Live fast, die young. It's a motto the males of this small marsupial breed could live by.
The mardo — or yellow-footed antechinus — is found in south-western WA and in coastal and inland areas of eastern Australia.
The males also live a short but productive life.
Breed, then die
Wheatbelt conservation leader with the Department of Biodiversity, Conversation and Attractions (DBCA) Brett Beecham said the males served one purpose.
"After the breeding season the males will die off," Mr Beecham said.
"So they basically exhaust themselves, all their hormones go haywire then they die."
He said mating could continue for about nine hours and the mardo's entire life only lasted 12 months.
"That's the old 'live fast, die young' approach," Mr Beecham said.
The females can live for up to two to three years.
Increasing numbers
While the animal's prolific breeding boosts numbers, predators remain a constant threat.
The mardo population increased through the 1990s in Dryandra, about 170 kilometres south-east of Perth, before declining.
"Research from the department showed that it appeared that feral cats have now taken over as the apex predator as fox numbers were reduced," Mr Beecham said.
A specific feral cat bait was developed and implemented in Dryandra in 2016.
Mr Beecham said both the fox and cat baiting programs had helped ensure the survival of the mardo and other animals.
"Since we've been implementing greater feral cat control in Dryandra their numbers seem to have been increasing," he said.
"Both of those programs have shown significant increase in numbers of most of the threatened species."
