An endangered marsupial — known for mating itself to death — has disappeared from one of its most prominent habitats, not from love-making but from a lack of rain.

Key points: Lower rainfall is believed to be behind the endangered antechinus's scarcity in Springbrook National Park

Lower rainfall is believed to be behind the endangered antechinus's scarcity in Springbrook National Park Reduced rainfall means fewer insects and spiders for the tiny mammals to feed on

Reduced rainfall means fewer insects and spiders for the tiny mammals to feed on Male antechinus are known for mating themselves to death in a two-week frenzy in September

The black-tailed dusky antechinus (Antechinus arktos), first discovered in 2014, was placed on the federal endangered species list last year.

Recent research by QUT mammologist Andrew Baker in Springbrook National Park, close to the Queensland–New South Wales border, had returned worrying results.

"Usually during winter, we get good catches of around 250 for the common antechinus and 10 of the black-tailed dusky antechinus," Dr Baker told ABC Radio Brisbane's Kelly-Higgins Devine.

"This time when we went back to the same area, at the same time of year, we have found none of either species."

Dr Baker said he was alarmed by the results, having been in the same area annually from 2013 to 2017 where small mammals of various species had previously been plentiful.

Currently, there are 15 identified species of the mouse-sized marsupial found in various forests along the east coast of Australia, all under the threat of extinction from climate change, feral pests, and habitat loss.

Two-week sex marathons … then death

The suicidally sexed marsupials are known for mating until they die, with males dropping dead after sex.

"It's basically two-weeks of sex marathons between males and females where the males produce a lot of testosterone," Dr Baker said.

"Since the animals are fighting with each other, the testosterone levels get to a high enough level that it causes a failure to the switch that turns off the stress hormone cortisol.

"It's basically poison to the males, as internal bleeding occurs and their immune system malfunctions and they simply drop dead."

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Dr Baker said the current research had shown that the overall population of native rodents in the area was not positive.

"We found up to a 30-fold reduction in captures of native rodents that occur in the south-east Queensland area," he said.

"It's unlikely that they have moved as they tend to stay if there is food available and, because it's something affecting the small mammals, we think it may be climate-related."

Mainland dusty antechinus is a cousin of the Antechinus arktos found in Springbrook National Park. ( Supplied: Queensland Museum, Gary Cranitch )

Records show that rainfall during January in Springbrook was the lowest rainfall on record since 1981, with February rainfall in the lowest 10th percentile.

"It was a really dry period and that time coincides with when the antechinus leave their mothers and they all emerge at once looking for food," Dr Baker said.

"If there's little rain then there are fewer insects and spiders for the animals to eat and the best guess is that unfortunately they've starved to death."

Animals moving higher

Dr Baker said another concern was discovering the endangered animals moving higher up in mountain areas to seek out cooler conditions.

"They're now only in the highest and wettest part of the mountain at Springbrook National Park with nowhere else to go," he said.

Andrew Baker holds a female antechinus during a research trip last year. ( Supplied: Andrew Baker )

He believed feral cats were also contributing to the loss of population.

"Feral cats move into areas where there are small mammals and, with their health compromised at different times, cats could take advantage of that," Dr Baker said.

The team plan to return to the area next month to see if the antechinus return before mating season in September.

"Both males and females look to get access to as much food as they can to put on weight before mating sessions," he said.

"During mating, males tend not to eat so they try to pack on lots of pounds and lose it during the two weeks of mating, so we're hoping we may come across one of them then."