Best Animal Dads
A list of the best animal dads in terms of child-rearing.
We all know that raising children is mainly the responsibility of mothers, but in the animal kingdom it doesn’t say so. In this article you will be surprised to find out that there are some male animals that are so good in raising their offspring. These fathers show tremendous efforts in providing what is best when it comes to parenting. Below is a list of the 10 best animal father from around the world.
Lion
Barely making it to our list is the ferocious lion. We all know and perhaps seen some documentary films showing how lazy the king lion is. While the lioness and her gang ambush a prey, he is enjoying a fine sleep . When dinner time is ready, he always get the first cut. But why did I included the male lion in the list, simply put, he is a steady guardian of the gang when he’s awake. Gifted with an eyesight, five times better than human eyes, he can survey intruders coming to his territory and he will surely fight it out to death just to protect his prides that can include six to seven lioness and a dozen cubs.
Antechinus
This Australian mouse makes the cut due to his total determination when it comes to making love. He is what we may call “Mr. Gigolo” of the animal kingdom for the simple reason that while other males would die to get a little action, this Antechinus male actually dies when he gets a little action. Well not a little, more like a lot. For the record, this little fellow can spend up to 12 hours mating! That he forgot to eat, drink and sleep. His partner benefits from it, letting herself be filled with sperm that may last until the end of the breeding season.
Golden Jackal
The golden jackal which is native to India and what we may call “Mr. Till Death Do as Part”, for this skillful scavenger unlike other animals stick it out with a partner for life. Another good thing about this guy, he knows how to budget the food resources of the family. He feed his kids with rehearse food. What an ingenious way, don’t you think so?
Giant Water Bug
This guy from Japan is a strong and ferocious predator known for catching its prey by injecting a special toxin. Also, giant water bugs has a unique way in dealing with pregnancy, they treat it as a team effort. Females lay their eggs on the males’ back and the males had to deal with them until they hatch which could take a week. Take note, the male giant water bug carry not just a single egg but 150 eggs! (see photo)
Rhea
At first glance it seem like that these South American flightless birds have a rather unusual relationship. A polygamous species, the males flirt around females and can keep up to 12 females in one occasion. But before you get mad at these males, take note that these dads know how to share some burdens in rearing children. During mating season, females in an attempt to get some actions from other males have to leave the eggs to its dad. Poor dad, he is task to sit it out for two months incubating up to 60 eggs. At times, he has to bear with just two weeks of foods supply. The surprising side of this child-rearing task, dad has to take care of his children for nearly two years as a single parent.
Stickleback
This wily little fish knows how to attract females. He creates a special “love nest” out of a sticky substance produced by its kidneys. Females are trap and glued once they get nearer to this love nest and mating follows. The male once he iWhat a beautiful nest that several females The male uses this secretion, which is produced by his kidneys, to create a “love nest.” Once built, it’s just a matter of time before the females come a-knocking, but they shouldn’t get too attached. Once the male impregnates a female and she lays her eggs, he leave her for another mate. But don’t call this dad, irresponsible, he takes care of the eggs, providing them with oxygen-rich and clean air by fanning them at 400 beats per minute for more than half the day—now that’s quite a workout!
Jacana
This dad can pass as a circus performer what with its ability to “walk on water” by balancing on lily pads. And when it comes to relationship this dad is fantastic, making love with his mate in a nest he himself build. But poor guy, his belle after laying her eggs, abandons him for another guy. Meanwhile, dad remains on the nest, watching over the eggs to protect them—sometimes from their own mother! Female jacanas often return and smash their own eggs.
Giant African Bullfrog
This dad has a very special way of rearing his children, giant African bullfrog is known to eat all that comes his way and can fit his mouth. This ability comes in handy for this dad since he has to take care of over 6,000 eggs. He will swallow them all and keeping them tucked inside his vocal sacs for six weeks. When hatching period arrives all he has to do is to vomit and presto, his new little ones see daylight.
Emperor Penguin
Our next dad comes from the coldest place on earth Antarctica and is included in the list for his endurance. He is task to keep the egg warm while its mum takes a two-month feeding adventure. This dad, in order to keep the egg warm in subzero whether has two balanced it on his leg. What a novel way, don’t you think? At times he will have to asked his fellow males to help him warmth the egg until it is hatch. He too has to provide the baby’s first meal until its mother return with some fish to eat.
Sea Horse
Topping our list is the sea horse, a monogamous sea creature and a very special sea creature at that. Believe it or not male sea horse s are the ones who get pregnant at times carrying in his body up to 1,000 babies at a time! A tall achievement for a small sea creature but take note, male sea horse has been known to eat a few of his offspring as well.
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47 Responses to “Best Animal Dads”
On March 16, 2009 at 3:24 am
seen the docu titled march of the penguins.. they’re really one of the best animal dads..
one of the best topics you have here!!!=)
On March 16, 2009 at 4:41 am
Interesting article!
