family, but also to maintain romance in relations with his partner. FROM young years Albatrosses learn to groom their mates using an elaborate system of preening, beak snapping, bowing and dancing. They may try these methods with many partners, but once they choose one, they become faithful partners for life.

4. Gibbons - may or may not be true.

Gibbons are our closest relatives and one of those animals that mate with their partners for life. A pair of gibbons rest together, have fun, climb trees, get food. New research shows that gibbons sometimes flirt on the side, but, in general, couples stay together for life.

5. French angelfish - love under the sea.

French sea angels or (ordinary sea angel, or European squatina (lat. Squatina squatina)) - very rare view fish. They form pairs from a young age and stay with their soul mate for the rest of their lives. They live, travel, hunt in pairs, and even defend their aquatic territory from neighboring pairs.

6. Doves - always in a pair.

There are legends about doves. A pair of doves is sung about in the famous Christmas hymn "The Twelve Days of Christmas". These birds mate for life. Their loyalty was sung by Shakespeare in his poem The Phoenix and the Turtle.

7. Steppe voles are romantic rodents.

Most rodents are not inherently monogamous, but prairie voles are an exception to the rule. They form lifelong pairs and spend their entire lives caring for their partners and raising their offspring. Them life together often seen as a model of true monogamous relationships in nature.

8. Termites are a family business.

When talking about the fidelity of animal couples, termites are unlikely to come to mind, although they are the example of fidelity among insects. Unlike ants, whose female produces offspring from different males, a termite and its queen mate throughout their lives. Thus, the entire colony of termites may actually consist of mom and dad and thousands of their offspring.

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This is the mating dance of the male. The female is a little perplexed, but courtship makes her joyful, and I want to fly:

One of the most amazing and very sad love stories happened in 2006 on one of the lakes in Germany. A rare black swan named Petra became very "friends" with a bicycle boat made in the form of a white swan. He showed all the signs of falling in love - circled around the object of his passion, sang songs to her and looked at her for a long time.

Reportages were filmed about him, newspapers wrote, T-shirts with the image of a non-standard "couple" were sold in the park. There was no end to those wishing to order that same bicycle boat. But soon tourists began to rent it less and less, as the enamored Petra began to react quite zealously and aggressively to people who claimed the attention of his beloved.

Ornithologists hoped that by winter the strange hobby of the black swan would pass, and they were seriously afraid for him, knowing that swans are monogamous animals and if they fall in love, then for life. Their fears came true. When the boat was put away for storage in winter, the swan did not want to leave his beloved and did not fly away from the freezing lake. As a result, the park management decided to allocate a winter enclosure to the couple, where pelicans had previously lived.
Next summer black swan love and vehicle was also strong!

2. Steppe voles - the male remains faithful to his female throughout his life, showing no interest in other females.

3. Dikdiki antelopes (we passed them “for January”):

Each of them is very gentle and affectionate towards his partner. Unusual is the fact that when the female is pregnant, the husband anxiously takes care of her. And when cubs are born, they do not interest the father, he continues to devote all his attention to his beloved.
And when the kids reach 40 centimeters in height, i.e. of their adult size, the male sends them to the stump so as not to interfere.

4. Wolves lead a family lifestyle. They live in pairs that form forever until something separates them.

5. Bald eagles are loyal throughout their lives. The first weeks after the appearance of the chicks, the female is constantly with the cubs, and the male is engaged in the extraction of food.

6. Penguins create married couples for many years. One pair each season returns to the same colony to breed. Both parents alternately take part in hatching and feeding the chicks.

7. Shark Hammer:

8. Male red salamanders are monogamous and very jealous. Suspecting their female of infidelity, they begin persecution. Females have learned to skillfully avoid any kind of harassment.

9. Monogamy is a family affair for black vultures. They not only live in pairs, but also nest together, incubate their eggs together and take care of their offspring. The betrayal of one of the partners can cause the wrath of the whole pack.

10. Crows are together until the end of their days, but even if the male dies, the widow will never again tie the knot with another raven.
When a couple has offspring, the children live with their parents for a long time, helping them raise the next generation of chicks. Such a friendly crow family can reach 15-20 individuals.

