Evolutionarily speaking, all living things share the same goal — to reproduce. For humans, this can involve dating apps, candlelit dinners, pickup lines, and various other arts of seduction that don't need explaining.
In the animal kingdom, finding a mate is a little bit more simple… sometimes. As it turns out, finding "the one" (or even "the ones") can also be a complicated and sometimes dangerous endeavor for our furry, slimy, and even scaly friends. In fact, some of their moves are so smooth, we humans could probably learn a thing or two from them.
However, some courting rituals in nature would certainly leave a lot to be desired. A few of their techniques could have a permanent place in a book called "How to Be Single Forever."
You may already know everything about what happens after a giraffe is pregnant, but let's see how they (and other species) initiate mating in the first place.
Do you know any other notable courting rituals in nature? Please let us know in the comments and don't forget to SHARE.
1. Adélie Penguins
Adélie penguins are common along the pebble beaches of the Antarctic coast. Like humans, male penguins use rocks to entice females to consort with them, but it isn't diamonds that are these girls' best friends.
During breeding season, male penguins arrive at the beaches days before the females and construct mound-like nests out of pebbles. When the females arrive, males will present prospective partners with a very special pebble they deem to be the most precious. If she accepts, the female will lay her eggs in his nest and the pair will share chick-rearing responsibilities.
2. Nursery Web Spiders
Male nursery web spiders do not approach a female empty-handed. They often bring her a gift of food neatly wrapped in silk to initiate breeding. The males know to satisfy the female's hunger so they don't become prey themselves.
3. Hooded Seals
Hooded seals are usually found in the deep waters of the North Atlantic. Colonies gather on the Arctic beaches during breeding season, where males compete for mating rights over a group of females.
Males are equipped with an inflatable sac in their nasal cavity that they can blow up to look like a red balloon. This strange appendage is used to attract prospective mates and intimidate other males during battles for dominance.
4. Flamingos
During breeding season, flamingos congregate in massive colonies and participate in what looks to us like a choreographed group dance. The flamingos move in sequence in hopes of attracting a mate. Once they do, the birds remain monogamous until the next breeding season.
5. Bowerbirds
Male bowerbirds use their decorating skills to impress potential partners. When breeding season rolls around, they begin to collect sticks and construct a nest-like structure called a bower, shown above.
They then find anything blue with which to decorate their little homes. The blue items can be a bottle cap or a flower, the bowerbird doesn't care so long as it's the right color.
6. Giraffes
Because of the giraffe's size and long 15-month gestation period, it is very important that the female is healthy and ready to mate. Males determine this by doing something that would be unthinkable during human courtship — tasting her urine.
The male will rest his head on the back of the female and push against her bladder in hopes of encouraging a bathroom break. When it happens, the male will be able to tell if the female is in heat or not.
7. Deep Sea Anglerfish
Anglerfish live in the dark depths of the ocean and use their bioluminescent lures to catch prey in the dark. When the much smaller male comes across a female of the same species, he literally bites into her and refuses to let go — talk about romance!
He will then live out the rest of his days attached to his female to the point when their circulatory systems fuse together. He feeds from her and her eggs are fertilized by him.
8. Hanging Flies
Hanging flies engage in a behavior known as courtship feeding. The male brings the female a meal that he hopes will be big enough to keep the female occupied for as long as it takes him to fertilize her eggs.
If the meal is too small, she will simply shake the male who is hanging from her off, regardless of how incomplete breeding may be.
9. Horseshoe Crabs
Horseshoe crabs' breeding behavior is dependent on the tides and lunar cycles. These crabs only come together to mate if there is a full moon and high tide. They gather by the thousands on beaches to you-know-what if the moon is right.
10. Porcupines
Porcupine courting behavior would be considered very rude in human society. When a male senses that a female is in heat, he will often climb up a tree and proceed to urinate on the female.
The female can judge a male's fitness to mate based on this and will roll on her belly if she accepts his offer. If not, she will shake it off and move on.
11. White-Fronted Parrots
Like humans, white-fronted parrots kiss each other as part of their courting ritual. Yes, tongue is involved, but it doesn't stop there. The male is known to become so aroused that he will vomit straight into his kissing partner's mouth — yikes!
12. Clownfish
Interestingly enough, all clownfish are born male. The biggest clownfish in the group will transition and turn into the dominant female. The largest and most aggressive of the males then has breeding rights, and his first pick of food.
In the event that the dominant female dies, the dominant male will assume her place, and he himself will transform into a female.
13. Galapagos Tortoises
Male Galapagos tortoises battle for breeding rights by having a competition of "Who's taller?" The tortoises go to extreme lengths to prove their height, standing up on their hind legs and stretching their necks out with their mouths agape until a winner is established.
Can you think of any other extraordinary courting rituals in nature? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to SHARE on Facebook!
