re: #302 A Mom Anon

About that whole Alpha male thing…..

I’m no zoology expert or anything, but don’t females kind of sort out who the alpha males are in a herd? I mean, if the females choose who to mate with out of instinct for strong genetic material and characteristics, then that means it’s kind of up to the ladies who the alphas are, right?

It is more complicated than that because there are so many species with different mating strategies. Among herding animals males will often battle one another for control over a “harem”. Elephants and deer are common examples.

Female birds on the other hand often select their mate based on various characteristics: plummage, songs, nice nests and dances are examples of what some different species focus on.