Courtship in the Animal World...

[Mr. Dictator]

I was watching Animal Planet a while ago and a thought popped into my mind:

Does any animal besides humans have a sort of prolonged courtship?

I don't mean like peacocks and their feathers, i mean one meeting the other several times and going through a human-like courtship.

i hope that makes sense.

 

[CaptainF]

Humans don't just do dates, some just have sex with each other on a whim.

We are versatile like that.

 

[GenMarshall]

I dont know if any other animal do any sourt of long "dating" as humans do.

 

[Chukchi Husky]

Wolves go through something similar to dating.

 

[ArneHD]

On a somewhat related note, notice that in the animal world, it's the males who get colourful feathers, furs, etc. so why, in the human world, is it the female who dresses up etc.?

I think it has to do with aliens. All men are really deadly afraid of aliens and dress in a very colourless way as a result. This way, if the aliens come, the women will be chosen for abduction rather than the men, since men have boring clothing in comparison to women.

 

[Kyriakos]

However women in past times didnt work ussually, so they had more time to dress in such clothes, and essentially be like dolls.

Afterall one has to assume that all mammals are divided to two genders (ie they are not hermaphroditic) because in nature advanced animal life would not be able to survive if it had to be burdered with the roles of both of the sexes.
Only man has become able to survive nomatter what, but that was not known when our ealiest ancestors started to appear.

 

[Archbob]

Many animals are better than humans. Many types of penguins and Jackdaws for instance are faithful for life. Not too many humans can claim that nowdays.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Many animals are better than humans. Many types of penguins and Jackdaws for instance are faithful for life. Not too many humans can claim that nowdays.

Other than birds, are there any other non human critters that mate for life? Black widows and preying mantis aside, of course.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

The animals aren't stupid enough to do that. They just do what it all boils down to.

 

[GoldEagle]

The animals aren't stupid enough to do that. They just do what it all boils down to.

Except for dolphins. They are the only mammal, besides humans, that have sex because of pleasure.

And, on a side note, did you know that a female pig's orgasm lasts for 30 minutes!?

 

[Chukchi Husky]

I think more animals than just dolphins have sex for pleasure. I was reading about it on Wikipedia.

 

[GoldEagle]

I think more animals than just dolphins have sex for pleasure. I was reading about it on Wikipedia.

My chain letter begs to differ

 

[Chukchi Husky]

I'm sorry.

 

[GoldEagle]

I'm sorry.

Actually, you could be right. Sometimes you just can't trust Wikipedia, but I still bet you're right.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Im sorry too. Im so old, that every time I see the thread title, the first thing I think of is 'The Courtship of Eddies Father'.

Courtship is the attempt to convince a potential mate that youre suitable for mating, right? In that case, of course theres courtship, but Im pretty sure humans are the only ones who go on dates as part of their courtship rituals.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I think more animals than just dolphins have sex for pleasure. I was reading about it on Wikipedia.

There are others CH;Bonobos (subspecies of chimp) are one.

 

[Birdjaguar]

The animals aren't stupid enough to do that. They just do what it all boils down to.

If you are talking about mating for life, you are wrong. There are species of birds that do mate for life. Monogamy though may not mean they never cheat. This site seems to have some student papers related to sex and attraction.

http://www.students.emory.edu/HYBRIDVIGOR/issue1/mating.htm

 

[.Shane.]

but Im pretty sure humans are the only ones who go on dates as part of their courtship rituals.

I'm also pretty sure that humans are the only animals that would $100 for dinner at Red Lobster and a movie just to try and get laid. I've watched Animal Planet, and I'm talking A LOT of Animal Planet, and I've never seen a chimp or a hippo do that.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Ravens I believe mate for Life
Ladybettles have around 60 sexual partners

 

[Esox]

Wolves mate for life, but it's more of a partnership thing - they sleep around sometimes. Apparently there's a fish called the anglerfish where the male actually fuses its body to the female. I knew a guy like that once. He'd get a girlfriend and you'd never see him again.