New type of marsupial which mates frantically then dies has been discovered

Scientists have found a black-tailed variety of the mouse-like antechinus, which mates for up to 14 hours at a time

Portrait of a Dusky antechinus, a relation of the black-tailed antechinus discovered by Australian scientists. (Jason Edwards )

A new variety of a species of “very hairy” marsupial that dies after “frenzied mating” has been discovered.

Scientists in Australia have found a new black-tailed sub-species of antechinus, which is known to die from the stress of strenuous mating, with sessions lasting up to 14 hours.

The new creature has been described in the article published in the ‘Zootaxa’ journal as “striking”, with a “very shaggy, very hairy” body and long guard hairs.

The discovery follows Australian research published last year that contradicted the previous view that the male antechinus dies to leave more food for its offspring.

Instead, scientists believe males die after mating because it causes them extreme stress, making them prone to infections caused by internal bleeding and the disintegration of their body tissue.

Dr Andrew Baker, from the Queensland University of Technology, described the new antechinus to ABC news.

“On the rump of the animal it becomes almost an orangey-brown colour, but where the tail emerges from the rump there is quite a distinct change from orange rump to black tail,” said Dr Baker.

He added that the marsupials typically have a “frenzied mating period” when they are 11 months old and “all males will die before the young are born”.

“[The new species] probably follow the typical pattern of antechinus, which is all males are dead before they turn one year old,” he told ABC News.

“Each mating can take 12 to 14 hours and they do this over and over again,” said biologist Dr Diana Fisher from the University of Queensland.

“Even if they survived the breeding period, they would be infertile anyway... It's a bit distressing to see them die.”