Scientists from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia have discovered two new species of antechinus – a genus of tiny carnivorous marsupials whose males are wiped out each spring after mating themselves to death.
The antechinuses have become famous for their strange sexual habits. Each year, all the males in the species go on a mating and fighting rampage, which only ends when they’re dead.
“The breeding period is basically two to three weeks of speed-mating, with testosterone-fuelled males coupling with as many females as possible, for up to 14 hours at a time,” lead researcher Andrew Baker explained in a press release. “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.”