Albatrosses
Albatrosses choose their future partners long and carefully. They stay together throughout their entire lives. However, despite the fact that albatrosses are socially monogamous, the truth is that they can mate with other individuals if their partner isn't nearby. Even though this may seem like «cheating» to us, among birds this process is the norm and serves merely as one more way of continuing the species. What's more, unlike many other feathered creatures, which choose a partner only for the mating season, albatrosses really do stay with their other half forever.
Otters
Otters often form very strong partnerships. They choose a single mate and remain faithful to it for life. They play and hunt together. Every year otters also go through a courtship ritual: the male woos his partner. The female responds by engaging in tender interaction with him. As a sign of love, an otter may even bite its companion on the nose! Interestingly, unlike other animals that form pairs, male and female otters live not together but on separate territories. Yet their bond does not become any weaker because of this.
Wolves
It's believed that wolves are among that small number of fully monogamous mammals. This is partly true; these beasts really are devoted to their partners. Usually they choose a mate for life and raise their offspring together. Some studies have proven that the longer wolves stay together, the greater the chance of survival their cubs will have in the future. Nevertheless, it's important to understand that pure monogamy is very rare in nature. And among wolves there are polygamous individuals. The alphas of the pack are especially likely to become such.
Barn owls
Usually these owls build a family for life. The male carefully courts the female to win her attention, and then they raise their little owlets together. Despite this, barn owls can sometimes part ways. However, «cheating» is extremely rare among these birds. That's why, as National Geographic writes, the only way to change partners is a mutual separation. This usually happens when a barn owl is unable to produce a large brood. The males, meanwhile, are left only to find themselves a new female to continue the species.
Gibbons
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Male and female gibbons are considered very devoted creatures. They pair up for life and form a family that stays together until the offspring grow up and leave home. The more time gibbons spend together, the closer their bond becomes. However, like albatrosses, gibbons are monogamous only socially. That is, if, for example, a male dies in another family, a gibbon may well leave his female and go off to another one to continue the line. This happens, nonetheless, fairly rarely.
Penguins
Penguins are also classified as monogamous animals. Although in reality most of them find a permanent partner only for the duration of the mating season. Then the penguins begin raising chicks together. However, when the next breeding season arrives, they will most likely leave each other. Nevertheless, there are individuals that really do find a partner for life. Parting for a time, they meet again the following year in the same place to continue the species. And if the female dies, the male takes full responsibility for continuing to care for the chicks.
Dik-dik antelopes
These small antelopes, the size of a domestic cat, are among the few «one-love» creatures among mammals. Usually grazing animals live in herds, but not dik-diks. They form a pair for life, in which the male marks the territory and carefully guards his partner. Female dik-diks give birth to only one offspring at a time, and for up to 7 months the newborn stays with its parents. At the same time, the male takes an active part in raising his «child». And once the little dik-dik leaves its parents, the pair of adult antelopes stays together to produce their next offspring!
Prairie voles
Surprisingly, unlike most of their relatives, prairie voles are absolutely monogamous. They really do choose the partner with whom they are ready to stay until the end of their lives. Prairie voles build nests, forage for food, and raise their young together. Meanwhile, their closest relatives, meadow voles for example, are not distinguished by such a loving attachment. Scientists claim that this behavior of the prairie voles is influenced by certain chemical substances in their brains.
Black vultures
When black vultures begin to take an interest in each other, they leave their flocks and begin a chase in the air. At an enormous height, one bird latches onto the other, and together, in a spiral, they descend to the ground. As soon as the female lays her eggs, both partners begin actively caring for their future offspring. However, it sometimes happens that the male notices another female – and flies off, abandoning the family. Surprisingly, as The Guardian writes, such behavior is frowned upon among vultures. And if a male tries to «cheat» on his partner, he will be beaten by the birds of his flock. After that, the black vulture will be forced to return to his female and offspring.
French angelfish
It's by no means only mammals and birds that can be faithful. Proof of this is the French angelfish, or butterflyfish. While some fish live in schools, angelfish prefer to devote their time only to themselves and their chosen mate. They often swim in pairs and are very jealous of other individuals. Butterflyfish will defend their territory if other angelfish approach them. And although the union of these sea creatures usually lasts about three years, sometimes such fish can remain partners for life!
