monogamy

Humans in many cultures like to think of themselves as a faithful species, but when it comes to true fidelity, many other animals offer better examples of how to keep a relationship together. Although monogamy and lifelong pair bonds are generally rare in the animal kingdom, here's our list of 11 animals that pull it off.

Gibbons

Gibbons are the nearest relatives to humans that mate for life. They form extremely strong pair bonds and exhibit low sexual dimorphism, which means that males and females of the species are of roughly equal size, a testament to the fact that both sexes are on relatively equal footing in their relationships.


Swans

Swans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life. Their loyalty to their mates is so storied that the image of two swans swimming with their necks entwined in the shape of a heart has become a nearly universal symbol of true love.

Black vultures

Good looks are not a prerequisite to a faithful relationship. In fact, b lack vu lture society makes sure of that. They have been known to attack other vultures that have been caught philandering!

French angelfish

You're unlikely to ever find a French angelfish alone — they live, travel and even hunt in pairs. The fish form monogamous bonds which often last as long as both individuals are alive. In fact, they act as a team to vigorously defend their territory against neighboring pairs.

Wolves

Often portrayed as tricksters and con artists in popular folklore, wolves have a family life that is actually more loyal and pious than most human relationships. Normally, packs consist of a male, a female and their offspring, essentially making wolf packs akin to a nuclear family.

Albatrosses

An albatross may fly great distances over the oceans, but despite its extensive travels, this bird will always return to the same place — and the same partner — when it's time to breed. Pair bonds between males and females form over several years and will last for a lifetime, cemented through the use of goofy but affectionate ritual dances.

Termites

In an ant colony, a queen mates once with the male(s), stores the gametes for life, and the male ants die shortly after mating. In contrast, several species of termites can form lifelong pair bonds between a female "queen" and a single male "king" who literally give birth to their entire kingdom.

Prairie voles

Although most rodents have a reputation for promiscuity, prairie voles break the trend, generally forming monogamous pair bonds that occasionally last a lifetime. In fact, the prairie vole is typically cited as an animal model for monogamy in humans. They huddle and groom each other, share nesting and pup-raising responsibilities, and generally show a high level of supportive behavior.

Bald eagles

They are the national emblem of the United States, and when it comes to maintaining relationships these birds soar much higher than the country they symbolize. Bald eagles typically mate for life, except in the event of their partner's death or impotency — a number far lower than America's divorce rate, which now exceeds 50 percent.

Schistosoma mansoni worms

They may not offer the conventional image of love, but these parasitic worms are usually far more faithful than the humans they inhabit. As unromantic as it sounds, they cause the disease schistosomiasis, also known as snail fever. When they reproduce sexually within the human body, they form loyal monogamous pair bonds that typically last the entire cycle.

Turtle doves

There's a reason that turtle doves come in pairs of two in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. These emblems of love and faithfulness have even inspired poetry in Shakespeare, being the subject of his poem The Pheonix and the Turtle.

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