(mature question)... Are humans the only animals that mate in the missionary position?

Bonobos, humankind's closest genetic relative, engage in missionary sex.

My guess is that our desire to look at the partner's eyes and face was something that developed with monogamous love, which was evolutionarily adapted from the fact that two monogamous animals did better at raising young than one parent alone.

"Bonobos are the only non-human apes to have been observed engaging in all of the following sexual activities: face-to-face genital sex (most frequently female-female, then male-female and male-male), tongue kissing, and oral sex."

That is quite interesting isn't it! I believe, even monkeys, which are the closest species to humans, have sex from behind. I do know that some birds, I believe love birds, actually kiss each other face to face. Some animals mate almost like a revers kind of missionary where the male lies on top of the back of the other animal, but still does not answer your question. I'm thinking hard (no pun intended!) right now... maybe worms, slugs and mollusks- because they do not have bodies like ours so you could consider this as face to face in a way, or, when it comes to micro-organisms, like bacteria. Good question! That's one I would have never thought of! That could be a potential thesis for a doctorate or Master's degree if you go to university! Do some research and try to find out if there is any other species that does this, why do humans do it this way, and when and how did this start? What are the benefits of this position versus the behind method? Is it a matter of human emotion versus procreation, or is there some logical scientific explanation for this?!

No, dolphins and other sea mammals mate stomach to stomach as well. So do eagles and other types of birds who mate in mid-air. (eagles do this awesome death-dive and pull apart at the last moment.)

It is highly probable that as primates early humans did mate in the "doggie position." However, humans are better designed for face-to-face than most other species, so it is possible that we did develop a genetic disposition towards that position.

Do you know the origins of the term "missionary position?" It refers to the fact that the Church ordained face-to-face as the only acceptable method of procreation and all other positions were declared sodemy. (Sodemy refers to unnatural sexual acts, not just homosexuality.) The prests and missionaries were instructed to inform the local people of the regulations.

This position was probably chosen because no other animals were known to mate that way at the time. The missionary position also requires the man to be on top. According to gnositc texts, Eve was not the first woman to mate with Adam, instead it was Lilith. She was an angel, but became a fallen angel afterwards. She wanted domination over God's beloved creation and demanded to be on top, so to speak. She was banished from Eden and it was declared that no woman should hold such power again. Lilith appears in later texts as a succubis demon seducing other men.

Isn't History channel awesome!

Chimpansees and bonobos sometimes mate face to face, dolphins always do. Not sure if there are other animals who do so.

Since we share the same ancestor as primates, we probably have always used different positions. When we (our ancestors) started doing so is kinda hard to tell. I'm not sure how far back up the evolutionary ladder you'd have to go to find the first 'ape-man/woman' that wanted to look his/her partner in the eyes while doing it...

I would assume primates are quite easily capable of this, since they are so closely related to humans.

It would be rather difficult for any quadreped to mate in this position, as they would have trouble staying flat on their backs.

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