• Question: Why do some animal sociaties have a matriach and some have a patriach?

    Asked by anna1999 to Jo, Kevin, Louise, Valeria on 20 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 20 Jun 2012:


      I am not sure but I would guess it depends on which works the best for each species, some may work better with females being dominant and others with males as dominant

    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 20 Jun 2012:


      Mainly it’s a survival tactic – in mammals, the presence of milk makes males more or less disposable and the females much more important.

      Lions are dominated by males. However, the core family is female. When a new male takes over, he kills the cubs and breeds the females to pass on his genes. The females always remain intact but males generally have short reigns – so it really is the females who are in control.

      In the elephant herds the females can protect and train the young. They stick together until the young males become troublesome. they then leave. Old males cause problems, especially during mating and generally they are left to fend for themselves one they are used for reproduction.

      The monkey family useds the stronger males to fight invaders/enemies while the females rear and train the young. In all cases the young take considerable time and effort to rear. Its a division of labor to insure the genes go forward and survive.

      Who rules the roost is a matter of life and death among animals, but the point I’m trying to make is that what may appear to be the ‘head’ of the group may actually be simply a division of labour.

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