Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family

WEIRD SCIENCE

Scientists have found that banded mongooses mate with relatives surprisingly often, and they’re not alone.

Published Dec. 29 2014 5:55AM EST

articles/2014/12/29/mongooses-meerkats-and-ants-oh-my-why-some-animals-keep-mating-all-in-the-family/141228-thompson-nature-incest-tease_te6gto — Joerg Koch/AFP/Getty

If there’s anything that Game of Thrones has taught us, it’s that sleeping with your sister is not a good idea. That’s certainly the case for humans.

Helen Thompson

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Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family

Scientists have found that banded mongooses mate with relatives surprisingly often, and they’re not alone.

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Helen Thompson