When most people think of animals being committed parents, they think of mammals. It is true that whales, apes, dogs and other mammals seem to care for their young much better than other types of animals such as fish or reptiles, but this is not always the case.
The Snakeheads, for example, is a fish with strong maternal and paternal instincts. The Snakehead is native to southeastern Asia but has been introduced to some parts of the United States. Snakeheads are one of the most aggressive freshwater fish that is found in the world, but has a soft spot for its young. Amazingly, Snakeheads are known to produce more than 100,000 eggs in a year and protect their young from being harmed. Both parents play a vital role in the safety of their young by circling around their young in two different sized loops. One parent will circle close to the young, while the other parent will create a perimeter further away from the nesting area. Snakeheads have been known to viscously attack humans who have unknowingly swum into an active nesting area.
Certain species of amphibians make excellent parents, as well. The male African Bullfrog will stay behind and look after the tadpoles after mating. The African Bullfrog is the largest living frog in the world and can weigh over four pounds. When watching over the young tadpoles, if there pond area beings to dry, the bullfrog will dig a canal to a more suitable habitat. Also, the bullfrog will protect its young and has been known to attack humans who have wandered into the nesting area. The mother bullfrog, on the other hand, will not care for the tadpoles after laying the eggs.
One of the most unlikely mothers in the wild is some species of alligator. The alligator will place the newly hatched young in her mouth to protect them from other predators. This behavior will continue until the young are old enough to take care of themselves.
Birds are well-known for being able parents, but none of them come close to the emperor penguin. After the egg is laid the mothers will return to the seas to hunt for food, while the father will hold the egg between his feet until the egg hatches, which takes over a month. The egg cannot touch the ice or it will die instantly. Also, the penguins will bear the Antarctic weather out in the open with other emperor penguins during the incubation period.
While mammals usually make terrific parents, certain ones will not hesitate to throw their young into danger to save themselves. Kangaroos and other marsupials practice this behavior. But scientists believe this is because they are not only trying to protect themselves, but possible future generations. If a kangaroo does not toss its young at an attacking predator, the joey as well as the mother will die. Nevertheless, if the mother survives the attack but the baby does not, then her genes can still be passed on to future generations.