Often, cryptic female choice occurs in polyandrous or polygamous species.

The cricket species, Gryllus bimaculatus, is a polygamous species.

In polygamous species, males and females accomplish this with different strategies.

In some polygamous species, such as the patas monkey, the males become henpecked.

In the same way, the most polygamous species of goats and sheep have the largest horns or antlers.

Dung flies are a polygamous species that mate on cowpats.

In polygamous species, males generally contribute nothing to the nurturing of offspring, but nevertheless continue to consume finite resources.

A unique characteristic of monogamy is that unlike in polygamous species, parents share parenting tasks.

And so, Dr. Haig's theory says, there can be a sort of genetic tug of war in polygamous species.

He argues that imprinting is the way that males of polygamous species attempt to make their fetuses grow big.