Which type of organism typically produces few offspring while providing parental care?

The type of organism that typically produces few offspring while providing parental care is elephants. Elephants are known for their highly social structures and long gestation periods, which can last approximately 22 months, the longest of any land animal. They usually give birth to a single calf, and the maternal investment is significant—elephants care for their young for many years, teaching them vital skills for survival and integrating them into the herd's social dynamics.

This nurturing behavior enhances the survival rate of their offspring since they receive protection, food, and guidance in their formative years. Such parental care is in line with what is referred to as K-strategy reproduction, where the focus is on raising a few offspring that are well-cared-for and have a higher probability of reaching maturity.

While fish, insects, and rabbits do reproduce in larger numbers, they tend to invest less in each offspring's care, often relying on the sheer volume of offspring to ensure that some survive to adulthood. This contrast illustrates the different reproductive strategies found in the animal kingdom, with elephants exemplifying a strategy focused on quality and parental investment.