"Sleepless and Sex-Obsessed: The Short Lives of Tiny Male Marsupials"
TL;DR
Male antechinuses sacrifice sleep to mate with as many females as possible during an intense breeding period, then die in a single "programmed" event. Research suggests they may die from a surge in hormone levels, making them more susceptible to infections and parasites. Female antechinuses survive longer and may benefit from the males' deaths as a food source. Cannibalism has been observed in these marsupials, but much remains to be learned about their behavior and resilience to extreme sleep deprivation.
- Tiny male marsupials sacrifice sleep for a chance at sex — then all die at once and get eaten Livescience.com
- The Sex-Obsessed Marsupials That Will Sleep When They're Dead The New York Times
- These small male marsupials give up sleep for sex, then die after intense mating season, study finds CNN
- This fast-living marsupial chooses sex over sleep — and dies young Nature.com
- This Tiny Marsupial Gives Up Sleep for Sex, Then Drops Dead Scientific American
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