animal mating systems

Animal mating systems describe how animals pair up and reproduce. Some species have one mate at a time (monogamy), staying together regularly, like swans. Others have one mate at a time but not long-term, called serial monogamy. Many animals have multiple mates simultaneously or successively: polygyny (one male, many females), polyandry (one female, many males), or promiscuity, where both sexes mate with multiple partners. These systems are influenced by factors like species' ecology, mating strategies, and reproductive needs. Understanding these systems helps explain the diverse ways animals succeed in passing on their genes.