Animals probably do not mate for pleasure especially if they know what comes next: death

It is said that animals mate instinctively. Their role is to ensure that their genes will survive and passed on to the next generations. They have to do anything in order to do so, even if they have to die in the process. Take a male antechinus for example. It takes about a year before it reaches sexual maturity, will then mate and usually die shortly after.

Antechinus

The mating ritual is arduous. Lasting for about 6-12 hours, the male antechinus must ensure that it mates with as many females as possible. It might sound easy but during the mating season, which usually last for about two weeks, the male antechinus will forsake its meals for mating. All of its energy and attention will focus on finding a mate. Not the perfect mate, but any mate, lots of them. This way, the probability of having its sperm fertilized is definitely increased.

Apparently, the energy-sapping activity and the continuous competition among the male antechinus will cause physiological stress and suppression of the immune system, which will make the animal vulnerable against parasites, resulting in serious infections. Badly-infected, exhausted and starving, it is no wonder most males are left dead after the mating season.

Without the males to compete for food, the female antechinus is left to raise its young without much trouble. Female antechinus gives birth after about a month of gestation. Depending on species, some females develop an abdominal pouch to carry the young. In cases where the mother does not have a pouch, the young will cling on to the mother’s mammae or teats and are dragged along wherever mother goes.

Like any other nocturnal animals, the antechinus comes out at night but may also come out in daylight as the food becomes scarce and as the mating season reaches its peak. The antechinus spends most of its time on the forest floor looking for food, which mostly consist of insects, but does not really mind to have anything from fruits, flowers, and nectars to small birds and mice. It is also said that the antechinus has an unusual habit when eating bony animals. It has been known to neatly turn the skin inside out while eating them.

The antechinus is a mouse-like marsupial native to Australia and New Guinea. It can be found in a variety of forest habitats preferably where there is sufficient cover and an abundant of logs.