Dying for sex: endangered male quolls may be mating themselves to death instead of sleeping, scientists say

Northern quolls are the largest mammals to exhibit semelparity, meaning the creatures die after they first reproduce. Photograph: Kaylah Del Simone/University of Queensland/AFP/Getty Images

Male northern quolls seem to sacrifice sleep in favour of having sex, behaviour that might be responsible for their early deaths, suggests new research into the endangered marsupials.

Australian scientists have investigated why male northern quolls usually mate themselves to death after one season, while females of the species reproduce once but live up to four years.