What is Polygyny in animals?
'''Polygyny''' in animals is a [[mating system]] in which one male lives and mates with more than one female. Each female only mates with a single male. If several females mate with several males it is either as [[promiscuity]] or '''polygynandry'''. Typical polygyny is one-male, multi-female groups. The system is widespread. Examples are [[elephant seal]],<ref>de Bruyn P.J.N.; Tosh C.A.; Bester, M.N.; Cameron E.Z.; McIntyre T.; Wilkinson I.S. 2011. Sex at sea: alternative mating system in an extremely polygynous mammal (PDF). ''Animal Behaviour''. '''82''' (3): 445–451. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000334721100248X?via%3Dihub]</ref> [[spotted hyena]],<ref>Holekamp, Kay E. et al. 2012. Society, demography and genetic structure in the spotted hyena. ''Molecular Ecology'' '''21'''.3 (2012): 613-632. [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05240.x]</ref> [[gorilla]], house [[wren]], [[hamadryas baboon]], common [[pheasant]], [[red deer]], [[Bengal tiger]]. == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Ethology]] [[Category:Sexuality]]