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Sex So Intense It's Fatal
Male antechinus mate so frantically for 2-3 weeks that they die from stress — their fur falls out, they become blind, and their immune system collapses.
Antechinus
Antechinus
These small Australian marsupials have one of the most extreme mating strategies in mammals — it kills the males.
Vital Stats
🏷️ TypeMarsupial (dasyurid)
🌍 Found InAustralia — forests and heathlands
📏 Size8-16cm body, 10-40g
⏳ LifespanMales: ~11 months | Females: 2-3 years
🔞 Sexual Maturity10-11 months
💕 Mating SystemSuicidal reproduction — males die after 2-3 week mating frenzy
📅 Mating SeasonAugust - September (2-3 weeks only)
🤰 Gestation26-35 days, then pouch development
👶 Offspring6-14 per litter
🍆 Penis Size1 cm
⏱️ Sex Duration14 hours
🔬 Notable AnatomyMales mate for up to 14 hours continuously; testosterone suppresses immune system, causing death
⚖️ Sexual DimorphismMales larger, but all die after mating