Which statement about polyandry in mammals is true?

Which statement about polyandry in mammals is true?

• A. It is common in many ungulates.
• B. It is relatively rare in mammals.
• C. It involves a single male mating with multiple females.
• D. It requires lifelong monogamy.

Answer: (B)

Polyandry means a female mates with multiple males. In mammals, this pattern is relatively rare compared with other mating systems. Most mammal species show either polygyny (one male with many females) or promiscuous or monogamous arrangements, so a female mating with several different males is uncommon. Ungulates, for example, more often exhibit polygyny, not polyandry. That’s why this statement holds: polyandry is relatively rare in mammals. The other ideas mix up what polyandry means—one male with many females is polygyny, and lifelong monogamy would not involve a female mating with multiple males.

Polyandry means a female mates with multiple males. In mammals, this pattern is relatively rare compared with other mating systems. Most mammal species show either polygyny (one male with many females) or promiscuous or monogamous arrangements, so a female mating with several different males is uncommon. Ungulates, for example, more often exhibit polygyny, not polyandry. That’s why this statement holds: polyandry is relatively rare in mammals. The other ideas mix up what polyandry means—one male with many females is polygyny, and lifelong monogamy would not involve a female mating with multiple males.