Mate guarding

A male red-veined darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) clasping a female behind the neck after copulation to prevent other males from mating and to increase the chances of successful paternity

Mate guarding is a competitive reproductive behaviour, primarily exhibited by males, to monopolize a mate and ensure exclusive paternity by guarding, dissuading, or physically blocking rivals from copulating with the female. Mate guarding behaviour can be pre- or post-copulatory.

Mate guarding has similar aims and may overlap with but is distinct from territoriality where mating exclusivity is achieved by expelling rivals from an area and monopolizing resources, and sperm competition.

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