Polygamous is a mating system in which an individual of one sex has multiple partners during the breeding system but individuals of the opposite sex have only one partner.  Evolutionarily, these systems are purported to have an increased chance of passing on “good genes” from individuals that compete for the ability to mate with multiple partners. This mating system can occur with one male and many females (see polygyny) or one female and multiple males (see polyandry). (fishionary.fisheries.org/polygamous)