Polygyny in animals

Polygyny in animals is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with more than one female. Each female only mates with a single male. If several females mate with several males it is either as promiscuity or polygynandry.

Typical polygyny is one-male, multi-female groups. The system is widespread. Examples are elephant seal,^[1] spotted hyena,^[2] gorilla, house wren, hamadryas baboon, common pheasant, red deer, Bengal tiger.

↑ de Bruyn P.J.N.; Tosh C.A.; Bester, M.N.; Cameron E.Z.; McIntyre T.; Wilkinson I.S. 2011. Sex at sea: alternative mating system in an extremely polygynous mammal (PDF). Animal Behaviour. 82 (3): 445–451. [1]
↑ Holekamp, Kay E. et al. 2012. Society, demography and genetic structure in the spotted hyena. Molecular Ecology 21.3 (2012): 613-632. [2]

[1] Bruyn P.J.N.; Tosh C.A.; Bester, M.N.; Cameron E.Z.; McIntyre T.; Wilkinson I.S. 2011. Sex at sea: alternative mating system in an extremely polygynous mammal (PDF). Animal Behaviour. 82 (3): 445–451. [1]

[2] Holekamp, Kay E. et al. 2012. Society, demography and genetic structure in the spotted hyena. Molecular Ecology 21.3 (2012): 613-632. [2]

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