Homosexual behaviour between animals may have evolved to ‘keep the peace’ in species where social conflict can lead to death.
Sex between same-sex couples has been reported in more than 1,500 animal species, including all the main groups of vertebrates, such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
It has also been seen in the main invertebrate groups, including insects, spiders, echinoderms – such as starfish – and nematodes, which are tiny parasitic worms.