Courtship and mating images and facts - this gallery displays the complex and intricate ritual of mating in the animal kingdom.
Many different animal species have their own courtship rituals, which includes specific behavior and exchange of communication between two animals for the purpose of reproduction. Typically, the male initiates the courtship and the female chooses to either mate or reject the male, based on whether the male has displayed the right characteristics to...
more »Courtship and mating images and facts - this gallery displays the complex and intricate ritual of mating in the animal kingdom.
Many different animal species have their own courtship rituals, which includes specific behavior and exchange of communication between two animals for the purpose of reproduction. Typically, the male initiates the courtship and the female chooses to either mate or reject the male, based on whether the male has displayed the right characteristics to perpetuate the species in good health to the next generation. Originating from evolutionary competition amongst sperm for the fertilization of a female ova, male animals often compete through courtship with other male specimens to be chosen by the female for mating and ensure that their genes are passed on. Mating is the pairing of opposite sex animals, either for copulation or for external fertilization of eggs by sperm.
Courtship may involve complicated movements, touching, vocalization, displays of beauty, or fighting prowess. This can include temporary coloration, complicated dances and movements, or fights between males for the right to mate. The male hooded seal, for example, inflates a large proboscis pouch. Birds perform exquisite dances and present gifts to females. Fish will often exhibit courting colors different from their normal colors during mating season to attract the opposite sex.
Aquatic mating poses a particular challenge for marine life. The physical barriers that accompany a terrestrial world are nonexistent for marine life, and marine animals must work with water currents to properly mate with one another. For dolphins, mating often pushes the females towards the surface of the water, so the surface can be used as a type of barrier for mating. Dolphin sexual tissue is also full of collagen and elastin, which allows males to release sperm quickly. For sharks, males will bite a female to hold her in place during mating. In addition, because sharks have to continuously swim in order to breathe, they must find an area where the current will rush over their gills when mating in order to maintain oxygen levels. For turtles, their large shells form an additional physical barrier to mating. Luckily, male turtles have special claws to help hold the female in place. Whales have the barrier of their massive size, but females will often be supported by an additional male during mating. Whether mating is being held on land or in the water, barriers and challenges exist, and all animal species have had to find ways to overcome these barriers in order to perpetuate their species. The existence of these magnificent creatures today are proof that these animals, despite their challenges, were successful in their perpetuation.
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