11. Gibbons create incredibly strong couples for life. When a male and a female find each other, they look for a free site for themselves. Having found it, the male begins to sing loudly, notifying everyone in the territory of 3-4 kilometers that the place is reserved. However, some scientists believe that the famous songs of gibbons are serenades.

Young gibbons are separated from the family in search of their half. Often, such searches take several years, but the animal does not give up and is never exchanged for “casual relationships”. Parents often help unsuccessful bachelors by taking vacant lots for them.

Another confirmation that love works wonders was a real sensation that happened in 2011 at the zoo in Zurich. An elderly pair of black-capped gibbons have offspring. It is worth noting that the spouses were not just of mature age. The newly minted mother was 37 years old, and the father was already 52 years old! And this despite the fact that in wild nature the average life expectancy of such animals is about 25 years.
In St. Petersburg, gibbons sang lullabies to their son.

12. Our parrot was faithful to her late husband for 10 years. Other males, which we provided her, caused her irritation and anger.
Only towards the end of her life was she able to fall in love a second time.

13. Pigeons are faithful to each other throughout their lives. These birds can be called real romantics. Their mating dances are incredibly beautiful and touching.
And they kiss too. There is no physiological practicality in the touch of pigeon beaks.

The male kisses the female during courtship:

The female tucked her paw - when happiness tickles from the inside, it is impossible to resist two:

Here is how tender he is:

Here he is, how brave, like a soldier straight. This will protect:

Here he is, how big and iridescent, nothing is scary with this:

Here is his goiter, with such a hungry you will not stay:

They share all duties. Nest building is the joint work of pigeons.
The dove collects the material, and the dove deposits it to form a nest.
The nest is used repeatedly, each time strengthening it.
Pigeons incubate future chicks in turn, but to a greater extent this is still the responsibility of the female. As a rule, the male incubates them during the day, when the dove flies to the watering place.

14. Many other monogamous animals: beavers, arctic foxes, foxes, badgers, ermines, geese, ducks, albatrosses, clown fish, angelfish and even some types of spiders.
All of them are able to love each other and create strong friendly families.

And courtship, they demonstrate reliability and responsibility. So that the female understands that she got the best male, with whom she and her offspring will be protected, fed, treated kindly.
The longer the courtship lasts, the more the female understands that this male will not leave her to her fate.
And if you exchange for everyone in a row, then it will be this:

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In the post-war world, when there were few remaining men, and many of them were miserable (the most intelligent, strong, responsible and spiritually mature specimens went to the front), and women worked in the rear, and they needed to be strong, there was a program to revive the number population.
Families with anyone were valued (drunks and parasites were sanded and raised), strong women were valued, wise, forgiving, patient, who became nannies, mothers, educators, etc. for males.

And nothing was required of the men. They are already so beautiful, in themselves, even smelly under the fence. If only they didn’t go under the fence completely. Just to illuminate the family with their presence. Just choose the one that

and scored on everything except themselves, completely.

These generations produced their own kind.
At present, the evolution of men has been divided into two branches:
1) men of the old type, such as they were shaped by millions of years of evolution from fish. They behave like the animals described above. They have "marriage dances", courtship, gifts, a reliable shoulder, and in some cases even a neck.

2) men of a new type - they are sure that they are valuable because they are male. They are cowardly, deceitful, hysterical, incapable of empathy and other things...
They owe nothing to anyone, and least of all they owe the one they have chosen to be their females. They all owe it.
They demand from women "marriage dances", courtship, gifts, reliable shoulders, and in some cases necks. They are outraged and angry when a woman expects masculine behavior from them. They might even start taking revenge. How dare she expect something from the golden one? Let's be glad that they paid attention to her at all.

And generations strong women, who grow strong women, inspire them that “even if inferior, but yours” as soon as possible is more important than waiting for your good in the future.
If nature reasoned this way, we would now live in a world without animals.
And it is very interesting what will happen next.
So far, species 2 has flourished because of the influence of the post-war generation on subsequent generations.
And therefore