Why do Devils Fight When They Mate? Secret Life of the Tasmanian Devil

The Devil breeding season is usually only a few weeks long and Devil mating can involve a fair amount of combat. Males will fight over females, but even when a dominant male has beaten off the competition, he will need to prove his worth to the female. He’ll wrestle with her and if successful, will drag her off to his den. There he keeps her prisoner for a number of days, to guard her from other males. However she will also mate with other partners, for optimal genetic diversity

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