Leprechauns are a type of fairy. Therefore, the answer to all of your questions is that they're magical.
There are no female leprechauns because if they were female they wouldn't be leprechauns. They'd be some other type of fairy. A pixie, maybe. I don't know, I'm not up on my folklore.
As for the gold, leprechauns are said to be pranksters. Have you ever tried to follow a rainbow to it's end? Seems like a great way to send a lot of people on a wild chase for nothing to me.
I liked the way Neil Gaiman portrayed his leprechaun in American Gods.
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I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said
- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame
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