Mission Surya – Day 27: Mating and Parenting Behaviour
Important reproductive behaviours including courtship displays, lekking systems, mating calls, brood parasitism and parental investment.
13 March 2026
Reproductive behaviour plays a major role in species survival and natural selection. Many animals evolve elaborate behavioural strategies to attract mates and ensure offspring survival.
Core Concepts
Courtship displays are ritualised behaviours used to attract mates.
Peacocks and birds of paradise perform elaborate visual displays during mating.
Lekking occurs when males gather in display arenas and females choose mates.
Mating calls are species-specific sounds used to attract partners.
Synchronized spawning occurs when many individuals release gametes simultaneously.
Special Reproductive Strategies
• Brood parasitism occurs when birds like cuckoos lay eggs in the nests of other species.
• Parental investment includes care such as incubation, feeding and protection of offspring.
• Parthenogenesis allows reproduction without fertilization in species like Komodo dragons.
Quick Revision for Prelims
- • Courtship displays are ritualised behaviours used to attract mates.
- • Peacocks and birds of paradise perform elaborate visual displays during mating.
- • Lekking occurs when males gather in display arenas and females choose mates.