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If you have ever come across the term "pebbling" on social media, you may be familiar with the phenomenon of a male penguin trying to woo a female penguin by gifting her a perfectly smooth and shapely pebble. Surprisingly enough, however, penguins are not the only species of animal that likes to try and improve their romantic chances by showering potential mates with gifts. Furthermore, there are even some animals who like to treat fellow members of their species even where there is no ulterior motive.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
When a male nursery web spider is looking to woo a female, he will often give her a bundle of prey wrapped in silk. If he's particularly thoughtful, he will add some extra chemicals to make it more attractive.
Scientists believe that female nursery web spiders are drawn in by the silky gift mainly because it resembles their egg sacs.
Occasionally, males will attempt to trick females and wrap up some low-quality prey, or even something half-eaten. Then, while she is unwrapping the gift, he will mate with her and run off before she realizes.
Eurasian jays are believed to give one another gifts simply for enjoyment, rather than because they think they will get something out of it.
Eurasian jays have been observed giving each other small bits of prey, such as moths and worms. Scientists believe that they have something called "theory of mind."
A bird that has theory of mind is able to see a situation from another bird's perspective. It is what allows one Eurasian jay to know what another will appreciate as a gift.
Six-spot burnet moths produce their own cyanide to use as a defense mechanism, and scientists believe that during mating the male gifts some of his cyanide to the female.
Indeed, cyanide levels have been shown to go down in males and up in females after mating. It is thought the chemical is transferred through the sperm.
Once the eggs are laid, the mother will regift some of the cyanide to her offspring, giving them a strong defense mechanism and a better chance at survival.
Most animals that give one another gifts do so in the context of courtship. Bonobos are unusual in the sense that they have a habit of giving gifts to strangers.
This may seem surprising, since bonobos have a reputation for being one the species most obsessed with procreation. However, they also love making friends.
If it means that they will get to hang out with bonobos from another group, these close relatives of ours will give a piece of food to just about any bonobo.
Pebbles can be quite hard to come by in Antarctica, and often the male penguins will have to spend quite some time looking for the perfect gift.
Since penguins use stones to build their nests, when a female receives a pebble, she essentially understands it as a proposal to build a home together.
Researchers believe that by gifting an ocean sponge to a potential mate, male humpback dolphins are aiming to show their superiority, as ocean sponges are very difficult to dislodge from the ocean floor.
These little robin-like birds may look unassuming and innocent, but don't be fooled by their cuteness: they are vicious birds of prey.
Rather than preying on worms or berries like other birds its size, the great grey shrike preys on small animals, such as mice and frogs, and impales them on sticks.
The so-called 'butcher bird' then uses the skewers to impress potential mates, before offering them up as a gift during courtship.
The dance fly, otherwise known as the dagger fly, is another species that makes use of silk to impress potential mates. Rather than using it as wrapping paper, however, dance flies use it to weave balloons.
There are over 700 different species of dance fly, most of which use either saliva or silk to weave balloons made of tiny bubbles. They then present these to their love interests.
Interestingly, the dance flies with the most to offer (that is, the largest prey) weave the smallest balloons, while the flies with the least to offer weave larger balloons, often dotted with bits of food.
Kingfishers prey on, you guessed it, fish. As a general rule, they swallow their prey headfirst, since this is better for swallowing and digestion.
During mating season, however, kingfishers will hold the fish backward. When they open their beaks, they can then impress a female with a fish staring them in the face.
Experts believe that within the kingfisher species, it is the males who do the majority of the hunting, while the females preserve their energy for laying eggs.
Last but certainly not least we have crows, which, quite astonishingly, have been observed giving gifts not to one another, but to humans.
In all documented cases of crows giving gifts, the recipients have been people who helped them in one way or another (usually by providing food). Items that crows have given as gifts include buttons, screws, and small bits of jewelry.
Sources: (BBC) (Times of India) (Listverse)
The animals that give each other gifts
Examples of generosity in the animal kingdom
LIFESTYLE Animal kingdom
If you have ever come across the term "pebbling" on social media, you may be familiar with the phenomenon of a male penguin trying to woo a female penguin by gifting her a perfectly smooth and shapely pebble. Surprisingly enough, however, penguins are not the only species of animal that likes to try and improve their romantic chances by showering potential mates with gifts. Furthermore, there are even some animals who like to treat fellow members of their species even where there is no ulterior motive.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.