INSTANT EXPERT: SEX COMBAT
Do these tusks make me look hot?
Males are played off against each other by nature. They fight over territories, hierarchy, and not least females. In the mating season, the right to the females is demonstrated in many ways. Some chase rivals away using their horns or claws, whereas others try to outperform other fellow suitors by dancing or building a nest.
To most animals, every single day is a struggle to find food, avoid predators, and reproduce. Among many species, it is hence important to have a good territory that includes food and protection and is attractive to mates. Cheetah males defend their territories all year. They tell other males to keep away by marking the area by means of special pheromones in their urine. On the other hand, the males of several bird species only fiercely defend a specific area during the breeding period. Male birds’ often colourful plumage and singing is used to attract females, but also to deter other males from entering the established territory.
The struggle for females has caused the development of a series of specific characteristics such as horns, special features, colourful plumage, large bodies, and fierce aggression among males. All of those features are meant to impress females and earn the right to mate. The male fighting could be ordinary battles, which are won by the stronger part, but the power struggles might also be more sophisticated. Birds-of-paradise males perform odd dances to attract females. The dancing involves tail swishing, capering about, and other acrobatic exercises that take place in a small arena on the forest floor that the male has cleared of branches and leaves. Male sticklebacks woo females by showing off a dashing nest for the eggs that they built on the ocean floor. Only males with high-quality nests will be able to attract females.
Although the struggles between males might seem rather violent, they rarely result in severe injury. Often, the fights are of a more ritual nature, during which different behaviour patterns and a brief struggle determine who is the winner. If a regular fight does begin, the weak party often retreats, before things go seriously wrong, as it is important that the loser be able to recover before a new fight begins.