10 Most Amazing Dads Of The Animal Kingdom

Here are 10 of the animal kingdom's truly amazing dads, as named by National Geographic.


They may not be human, but there are some dads out there deserving of some extra kudos this Father's Day.

Here are 10 of the animal kingdom's truly amazing ones, as named by National Geographic.

Number 10. Emperor Penguins. While mom's away feeding herself in anticipation of nourishing their chick, dad stays behind not taking even the shortest break from incubating the egg and keeping baby warm. He steadfastly stands there in the freezing cold for up to four months to make sure the little one is safe.

Number 9. Cockroaches. Despite their bad reputation, roaches make pretty stand-up fathers. As nitrogen is a necessary nutrient for the young, the dads will go out and eat bird droppings to get it. They also share in keeping the area around the young free of infection-causing matter.

Number 8. Frogs. One variety keeps constant watch over his offspring, ensuring that the eggs stay sufficiently hydrated. Another protects its tadpoles by keeping them in special sacks located in the mouth. In both cases, that's a pretty respectable level of commitment.

Number 7. Greater Rheas. In the avian world, child raising is often women's work, but that's not the case among these South American birds. The males are responsible for nest making, egg sitting, and protecting the brood.

Number 6. Marmosets. Not only do daddy marmosets groom, feed, and carry their young, they even give birthing assistance to the moms. After the little bundles of joy enter the world, the male takes on the responsibility of cleaning them off.

Number 5. Black-Necked Swans. Compared to a lot of other animals out there, these swans are in it for the long haul. The baby swans, or cygnets, follow their monogamous parents around for a year. They spend their first few weeks riding on the backs of mom and dad for warmth and extra protection.

Number 4. Giant Water Bugs. They may not take well to strangers, but when it comes to watching out for their own, giant water bugs are in 100 percent. The males carry the eggs, which typically number about 150, on their backs until it's hatching time.

Number 3. Namaqua Sandgrouse. In southern Africa's Kalahari Desert which is where many of these birds live, staying hydrated is a serious matter. It's also one dad's in charge of. Fathers of newly hatched babies will find a water hole and absorb liquid into their stomach feathers. They'll then fly back home and let the young nuzzle up and drink from them, sometimes for as many as 10 minutes.

Number 2. Seahorses. Male seahorses are pretty much single parents. The fathers are the ones that become pregnant, give birth, and care for the 2 thousand young afterwards. The mother, on the other hand, deposits her eggs in the male's stomach and bails.

Number 1. Owl Monkeys. The mothers nurse the babies, but the dads do just about everything else. They take on the responsibility of making sure the kids are clean and that they get where they need to go. They also help with the gathering of food.

What other animal dads do you think go above and beyond?