These Are The 7 Most Captivating Animal Stories That Made Headlines In January

Scientists have recently discovered that a species of mouse-sized male marsupials in Australia, named antechinus, are willing to sacrifice hours of sleep for reproductive activities. What’s more, tiny male antechinus die once their intense mating season is over.

The study is the first to show direct evidence for this type of “extreme” sleep restriction in any land-dwelling mammal, CNN reported.

“Animals that are long-lived, like humans and elephants, don’t have this pressure to reproduce in a short period of time. They have the luxury of being able to sleep as long (as) they want (and) need each day,” Erika Zaid, lead author of the study, told the news outlet.

However, the story changes for this marsupial species, which can only breed once in their lifetime. 

This pressure drives them to compete with other males to reproduce with as many females as possible before dying shortly after their first (and last) mating season.

Males sleep three hours less per night, every night, for three weeks (approximately the length of the mating period) compared to females, who can reproduce more than once, data showed.

Still, the difference between males and females was not significant, Zaid explained, which may suggest that females are similarly sleep-deprived due to male harassment during the mating period.

Scientists have recently discovered that a species of mouse-sized male marsupials in Australia, named antechinus, are willing to sacrifice hours of sleep for reproductive activities. What’s more, tiny male antechinus die once their intense mating season is over.

The study is the first to show direct evidence for this type of “extreme” sleep restriction in any land-dwelling mammal, CNN reported.

“Animals that are long-lived, like humans and elephants, don’t have this pressure to reproduce in a short period of time. They have the luxury of being able to sleep as long (as) they want (and) need each day,” Erika Zaid, lead author of the study, told the news outlet.

However, the story changes for this marsupial species, which can only breed once in their lifetime. 

This pressure drives them to compete with other males to reproduce with as many females as possible before dying shortly after their first (and last) mating season.

Males sleep three hours less per night, every night, for three weeks (approximately the length of the mating period) compared to females, who can reproduce more than once, data showed.

Still, the difference between males and females was not significant, Zaid explained, which may suggest that females are similarly sleep-deprived due to male harassment during the mating period.