Monandrous is a word that comes from the Greek language and is used to describe something that is associated with having one husband or mate at a time. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled as /məˈnændrəs/, with the first syllable being pronounced as "muh", the second as "nand", and the third as "ruhs". The final "s" is silent, so the word rhymes with "pampered us". Monandrous is often used in discussions about social or animal behavior regarding mating habits.
Monandrous is an adjective used to describe a mating or reproductive system in which an individual has only one mate at a time. Derived from the Greek words "monos" meaning "single" or "alone" and "aner" meaning "man" or "male," monandrous specifically refers to the behavior or pattern of males associating with a single female partner exclusively.
This term can be commonly employed in the study of animal behavior, particularly in the analysis of mating systems and social structures within species. In a monandrous mating system, males within a population form exclusive and long-term pair bonds with individual females. Consequently, each female typically has only one male partner throughout her reproductive lifespan, whereas the male might potentially mate with multiple females.
Monandrous behavior is frequently found in species where extended parental care is required. The male's involvement in parenting and the allocation of resources to offspring are factors that often contribute to the development of monandrous mating systems. By investing their time and energy in a single partner and their offspring, male animals practicing monandry may increase the survival and reproductive success of their genetically related progeny.
Examples of species that exhibit monandrous mating systems include certain bird species such as albatrosses and penguins, where pairs remain faithful to each other throughout their lives, sharing parental duties. Monandry can also be observed in some primate species, notably gibbons, where monogamous pair bonds contribute to cooperative parenting and social stability within their social groups.
Having one stamen only.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "monandrous" comes from the combination of two Latin roots: "mono", meaning "single" or "alone", and "andr", which comes from the Greek word "anḗr, andrós", meaning "man" or "husband". Thus, "monandrous" is a term that originated from Latin and Greek roots to refer to a mating system in which a female individual exclusively mates with only one male.