Male antechinus, a type of marsupial, sacrifice sleep during their short and intense breeding season to maximize mating opportunities, with some dying shortly after. Research found that captive males slept significantly less during breeding season, and wild males and females showed decreased oxalic acid levels, indicating sleep deprivation. While sleep loss was initially suspected as the cause of death, further investigation is needed to determine the exact cause, with malnutrition and environmental triggers being potential factors.
Researchers from Curtin University in Australia have recorded the rare sounds of echidnas cooing, grunting, and making other vocalizations during the breeding season, providing evidence that these spiky Australian critters are capable of vocalizing. Previously, it was believed that echidnas only made "sniffing" noises. The discovery of echidna vocalizations helps resolve the scientific debate about when early mammals started using sound to communicate and suggests that acoustic communication likely developed 100 to 200 million years ago. The study also highlights the need for further research to understand the purpose and meaning behind echidna vocalizations.
