TORONTO – These little guys really like sex. In fact, it’s to die for.
Scientists from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have discovered two more species of what they call “suicidally-sexed marsupials.” The sad news is that they believe one is already on the threatened list of animals.
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Five species of the antechinus have been discovered in the past three years. However, researchers believe that climate change, habitat loss and feral pests are placing these little critters under threat. But their sexual habits may also be playing a role.
The male antechinus put up quite a fight to get some action from the females. But when they do eventually mate, they die.
And talk about stamina. For two to three weeks the males mate with as many females as possible — sometimes for up to 14 hours at a time.
“Ultimately, the testosterone triggers a malfunction in the stress hormone shut-off switch; the resulting rise in stress hormones causes the males’ immune systems to collapse and they all drop dead before the females give birth to a single baby,” said Dr. Andrew Baker who helped discover the new species.
That leaves a lot of single mothers who raise the next generation of antechinus.
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The habitat of these small marsupials is limited to small forests as many of the forests are being logged, Baker said. That is placing the antechinus under threat of disappearing.
“Uncovering new mammals in developed countries like Australia is pretty rare and the fact we’ve found even more antechinus species hints at the biodiversity jewels still waiting to be unearthed,” Baker said. “It’s a shame that mere moments after discovery, these little Tasmanian marsupials are threatened with extinction at human hands.”
“In a country with the worst mammal extinction rate anywhere on earth, Australia is in the midst of unprecedented loss of its biological treasures.”
The two new species were discovered in Tasmania.
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