First of all, what does it mean, when two animals mate for life? It’s a bit of a misnomer. Monogamous pairs of animals are not always sexually exclusive. Many animals that form pairs to mate and raise offspring regularly engage in sexual activities with partners other than their primary mate.

Beavers

It’s believed beavers mate for life and are monogamous. Beaver are good parents with both mother and father taking an active roll in raising kits.

Wolves

Wolves practice serial monogamy, meaning they can have several mates throughout a lifetime, but only one at a time. A female wolf will typically mate with one male, but will take another if her mate dies, gets kicked out of the pack or is so injured or sick that he can’t breed.

Swans

Swans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.

Brolga Cranes

Cranes form lifelong monogamous pair bonds.

French Angel Fish

French angelfish are monogamous and stay in pairs until separated by death. For this reason, they are often seen roaming the reef in pairs.

Gibbons

Gibbons are a monogamous species most closely related to us, humans. Gibbons are an exception to the rule – most other great apes are either very promiscuous or live in harem-like families. Even though humans show monogamous traits, they rarely mate for life.

Termites

One of the most profound and defining attributes of the termite family is that it is built on monogamy. Termites are faithful. They are probably the most monogamous group of animals on earth. The evolutionary outcome of this commitment to monogamy is a large and integrated family.

Penguins

Adelie penguins usually keep the same mate all their life, unless the mate dies. Emperor penguins are monogamous for a year, meaning they usually change mate every year. There are 17 species of penguins known.

Barn Owl

Barn Owls are monogamous. Due to their their short lifespan, they often only breed once or twice.

Shingleback Skink

Monogamous shingleback skinks give birth rather than laying eggs.

Wolf Eel

A wolf-eels are also unusual fish in being monogamous. A mating pair often lie side by side with their heads together. They form a bond at about four years old, but do not produce eggs until a few years later.

Black Vultures

For black vultures, enforcing monogamy is a family affair: If caught having sex with a bird other than its partner, the vulture gets harassed by not only its mate, but by other vultures in the area.