Explain pair bonding in mammals.

• A. An arrangement where a male guards territory from others.
• B. A social group with multiple breeding partners.
• C. A stable social pair formed for mating and parental care across a breeding season or lifetime.
• D. A mating system where females mate with multiple males.

Answer: (C)

Pair bonding in mammals is a stable social relationship between two individuals—usually a male and a female—that forms to coordinate mating and provide parental care. In these bonds, the pair stays together across a breeding season or even for life, collaborates on defending territory and sharing resources, and often engages in cooperative parenting. This long-term association goes beyond a single mating event and is supported by behaviors such as mutual grooming, joint defense, and synchronized activities around offspring. Not all mammals form such bonds; many species have groups with multiple breeding partners or mating systems where females mate with several males, which are different patterns from a dedicated pair bond. In species like prairie voles or California mice, strong pair bonds are a key strategy for reproductive success and offspring survival.