I am thankful that God's grace and guidance has saved me from a life of excess and the inevitable smite that comes with it.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Happy Hosanna!
New Marsupial Species Dies During Sex, ‘Promiscuous’ Black-Tailed Antechinus Mates For Hours Until Its Body Shuts Down
By Philip Ross
http://www.ibtimes.com/new-marsupial...until-its-body
Black-Tailed Antechinus, similar to the agile antechinus pictured here, mates with several partners during marathon mating sessions that can last for up to 14 hours. Creative Commons
A recently discovered species of Australian marsupial is so dedicated to spreading the love he literally dies while doing it. The black-tailed antechinus, found at high altitudes in the wet areas of southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales, partakes in marathon mating sessions that can last up to 14 hours, with each marsupial cavorting with several partners during that time.
Unfortunately for the male black-tailed antechinus, these feverish marsupial orgies often prove fatal. All that exertion raises their stress hormone levels dramatically, eventually causing the males’ systems to shut down, according to Reuters.
"It's frenetic, there's no courtship; the males will just grab the females and both will mate promiscuously," Andrew Baker, head of the research team from the Queensland University of Technology who made the discovery, told Reuters.
The black-tailed variety is the third new species of antechinus discovered by Baker’s research team over the past few years. Animals of the antechinus genus are indigenous to Australia and New Guinea. The small, carnivorous mammals feed on invertebrates like spiders, beetles and weevils.
The new species of mammal is about the size of a mouse and has a shaggy coat of hair, an orange-brown-colored rump and a black tail.
Their mating season lasts for weeks every year. Few males survive the ordeal. An excess of stress hormone in a male antechinus’ system can degrade his body tissue, causing his immune system to collapse, hemorrhaging and infections.
The hardier female black-tailed antechinus, on the other hand, can actually block the production of the stress hormone. After mating with several males, the females give birth to young sired by several fathers.