On March 16, 2009 at 4:45 am
Nice article! ngayon ko lang nalaman may best dad din pala animal! heheh
On March 16, 2009 at 4:50 am
Awesome Awesome Awesome !I dont know what else to say about this piece papaleng.I am learning about things I didnt even know about through you.Great article.
On March 16, 2009 at 5:56 am
Excellent work. Hope you don’t mind but I have blogged it… youc an find it at
http://www.webphemera.com
or more specifically
http://www.webphemera.com/2009/03/best-animal-fathers.html
Thanks!
On March 16, 2009 at 6:38 am
Wonderful article!
On March 16, 2009 at 7:07 am
Nice article. Where did you find those lovely pictures? I notice there are no sources given.
On March 16, 2009 at 7:10 am
That bull frog is one ugly creature. Imagine that! vomiting out his kids.
Very entertaining article.
On March 16, 2009 at 7:59 am
A fun read!
On March 16, 2009 at 8:04 am
While I do not agree with your first line about mothers, as I’ve seen my share of them that can’t do a thing and fathers that are both mother and father, I must say the article is well written and presented. Michael
On March 16, 2009 at 8:18 am
I really enjoyed this article! I feel more fathers should take after these animals. I’m greatful that my husband is a wonderful dad:)
On March 16, 2009 at 8:26 am
Excellent! That was great! nicely done and beautiful pics as well. I always enjoyed reading your article. Thanx for sharing
On March 16, 2009 at 8:39 am
An amazing article. I am learning so much from your writing, papaleng. Well done.
Christine
On March 16, 2009 at 9:07 am
There are many more animals that are programmed like this. It is very interesting to study such animal intincts.
On March 16, 2009 at 9:46 am
Oh, well, what I liked most is the paragraph about the lion. He’s the king so he gets the first cut. Nice post, papaleng. Keep it up!
On March 16, 2009 at 9:58 am
Really interesting, great pictures, and good job doing your research!
On March 16, 2009 at 10:38 am
well researched and nicely told..
On March 16, 2009 at 11:02 am
Interesting and unique take on parenthood.
On March 16, 2009 at 11:42 am
I enjoyed this immensely, really well researched and written and some unusual great dads
On March 16, 2009 at 12:03 pm
You always present your work so well!!Great job!!:-d
On March 16, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Fantastic presentation! I don’t think I could get close to any of them, though. I am a bite squeamish.
On March 16, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Love the pictures.
On March 16, 2009 at 3:18 pm
This is very amazing.I have learned so much from this article. Thanks for sharing
Monica
On March 16, 2009 at 3:37 pm
This was very informative. Thanks 4 sharing.
On March 16, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Great article. I didnt know about some of these dads.
On March 16, 2009 at 4:28 pm
No dead beat dads here.
On March 16, 2009 at 4:29 pm
man you are a star my brother the best article going and full of wonderful pictures keep up the wonderful articles i longer have to buy national geographics your stuff is better god bless brother
On March 16, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Wonderful way ,nature teach us to be a dad. ,thank you.
On March 16, 2009 at 7:37 pm
How about that. I find a bit of all of them in me! Except the seahorse. No, not the seahorse.
On March 16, 2009 at 7:59 pm
From the most terrible to the most gentle and corageous. Animals are amazing.
On March 16, 2009 at 8:35 pm
That’s really interesting.
Thanks!
Inna
On March 16, 2009 at 8:49 pm
I didn’t know the facts about the other animals but I learned about the penguin dads in “Happy Feet”.
On March 16, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Nature dictates that men can’t be pregnant like the seahorse, but they can be monogamous like them if they want to. Thanks for this interesting article.
On March 16, 2009 at 10:05 pm
So informative. Really a great work of you
On March 17, 2009 at 1:30 am
This is a special treat to all fathers. I have got lots of info. Well researched and very good narration…
On March 17, 2009 at 2:47 am
interesting, great pictures, and good job on this. thanks!
On March 17, 2009 at 8:23 am
nice article, i thought my dad is the best! lol!
On March 17, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Well done article.
On March 17, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Excellent article. If animal dads do their best for their kids, human fathers should do much better .
On March 18, 2009 at 1:59 pm
this article should serve as a significant example to “human” dad: if animals can do it, why can’t a “human dad” (lol)
great post papaleng..full of significant informations
On March 19, 2009 at 9:58 am
Id like to see myself in that number
On March 21, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Interesting article. I’ve never heard of a giant water bug before… weird looking creature.
On March 21, 2009 at 8:38 pm
They can be more responsible parent than I am.Lol. Nice article as usual.
On April 21, 2009 at 11:20 am
Very interesting stuff Revivor man,Cool info,shh don’t tell anybody but I only knew about the lionn and the sticky fish.Those poor little mice guys,that sucks.
On April 21, 2009 at 11:22 am
Oops,sorry Papa, I was just at his stumble page when I clicked on this.
On September 11, 2009 at 9:48 am
Great interesting stuff. Thanks for the wonderful read!
On November 12, 2009 at 11:18 am
whoa coolness!!!! I only knew about some of the facts on here!!! That giant water bug is really ugly though!!!!!!!!
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