Riccardo Liguori Monogamy in the animal kingdom is the exception rather than the rule, but some species choose to remain faithful to their mate forever.
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In the animal kingdom, mating and living with them for life is an exception not a rule. Even though most of the species are polygamous—and specifically more in the case of mammals than birds—and repeatedly change partners, there are some animals that choose to live with one partner for life.
But which animals are nature’s true romantics? These are 10 (+1) animals that teach us a thing or two about what loyalty is.
1. Swans: Bird of Eternal Devotion
Swans are undoubtedly the most recognized of all bird monogams. Once two mates, the pair will remain with each other year after year and alternate years on tasks such as building a nest and tending to offspring. If either of the two mates passes on, the survivor will be left for years to start anew and pair up.
2. Albatrosses: Dance of Love
Albatrosses not only pair for life, but also engage in melodramatic courtship rituals, including synchronized dances and booming calls. Sea birds return to the same nest every year to raise their young as a family.
3. Wolves: The Pack is Family
Gray wolves live in packs with an alpha male-female couple, who mate for life. The harmony of these mates is essential to pack survival and raising pups.
4. Bald Eagles: Loyalty with Spread Wings
Bald eagles are renowned for spectacular courtship flights. Once mating is chosen, they remain loyal to one another for life, returning to the same nest yearly.
5. Adélie Penguins: The Long Distance of Love
Adélie penguins make long journeys to locate each other at breeding colonies. Females and males recognize one another from calls and, if things go well, become long-term pairs, reuniting every breeding season.
6. Gibbons: A Family Affair
Gibbons mate for life and live in small family groups. They spend a lot of time together, grooming each other and confirming their union with loving sounds.
7. Prairie Mice: Small Rodents, Great Romances
These rodents are one of the very few truly monogamous mammals. They live as pairs, share a territory, and collaborate in caring for young. Their union is regulated by hormones like oxytocin and vasopressin, just like humans.
8. Dik-Dik Antelope: Monogamy for Survival
Small antelopes living in Africa which live in settled pairs and patrol their ground in tandem. Their monogamy, so it seems, is for survival when the world out there can be a rough one where finding a new partner might be too tricky.
9. Caribbean Angelfish: Widows of Lack
Angelfish are monogamous and have stable pairs, and both defend their territory. If one of the pair dies, the other would rather live alone than find another mate.
10. Black-Headed Vultures: Love Beyond Appearance
American vultures form faithful pairs and are extremely jealous. If one of the partners is caught with another, the intruder is driven away with violence immediately.
11. Lovebirds: A Name, A Guarantee
Lovebirds, small colored parrots, are famous for their unbreakable relationship. These birds form monogamous pairs that care and show compassion to each other. They got their name from their loyalty and devotion.
Is Love Forever?
Even in monogamous species, there is no such thing as absolute fidelity. They may have “flings,” but they continue to return to the familiar partner. Why? Cooperating with a reliable partner is likely the optimal method for raising children and ensuring the survival of the species.
