Monogamous Animals

While rarer among animals than in humans, monogamy is not uncommon. Around 90% of all birds form a monogamous relationship and sometimes mate for life. This behavior is attributed to the tedious courtship period involved in mate selection. Once a suitable pair bonds, they tend to stay together as they gain experience raising offspring with each mating period. Examples include the black vulture – where the entire flock will attack a single member if they display “cheating” behavior, and swans – who sometimes form bonds before sexual maturity and stay together throughout their lives.

Monogamy is seldom seen in other animals. About 5% of mammals, like Eurasian beavers, gibbons, and marmosets, form strong bonds with a single partner. Other than birds and mammals, hawksbill sea turtles, some seahorses, and even parasitic flatworms display monogamous behavior.

List of Animals that are monogamous

Mammals

Agile Gibbon
Black-headed Marmoset
Black-tailed Marmoset
Black-tufted Marmoset
Black Crested Gibbon
Bornean White-bearded Gibbon
Buffy-headed Marmoset
Buffy-tufted Marmoset
Common Marmoset
Coyote
Dik-Dik
Eastern Black Crested Gibbon
Eastern Grey Gibbon
Eastern Hoolock Gibbon
Emilia’s Marmoset
Eurasian Beaver
Gold-and-white Marmoset
Gray Fox
Gray Wolf
Hainan Black Crested Gibbon
Hershkovitz’s Marmoset
Kloss’s Gibbon
Lar Gibbon
Marca’s Marmoset
Maués Marmoset
Müller’s Gibbon
Munduruku Marmoset
Northern Buffed-cheeked Gibbon
Northern White-cheeked Gibbon
Oldfield Mice
Owl Monkey
Pileated Gibbon
Prarie Vole
Pygmy Marmoset
Red Fox
Rio Acari Marmoset
Rondon’s Marmoset
Roosmalens’ Dwarf Marmoset
Santarem Marmoset
Satéré Marmoset
Siamang
Silvery Gibbon
Silvery Marmoset
Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon
Southern White-cheeked Gibbon
Titi Monkey
Western Grey Gibbon
Western Hoolock Gibbon
White Marmoset
White-headed Marmoset
Wied’s Marmoset
Yellow-cheeked Gibbon

Birds

Albatross
Atlantic Puffin
Bald Eagle
Barn Owl
Black Vulture
California Condor
Canadian Geese
Gentoo Penguin
Love Bird
Macaroni Penguin
Monk Parakeet
Pigeon
Sandhill Crane
Scarlet Macaw
Snowy Owl
Swan
Turtle Dove

Reptiles

Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Shingleback Skink

Invertebrates

Mantis Shrimp
Pacific Striped Octopus
Parasitic Flatworm

Fish

Barbour’s Seahorse
Common Seahorse
Great Seahorse
French Angelfish
Lined Seahorse
Narrow-bellied Seahorse
New Holland Seahorse
Short-snouted Seahorse
Tiger Snout Seahorse

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