The Male Phascogale is the Largest Mammal That Mates Itself to Death
The male Australian phascogale is the
largest known mammal to kick the bucket after sex for reasons similar to the antechinus and other marsupial mammals. Around the age of 11 month to 12 months, the male phascogale - if fortunate enough to be chosen by the dominant female - breeds in early winter. He expends so much energy trying to seal the deal it fries his own immune system. All three species of phascogale fall prey to stress-induced diseases and die, or they
fall prey to prey and are eaten by owls, foxes, and cats. Either way, they're bound to die after their first and only breeding season.
