Mating systems may be a mix of the following.

• Monogamy: one male mates with one female; many birds bond for life.
  The sexes tend to be monomorphic.

• Polygamy can be subdivided into
  • Polygyny: one male with many females: an alpha elephant seal controls a harem of many females.
  • Polyandry: one female with many males: a honeybee hive has one queen who mates with many males.
  The sexes tend to be dimorphic.

• Promiscuity: many male with many females: a chimpanzee may mate with several members of the opposite sex, and vice versa.

• What other system can you think of?
  • Self-fertilization: many plants are hermaphrodites and can self-fertilize; but hermaphrodite animals such as slugs still need to find a mate.