Uploaded October 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
From foxes, to lions, to even pandas, join me as I reveal to you some of the top cheaters in the animal kingdom, as well as those that mate for life!
13. Wolves
Wolves are known for many things in the world, and not all of them are good things. Especially when you consider that wolves are considered a bad omen and something that should be feared at all costs.
Yet, despite their tags of being "evil", they honestly are one of the most pure animals in the world when it comes to mating. As they truly due mate for life (barring the end of their mate of course). In fact, they start mating with their partner as soon as two years old.
12. The Queen Bee
A lot has been said about bee hives over the years, including their very unique structure when it comes to who does what. And if you know anything about bee hives, you know that the very bee that is at the top of the ladder is the queen bee. She is the one that they protect with their lives, she is the one who makes all the bees that live in the hive, and by that extensions, she's a bee that mates with a LOT of bees within the hive.
How many? Well, during one of her "mating runs", it's said that she'll go and mate with about 40 different drone bees.
11. Gibbons
You might not be fully aware of the Gibbons species, but to put it basically, they're very furry monkeys...
10. Bonobos
Now, if you want to see an example of a monkey species that DOESN'T live in the style of monogamy and prefers to just get with whoever is available, that would be the Bonobos. These are primates that not only endorse polygamy, they will do it as a way of connecting with their group at large.
Confused? Well, in certain groups of animals, there is tension as to what one might do to get power or change the paradigm of the collective. To try and show favor with the others, they'll have a "party" of sorts where they all get with one another and literally share multiple partners, thus building up friendships and alliances, and possibly growing their family as a whole.
8. Topi Antelopes
Ok, this one isn't so much cheating, but an act to try and ensure the survival of the species. Roll with me on this, ok?
This is the tale of Topi Antelopes, a species that is very much unlike ANYTHING you've seen on this list so far. And for a very simple reason. The female Topi Antelopes are only fertile for one day every year! Yeah, that's a thing, and it creates some very aggressive females as a result.
When their time of the year comes, they won't just go and mate with a male, they'll mate with that male multiple times, and then go find another male and go mate with them. Sometimes multiple partners and sessions within a single day! All to make sure that they get pregnant and are able to have kids.
7. Shingleback skinks
No, this is not a madeup word, it's a very real species of reptile that live in Australia, and they too are a species that prefers to be with one mate for the rest of their lives. And not unlike humans, they'll go through the motions of courtship in order to earn the love and respect of their prospective mate.
6. Hedge Sparrow and Barn Swallow
I'm putting these two bird species together because they honestly do act similarly when it comes to how they mate, and how they cheat on their mates. To their credit, once they get with someone, they don't just ignore them and treat them like meat. Though you could it that way.
Rather, they will get with one male bird and then look for another male bird to mate with. Ravenous? Not satisfied? Not quite. Rather, they're not ones to gamble. They'll go and be with multiple partners because they want to make sure that they can lay the most eggs possible, and thus have more children.
5. Barn Eagles
On the more positive side of bird relationships, you have the Barn Owl. Which honestly shouldn't be too much of a surprise, as owls are very smart and wise. Right Legend of Zelda fans?
Anyway, Barn Owls truly do believe in having one partner for all of time.
4. Jumping Spiders
Ok, so this one is a very interesting case of cheating, and it has one heck of a twist at the end. It all has to do with how the Jumping Spider finds its many mates.
Enjoy!
3. Octopods
While we've seen many creatures of the land and sky show off their cheating and monogamous ways, what about the creatures of the sea? Well, for the Octopods (also known as Octopus), they believe in the ways of monogamy.
. 2. North American Elk
For those who don't know what a "Harem" is, it basically mean that one man gets to mate with a whole bunch of females that are under his purview. Some of these men even have dozens of wives. But surely this is only a thing that happens with humans...right?
1. Bald Eagle
Yes! The very symbol of freedom is also a symbol of monogamy! Truly this is a message from the heavens that the Bald Eagle is a very special kind of bird.
Ahem, anyway. The Bald Eagles are actually very special when it comes to their monogamy..
