Which statement distinguishes monogamy from polygyny as mammalian mating systems?

• A. Monogamy involves exclusive mating with a single partner during a breeding cycle or lifetime.
• B. Monogamy involves one mate per breeding cycle or lifetime; polygyny involves one male mating with multiple females.
• C. Monogamy guarantees equal parental care by both partners.
• D. Monogamy is characterized by rapid, multiple matings within a short period.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how many mating partners are involved across a breeding period. Monogamy means forming a pair with one mate for a breeding cycle or lifetime, often with shared parental investment. Polygyny means one male mates with multiple females, increasing the male’s mating opportunities while females may have different mating patterns. This contrast—one partner versus a single male with several partners—is what distinguishes the two systems.

Options that claim monogamy is simply exclusive and others that talk about equal parental care or rapid, multiple matings don’t capture that direct difference in the number of partners and how mating opportunities are distributed between the sexes.