- published: 20 Nov 2010
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Solitary animals are those that spend a majority of their lives without others of their species, with possible exceptions for mating and raising their young. The antonym to a solitary animal is a social animal.
Animals that are solitary are often territorial and do not like the company of another animal in their territory and especially an animal of their own kind. This could be due to competition between rivals for the opportunity to mate or over territory, or it could be a more suitable way to live in the environment. When two of the same species meet they often show aggressive displays to try to chase off the other, but if neither of the two backs down a brawl can escalate. In some species these fights can end in the death of one or both animals.
The few times a solitary animal is with another of its kind is when it is caring for its offspring or when it is ready to mate. Nevertheless, when an offspring becomes independent the youngster will either leave on its own or be rejected by its parent. This trait could be because the parent no longer tolerates the presence of another of its kind or it is ready to mate again and cannot care for both its first offspring and a newborn. During a time of mating, a solitary animal tries to find a mate, and once the act is completed, the animal may repeat the mating process several times and then resume its solitary lifestyle.
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Although his show was already successful by the end of the 1960s, during the 1970s Carson became an American icon and remained so even after his retirement in 1992. He adopted a casual, conversational approach with extensive interaction with guests, an approach pioneered by Arthur Godfrey and previous Tonight Show hosts Steve Allen and Jack Paar. Former late-night host and friend, David Letterman, cited Carson's influence.