Monogamous relationships are found throughout the animal kingdom. Perhaps you’d like to know more about some of the animals that only have one partner–and if so, you’re in the right place. Keep reading as we look at some of the top animals in the world that mate for life.
What You'll Learn Today
1. Swan
There are seven or eight species of swans found in temperate regions throughout the world. These beautiful birds are some of the most well-known creatures that often have only one partner in their lifetimes.
When swans are courting, they will dip their bills into the water together or perform head-to-head posturing moves. Though they typically mate for life, they sometimes separate after a bad nesting season or will choose a new mate when one member of a pair has died.
Swans typically reach maturity around three to four years of age, at which point they begin searching for a mate. They frequently live around 20 years in the wild but may live 50 years or more when kept in captivity.
2. Seahorse
Seahorses are found in temperate and tropical saltwater environments throughout the world, mainly in shallow regions of the world’s oceans. There are about 46 species of them.
These unique horse-headed bony fish often mate for life, though not all of the species do so. Those that do often begin their relationship with a courtship that involves curling their tails together and performing elaborate dances.
Unmated female seahorses sometimes compete with each other for the affections of the same male. Often, once they are mated, they are inseparable; if one dies, the other will refuse to eat, often starving to death.
3. Gray Wolf
The gray wolf is a large canine mammal found in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. As many as 30 subspecies of these large dogs have been identified.
Gray wolves are pack animals, and each pack is led by an alpha male and his female. This pair typically mates for life, and they are the only animals within the pack that breed.
Aside from the alpha pair, wolf packs commonly consist of cubs but may also contain siblings, aunts, and uncles. Young males often branch off from their pack, eventually forming their own packs when they find mates.
4. Bald Eagle
Bald eagles are found throughout much of North America, as far south as northern Mexico. These large birds of prey tend to live near large bodies of water with plenty of fish, which is their main food source.
Bald eagles undergo elaborate courtship rituals in which they fly to great heights, then go into a freefall, locking their talons together in the process. They remain with the same partner for life, though if one member of the pair dies, the other may choose a new mate.
These birds reach sexual maturity around four to five years old and often live up to 30 years in the wild. Bald eagle pairs work together to build and maintain their nests, incubate their eggs, and feed their young.
5. Gibbon
Gibbons are monkey-like apes found in tropical and subtropical forests throughout Asia. There are 20 species of gibbons belonging to four different genera.
Most gibbon species mate for life, and they are often quite expressive about their relationships. Mated pairs are commonly seen hugging and holding hands, and they have special songs they sing to show off their mates to other gibbons in the area.
Gibbons don’t have a set breeding season, but females typically give birth to new babies every two to three years. Gibbon families tend to be very close to each other and will look out for one another when traveling.
6. Lovebird
Lovebirds are any of nine species of small parrots found within the Agapornis genus. All of these birds are native to Africa, with one species being found only on Madagascar.
Lovebirds are so-named because they mate for life, and mated pairs spend much of their time sitting together and preening each other. These birds are very affectionate and attached to their partners; they may appear sad and suffer from diminished appetites if they are separated from their mates.
Lovebirds typically choose a mate around the age of 10 months. Their average lifespan in the wild is 10 to 12 years.
7. Beaver
Beavers are large rodents found in North America and Eurasia. They are known for being skilled loggers and dam-builders, but another one of their key characteristics is that they mate for life.
Beavers are loyal to each other and to the families they create. They often form tight bonds that are only broken if one member of the mated pair dies; in this case, the surviving member may seek out a new mate.
Beavers breed every two to three years, with older siblings helping to care for the younger ones. After a few years, juvenile beavers will leave the dam in search of their own mates and territories.
8. Prairie Vole
Prairie voles are small rodents found throughout the central regions of North America. They have short life expectancies, rarely living more than one to two years due to predator activities and other natural hazards.
Prairie vole males often compete aggressively for their mates; once bonded, they work together to build nests and raise young. They are highly social creatures, often spending time sitting together and grooming each other.
Unlike many other species, prairie voles rarely seek out another mate when theirs has died. Instead, they choose to spend their remaining days as widows.
9. Macaroni Penguin
Macaroni penguins are primarily found in Antarctica and the surrounding regions. They are closely related to royal penguins and have distinctive yellow crests on their heads.
Macaroni penguins usually mate for life and work together to raise and care for their babies. Typically, the father looks after their young while the mother goes out to hunt for food.
These penguins are known for putting on rather elaborate displays of affection. These are called ecstatic displays; check out an example of this behavior in the video below:
10. Shingleback Skink
Shingleback skinks are a species of slow-moving, stub-tailed lizards native to Australia. There are four subspecies of these lizards, three of which are found in the western regions of the continent.
Shingleback skinks typically return to the same mate year after year during breeding season. Males often woo their mates by licking and caressing them.
These lizards often live in communities of closely related individuals and are friendly with those in their familial groups. They may become territorial and fight with unfamiliar skinks intruding in their territories.
Conclusion
A variety of different animals mate with only one partner, including birds, mammals, fish, and reptiles. Common monogamous animals include swans, wolves, seahorses, and shingleback skinks.
