Top 10 Weirdest Animal Mating Rituals

Compared to other, more dangerous snakes, garter snakes may seem a little ordinary. However, there’s nothing ordinary about their mating ritual. These snakes, found in both North and Central America, will try their best to slither their way into each other’s hearts. Many male garter snakes find their mates through seeing who’s hibernating with them, while others seek out female pheromones. But competition can be heavy, with many males vying for the affection of one female. This results in a mass of snakes known as a “mating ball.” And some males use treachery to get what they want. They’ll release female pheromones of their own to fool their male competition. All’s fair in love and war, right?

Want to see a live performance that’s more memorable than most concerts? Check out a greater sage-grouse’s mating dance. In the spring, males will congregate in areas known as “leks,” in which they compete with each other to prove their desirability to potential female mates. And they’ll pull out all the stops to prove their worth, showing off their chests and tails and inflating special air sacs to create noises that are evidently irresistible. And some sage-grouses are so charismatic, they attract multiple mates, while others are left in the dust. But male sage-grouses don’t exactly embrace their future paternal status. After mating, the female sage-grouse will raise their young on her own. We support single mothers, no matter what their species.

We definitely wouldn’t want to get anywhere near a porcupine, but they find ways to mate without hurting one another. However, their mating ritual isn’t something you’d want to discuss in polite company. Once a male porcupine has found a suitable female to reproduce with, he’ll cover her with a powerful blast of urine, which can spark some intense feelings within the female. Should she be into it, she’ll assume the mating position, and they’ll take it from there. Time is of the essence, as the mating window for porcupines is only 8-12 hours per year. If you ever see a porcupine pee on another one, remember that they’re experiencing a very intimate, if somewhat disgusting to us, moment.

#7: Adélie Penguins

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Here’s a mating ritual that’s more “aww” than “eww.” Female Adélie penguins choose their mates through receiving gifts, in this case, rocks. Male penguins aim to woo potential penguin partners by bringing them pebbles. If a female fancies a pebble, she’ll use it for lining her nest, and the mating can commence. However, one nice gift doesn’t mean she’s ready to make things official. Female Adélie penguins will mate with many males, providing their pebbles are up to snuff, of course. Humans are also prone to swooning over rocks, but they tend to be a lot shinier.

#6: Sea Slugs

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and if you asked a slug, they might say they find us pretty gross, too. But we find sea slug mating rituals to be fascinating, to say the least. Most of these invertebrates are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both male and female sex characteristics. And during mating, they’ll use their male appendages to inject each other with prostate fluid, allowing the eggs to be fertilized. It seems more like a physical struggle than any kind of romantic encounter. The male appendage is also covered in spines, which can cause some unintended harm during copulation. Oh, and for some sea slugs, not only does it fall off after mating, but they also have two spare ones available. So, like we said, fascinating…

When you think of praying mantis mating rituals, your mind probably goes to the female mantis chomping off the male’s head post-coitus. However, that image is a bit of a misconception. While so-called sexual cannibalism does happen between mantises, it's not guaranteed. And it is more likely to happen to mantises in captivity, as opposed to ones in the wild. Additionally, the males will sometimes go on the offensive to keep their heads on and guarantee mating. But a headless mantis isn't necessarily a useless mantis. Male praying mantises can keep mating even after losing their heads. Now that’s commitment.

Honey bee mating is a matter of sacrifice, or at least it is for the male bees. These essential insects will mate in the air, with the female honey bee queens mating with male honey bee drones. She’ll make the acquaintance of multiple drones during this time, as many as 24. But finding a mate is bittersweet for the male. He'll put his endophallus inside the queen, and it doesn't come out. When he tries to fly off, the bottom portion of his abdomen is torn, and it's "bye-bye bee." For male honey bees, the first time is also the last time.

Humans affectionately refer to their partners as their “better half.” But in the case of anglerfish, that’s actually pretty accurate. These deep-sea fish look like something out of a horror movie, and if you’re looking to shudder, wait ‘til you hear how they reproduce. The male bites the female to latch onto her, allowing their bodies to join together. This means they end up with a mutually beneficial relationship, with the male enjoying the female’s nutrients and the female receiving the male’s sperm. The male will also shed off some appendages once he’s secured a mate, like his eyes. And female angler fish aren’t limited to one partner, either.

Female pufferfish seem to have a thing for the artistic types. At least, that’s what seems to count when it comes to choosing mates for one species of pufferfish. The males will create elaborate circles with symmetrical designs on the ocean floor to attract females. They’ll spend upwards of a week working tirelessly on these creations, which they'll enhance with things like bits of seashells. If a female favors a male and his creation, she'll lay her eggs right in the middle. And to think, a male pufferfish can do all this without spending any money on an art school degree.

If you thought pufferfish were sharp designers, bow down to the awesome majesty of bowerbirds. These birds have a mating ritual so unique, it's the basis for their name. To attract a female, males will create twig structures known as "bowers," which they'll work hard to make as beautiful as possible. All kinds of colorful objects are used to decorate these bowers, including rocks, petals, and coins. The males are strategic with how they put these together, making themselves look bigger from the female’s perspective. If she digs his decor, the mating can begin. And who isn’t turned on by someone with a knack for interior design?