For the most part, the males of the fauna world are selfish creatures. But each rule has exceptions.

Confirmation of this - the best fathers among animals. They not only gently care for the cubs, but sometimes they hatch eggs or hatched their offspring.

Fifth place - shrubby bigfoot

Single mothers are a common occurrence in the wild. But sometimes this role is assigned to the male representatives. An example of this is shrubby bigfoot (or weed hens). The large (60–75 cm) body of these Australian birds is adorned with long limbs, a featherless red head and a bright yellow larynx that swells in males during mating season. The females of these birds are frivolous creatures. Having laid eggs, they leave them in the care of the males, and they continue their carefree bachelor life.

Big-footed men begin to prepare for the birth of offspring long before the appearance of eggs. Future fathers erect an incubator - a heap 1 m high, consisting of leaves and plants. When decomposed, they release the heat necessary for development. But the duties of males are not limited to the creation of a nest. They carefully monitor that the temperature in the interior of the masonry does not fall below +33 ° C and does not rise above +35 ° C. “Thermometer” is sensitive skin inside the beak. 3 days after hatching, the chicks begin to fly and leave a caring father.

Fourth place - ordinary Randu

Large flightless birds resembling ostriches reside in South America. They got their name because of a specific voice - the sounds emitted resemble the cry of "Nan-do." Fast-footed birds live in groups of 5–25 individuals. During the mating season, males gather around themselves a harem of several females. The head of the family is vigilant to ensure that his "wives" are not encroached by competitors, whom, if necessary, he drives away with blows of a strong beak and powerful legs.

After courtship, the future father is diligently building a nest, which is a hole in the ground, laid out by plants and moss. In the secluded place the females lay their eggs. On this, the role of the harem dwellers in the reproduction of offspring ends. Windy "ladies" set off in search of new "husbands." Caring for future babies falls on men's shoulders. The lonely father does not step away from the masonry, attacking all those who dare to approach the nest. After the babies are born, the feathered dad does not leave his chicks. He feeds and walks the cubs for six months and monitors their safety.

Third place - dwarf marmoset

Lovely creatures that live in the tropical forests of South America are the smallest representatives of the primate squad. The length of the miniature body does not exceed 15 cm, its weight is 90–150 g. It is not surprising that in the wild, tiny creatures are subject to numerous dangers. To protect themselves from enemies, marmosets chose the crowns of tall trees as their habitat. Dwarf monkeys live in family groups.During the mating season, the female is given the right to choose males that attracted her.

Unlike brothers in a large family, among dwarf marmosets, the father is the main thing in questions of raising the younger generation. Touching care he manifests himself at the stage of pregnancy of his girlfriend and takes part in the birth of cubs. The female gives birth to 2 to 3 babies who hide under her stomach for a week. Then the male is engaged in raising offspring. For a month and a half, he wears heirs on his back, trusting their mother only during feeding.

Second Place - Emperor Penguin

Relationships of emperor penguins are an example of equality and fair distribution of responsibilities in the family. These residents of Antarctica, who have challenged the harsh climate and air temperature, even in summer not rising above –20 ° C, live in colonies numbering 300–10,000 individuals. Two months of the year, birds spend at sea, the rest of the time is devoted to the reproduction of the genus. At the end of May, the female lays a single 450-gram egg and immediately hides it under the abdominal fold. After a few hours, the priceless treasure is carefully taken away by the father, giving the hungry mother the opportunity to go in search of food.

The male, warming the egg with the heat of his body, remains immobile for weeks, eating exclusively snow. Numerous members of the male team help not freeze - they stray into groups, periodically giving each other the right to bask in the center.After 3 months, the female returns from her journey. She unmistakably finds the exhausted spouse and the born chick. From this point on, the burdens associated with feeding and raising the cubs are divided by parents in half.

The best animal fathers

The best animal fathers are seahorses. For these representatives of the class of ray-finned fish, procreation is a purely masculine affair. The initiator of mating games is often the female. Beloved, who have found each other, are inseparable. Clutching their tails, they perform a long “dance of love” or rest, attaching themselves to the stems of underwater plants.

With the help of an ovipositor, she introduces eggs into a special bag located in the abdominal region of her chosen one. Pregnancy lasts 20-50 days. At the end of the period, the heavy seahorse clings its tail to the algae and begins to squeeze out the fully formed fry with difficulty. This process is often accompanied by very tangible labor pains. Immediately after birth, babies are able to eat independently and do not need the help of their parents.

Nature never tires of surprises. One of her amazing phenomena is the best fathers among animals, who laid on their shoulders, it would seem, purely female responsibilities. Shrubby bigfoot, common rhea, pygmy marmoset, emperor penguin and seahorse are rare, but not the only folders in the fauna world that show touching concern for offspring.Wolves, jackals, flamingos, jacans, barking frogs and giant water bugs also demonstrate highly developed paternal instincts.