From foxes, to lions, to even pandas, join me as I reveal to you some of the top cheaters in the animal kingdom, as well as those that mate for life!
13. Wolves
Wolves are known for many things in the world, and not all of them are good things. Especially when you consider that wolves are considered a bad omen and something that should be feared at all costs.
Yet, despite their tags of being "evil", they honestly are one of the most pure animals in the world when it comes to mating. As they truly due mate for life (barring the end of their mate of course). In fact, they start mating with their partner as soon as two years old.
12. The Queen Bee
A lot has been said about bee hives over the years, including their very unique structure when it comes to who does what. And if you know anything about bee hives, you know that the very bee that is at the top of the ladder is the queen bee. She is the one that they protect with their lives, she is the one who makes all the bees that live in the hive, and by that extensions, she's a bee that mates with a LOT of bees within the hive.
How many? Well, during one of her "mating runs", it's said that she'll go and mate with about 40 different drone bees.
11. Gibbons
You might not be fully aware of the Gibbons species, but to put it basically, they're very furry monkeys...
10. Bonobos
Now, if you want to see an example of a monkey species that DOESN'T live in the style of monogamy and prefers to just get with whoever is available, that would be the Bonobos. These are primates that not only endorse polygamy, they will do it as a way of connecting with their group at large.
Confused? Well, in certain groups of animals, there is tension as to what one might do to get power or change the paradigm of the collective. To try and show favor with the others, they'll have a "party" of sorts where they all get with one another and literally share multiple partners, thus building up friendships and alliances, and possibly growing their family as a whole.
8. Topi Antelopes
Ok, this one isn't so much cheating, but an act to try and ensure the survival of the species. Roll with me on this, ok?
This is the tale of Topi Antelopes, a species that is very much unlike ANYTHING you've seen on this list so far. And for a very simple reason. The female Topi Antelopes are only fertile for one day every year! Yeah, that's a thing, and it creates some very aggressive females as a result.
When their time of the year comes, they won't just go and mate with a male, they'll mate with that male multiple times, and then go find another male and go mate with them. Sometimes multiple partners and sessions within a single day! All to make sure that they get pregnant and are able to have kids.
7. Shingleback skinks
No, this is not a madeup word, it's a very real species of reptile that live in Australia, and they too are a species that prefers to be with one mate for the rest of their lives. And not unlike humans, they'll go through the motions of courtship in order to earn the love and respect of their prospective mate.
6. Hedge Sparrow and Barn Swallow
I'm putting these two bird species together because they honestly do act similarly when it comes to how they mate, and how they cheat on their mates. To their credit, once they get with someone, they don't just ignore them and treat them like meat. Though you could it that way.
Rather, they will get with one male bird and then look for another male bird to mate with. Ravenous? Not satisfied? Not quite. Rather, they're not ones to gamble. They'll go and be with multiple partners because they want to make sure that they can lay the most eggs possible, and thus have more children.
5. Barn Eagles
On the more positive side of bird relationships, you have the Barn Owl. Which honestly shouldn't be too much of a surprise, as owls are very smart and wise. Right Legend of Zelda fans?
Anyway, Barn Owls truly do believe in having one partner for all of time.
4. Jumping Spiders
Ok, so this one is a very interesting case of cheating, and it has one heck of a twist at the end. It all has to do with how the Jumping Spider finds its many mates.
Enjoy!
3. Octopods
While we've seen many creatures of the land and sky show off their cheating and monogamous ways, what about the creatures of the sea? Well, for the Octopods (also known as Octopus), they believe in the ways of monogamy.
. 2. North American Elk
For those who don't know what a "Harem" is, it basically mean that one man gets to mate with a whole bunch of females that are under his purview. Some of these men even have dozens of wives. But surely this is only a thing that happens with humans...right?
1. Bald Eagle
Yes! The very symbol of freedom is also a symbol of monogamy! Truly this is a message from the heavens that the Bald Eagle is a very special kind of bird.
Ahem, anyway. The Bald Eagles are actually very special when it comes to their monogamy..
