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Breeding pair is a pair ofanimals which cooperate over time to produce offspring with some form of a bond between the individuals.[1] For example, manybirds mate for abreeding season or sometimes for life. They may share some or all of the tasks involved: for example, a breeding pair of birds may split building a nest, incubating theeggs and feeding and protecting the young. The term is not generally used when amale has aharem offemales, such as withmountain gorillas.
True breeding pairs are usually found only invertebrates, but there are notable exceptions, such as theLord Howe Island stick insect. True breeding pairs are rare in amphibians or reptiles, although the AustralianShingleback is one exception with long-term pair-bonds. Some fish form short term pairs and theFrench angelfish is thought topair-bond over a long term. True breeding pairs are quite common inbirds. Breeding pair arrangements are rare inmammals, where the prevailing patterns are either that the male and female only meet forcopulation (e.g.brown bear) or that dominant males have aharem of females (e.g.walrus).[2]