darthtang aw
Active Member
Bonobos are a good example - each individual regularly mates with all members of its group, regardless of age or s3x. This is a form of social bonding for them, helping them resolve conflicts without the need for violence. It is obviously not done for reproduction, since they mate with individuals of the same --- and those too young to breed.
In stoats, males will enter nests of newborns whilst the mother is absent and mate with all the females in the litter. Their eggs are fertilised, but do not implant and complete development until the females have grown up and left the nest. This is a way of getting a head start on breeding for a small, vulnerable animal that often does not live very long.
Many species have social systems that have evolved to prevent or at least minimize 1ncest, as this is usually detrimental. For example, male lions leave the pride they were born into when they reach sexual maturity, and attempt to take over another, unrelated pride - this prevents them mating with their female relatives. Females remain in the pride they were born into all their lives, but the tenure of males is usually only two to three years, so by the time they reach sexual maturity their father will have been overthrown by new males, thus preventing them breeding with him.
That said, 1ncest certainly does occur in the animal kingdom. Many animals will mate with their relatives if no other mate is available - indeed, humans commonly mate related animals for the purpose of selective breeding, where they wish to 'fix' a particular characteristic in the animals. In some species, 1ncest is actually the normal method of reproduction - in certain species of wasp, for example, males mate with their sisters as soon as they have hatched.
In stoats, males will enter nests of newborns whilst the mother is absent and mate with all the females in the litter. Their eggs are fertilised, but do not implant and complete development until the females have grown up and left the nest. This is a way of getting a head start on breeding for a small, vulnerable animal that often does not live very long.
Many species have social systems that have evolved to prevent or at least minimize 1ncest, as this is usually detrimental. For example, male lions leave the pride they were born into when they reach sexual maturity, and attempt to take over another, unrelated pride - this prevents them mating with their female relatives. Females remain in the pride they were born into all their lives, but the tenure of males is usually only two to three years, so by the time they reach sexual maturity their father will have been overthrown by new males, thus preventing them breeding with him.
That said, 1ncest certainly does occur in the animal kingdom. Many animals will mate with their relatives if no other mate is available - indeed, humans commonly mate related animals for the purpose of selective breeding, where they wish to 'fix' a particular characteristic in the animals. In some species, 1ncest is actually the normal method of reproduction - in certain species of wasp, for example, males mate with their sisters as soon as they have hatched.
