8 Polygamous Animals in the World

Animals are maybe tricky to understand socially. Their behavior is not predictable and it’s often hard to explain on whether they are loyal to one, or they live to mate with several others. Speaking of animals behavior, do you know frenemies phenomena in animals?

Several factors cause social polygamy amongst animals. One of the reasons is that polygamy is a result of the environmental condition. If the female is not able to survive on their own, they are forced to rely on the male animal of that species.

For example, primates are vulnerable to predators such as jaguar or pumas. As a result, the female will seek help or asylum from male primates. It won’t matter if the male primate already has a partner because they all need protection. Hence polygamy happens amongst animals.

One downside of social polygamy is that there is lesser diversity in the genes of the offspring. This is because, the cluster of the female will share the same male, hence the baby of that animal will share a similar gene due to having the same father.

If you are curious about these polygamous animals let’s get down below to have better understanding of them.

1. Bonobos

First up on our list, is the most and highly active animal in sexual activities. It is known to also be the most active amongst any other primates.

They would do heterosexuals to even homosexual so there are no boundaries for bonobos, to know better understanding about homosexual and bisexual between animals, read it on another article.

Another surprising fact about this animal is that even the parents can mate with their offsprings. One common resolution amongst bonobos is that they would rather have sexual interactions or to mate rather than to fight.

So this is their way of resolving conflicts instead of showing dominance or to fight.

2. Spotted hyenas

There are many interesting facts about hyenas. From its socially polygamous type animal to its unique sexual reproduction organ. With this species of animal, the female dominates the population.

Although this species is polygamous, it is the female that is more dominant in this species. This is because the unique reproductive organ owned by a female spotted hyena called a pseudo-penis.

This organ is not a normal female reproductive system, but it is an elongated female reproductive system. This means that a part of the organ is shaped like the male reproductive system.

3. Lions

 Here’s the king of the jungle, known for its appearances with its beautiful golden mane. You would often see lions live in herds, with several lionesses.

Well, that’s true, all of those lionesses are partners to only one male. This apex predator is one of the animals portrayed in The Lion King, so no wonder many people know about it.

Lions live in pride, and a pride of lion consists of three to thirty lions and lionesses. Often, partners will be swapped with one another and the baby lions will be raised together as pride. By the way, do you know the difference between a tiger and a lion?

4. Bottlenose dolphins

There’s always fishy business in the oceans. This time we are talking about dolphins, a highly social and intellectual animal. They are so socially and sexually active, that they would even be bisexual.

This means that the male bottlenose dolphins would mate with other male bottlenose dolphins. Most times, they are sexually normal but they aren’t loyal to each other too.

5. Brown antechinus

Sometimes, its not only the male or the female that crazes to mate and to be polygynous. It turns out that brown antechinus which is an animal similar to mice are sexually very active.

This happens during a two-week breeding season and both the males and females would roam around looking for a new mate. Each copulation or activity would last from 5 to 14 hours. By the time they are done with the sexual activity.

The male would go dead due to being over-exhausted with the activity. The female, on the other hand, would be fertilized and prepare for the babies.

6. African blue-headed lizard

Unlike other animal playboys, this African blue-headed lizard has to fight and joust for its mate. Yes, even though it’s a polygamous animal, it will still fight for its partners. Male lizards would go head to head with each other and fight until the other one dies.

7. Hanging flies

While other animals mate many times in their life, this hanging fly can only do it a few times because it is as one of the shortest living creature. And to do so, it takes hard work and great hunting skills.

This is because males have to hunt for insects as gifts to give to a female fly. It is a must for a male to give a good present to the female because if not, there will be a high risk of being rejected. And after the process is over, the female fly will find another mate.

8. Walruses

Thought that only physical appearances are useful to attract mates? Well, it’s quite different for a walrus. A walrus will use its loud vocals and call for its mate from a short distance. Not only by shouting out loud, but it would also whistle or clack its teeth.

Now it is considered a polygynous animal because it will copulate with more than one partner after doing something heroic. In this instance, a male walrus would fight to defend a female and then rewarded with a new partner after.