Eternal love in nature: One-of-a-kind animals that defy the norm on Valentine's Day

He Valentine's Daycelebrated on that day February 14Used by millions of people to celebrate love And the affection they feel, however, is there animals They don't need a special date because the affection they feel for their partners lasts a lifetime.

Contrary to the habits of other animals, there are such creatures Eagles Blacks, The PigeonsThe Otters Or prairie voles, among many others, are known to exist Monogamous, that is, if they find a mate, they keep it for life. Some of them adapt their habits to suit the needs of their spouses.

These behaviors have baffled scientists like Hemant Nair of the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience at the Yerkes National Primate Institute at Atlanta University in the US, because according to a study, 95% of mammalian species PolygamistsThat is, they have more than one partner throughout their life.

The Meadow voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are rodents that live in North America and are very small, some measuring 15 centimeters in length and weighing 40 to 50 grams.

According to the University of Wisconsin, they are widely known as monogamous, with a female and male sharing the same nest and home range and staying together for life.

Males exclude other members of their species of the same sex from their nests through aggression.

Atlanta University researcher Larry Young announced to US media NPR Men go through an elaborate ritual when they find a “worthy woman”.

Once the courtship is over, the prairie voles end up together forever. “They stay like this their entire lives, which can last anywhere from one to three years in the lab,” Young said, acknowledging that “only about 3% of mammals exhibit this type of monogamy.”

Pigeons (Columbidae) are symbolic of human union and marriage, and this is no coincidence, because step US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are monogamous, and it is not uncommon to observe couples showing their affection through grooming or gentle and “sweet” embraces.

When it comes time to find a home, the man should look for a place the woman approves of. Both parents build their nest.

When it comes time to build his nest, the male must find a spot that the female recognizes.

Their love is also passed on to their young, as after their eggs hatch, their parents will “work” to feed them something called “pigeon milk,” rich in proteins and fats secreted by the lining of the adults' crops.

Black Eagles (Coragips atratus) are fascinating birds that perform a complex courtship ritual. The adults break away from the herd and surround the females with outstretched necks of high-altitude males, exhaling loudly and giving chase before launching themselves. Hawk Hill Sanctuary.

After the mating ritual, eagles stay together for life even if they do not nest, as females lay their eggs in dark corners, rock crevices, caves, tree holes, egg trunks, and on the floors of abandoned buildings.

The parents take turns incubating the eggs, usually laid on top of their toes, to keep them warm. After birth, adult vultures nurse their young for up to 14 days.

Otters mate over the winter and prepare to have their young the following spring. After giving birth, the pair stays together for life. National Park Services of America.

The social life of beavers mainly focuses on the family, i.e. mother, father and their offspring. In nature, females preside over this social structure and usually establish a dwelling built of sticks and mud within a pond, lake or river.

Young animals usually stay with their parents for two or three years, so up to three generations can live together within a household. In the second or third spring, the offspring leave the nest, travel long distances in search of a mate and have the opportunity to start a new colony.