Violent sex 'is killing the Tasmanian devil'

[emad]

Telegraph
By Nick Squires in Sydney
(Filed: 27/01/2005)

A disease that has devastated the Tasmanian devil population is probably being spread by the animal's boisterous sex life, Australian scientists believe.

The devil has been wiped out in many parts of the island over the past three years.

The number of "nature's janitor", as the animal is nicknamed, has fallen from about 150,000 to less than half that, with four out of every five dying in some areas.

Researchers believe that the animals' habit of fighting over decaying carrion and engaging in violent sexual foreplay accounts for the speed at which the disease has spread.

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Kinky beast...

[WMliberal]

1. doesn't seem to bother the Praying Mantis population

maybe the devils will find a way to keep their kinkiness.

[mr_hat]

2. The Tasmanian Devil doesn't lay as many eggs.

[WMliberal]

6. sounds like a job for... genetic enhancement!

We'll make a Tazzie that is even kinkier AND lays more eggs. We can make its fur blue while we're at it. :crazy:

[emad]

5. Maybe the Praying Mantis ain't a member of Opus Dei....

[demnan]

3. Bad logic

what is wiping out this animal is human encroachment on its territory. It hasn't changed it behavior to make itself go extinct!

[asthmaticeog]

4. This is totally irrelevant, but

the mental picture this thread title conjured of you-know-what cartoon character doin' the grownup almost made me spew coffee.

[zbdent]

7. Would you even be able to see anything

amidst all that tornado spinning that they do?