multifemale

Multifemale refers to a type of social organization in which a group contains more than one adult female. In ethology and behavioral ecology, it is used to describe the structure of animal societies in which several females share and defend resources, interact socially, and potentially breed within the same group. The term is descriptive rather than taxonomic, and many species can exhibit multifemale groupings depending on ecological conditions and life history.

In multifemale groups, females often form stable social bonds, establish dominance hierarchies, and engage in cooperation around rearing young (alloparenting) or protecting kin. Mating and reproduction may involve several breeding females, sometimes with one or more resident males in a corresponding multi-male unit, or with solitary outside males. Social dynamics are influenced by kinship, age, and experience, and female alliances can shape access to food, mates, or territory.

Examples of multifemale groupings occur across taxa. African elephants live in matrilineal herds of related adult females led by a matriarch, with calves cared for by many individuals. Lions typically form prides with multiple adult females and one or more males, while many primate species such as chimpanzees, bonobos, and geladas have multi-female, multi-male communities with complex social networks. The prevalence and arrangement of multifemale groups reflect ecological pressures, including food distribution and predation risk.

In research, multifemale organization is a basis for studying kin selection, cooperation, competition, and the evolution of mating systems. The term emphasizes group composition rather than a fixed species trait.