#2025MMM March 11 R1: The Only Ones_Part 2 of 2

NEXT UP: #7 seed MARSH MONGOOSE (Atilax paludinosus) vs. #10 seed QUOKKA (Setonix brachyurus) #2025MMM (battle by @midwesternmouse.bsky.social)

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:09:28.060Z

Weighing in at 4.1kg (~19 stoats), the MARSH MONGOOSE is a one of the most aquatic members of the family Herpestidae! They have a thick undercoat beneath their blackish-brownish fur to help them stay dry. Aptly, they're often called the "water mongoose". #StoatsAsMeasurement #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:09:47.185Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamMongoose Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:10:00.037Z

A molecular study using nuclear and mitochondrial markers have shown that the Marsh Mongoose is sister species to another African mongoose, the long-nosed mongoose, and both are within the monophyletic non-social mongoose clade (Patou et al. 2009). #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2009.05.038

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:10:08.955Z

The QUOKKA is similarly sized (although rounder!) at 4.2kg (~19 stoats). It has a small, stocky body and large, well-developed hind legs like fellow members of the family Macropodidae (think: very small kangaroo). It's fur is a fluffy buff color. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:11:31.340Z

The QUOKKA is similarly sized (although rounder!) at 4.2kg (~19 stoats). It has a small, stocky body and large, well-developed hind legs like fellow members of the family Macropodidae (think: very small kangaroo). It's fur is a fluffy buff color. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:11:31.340Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamQuokka Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:11:53.782Z

Our smiley friends, the Quokkas (Setonix brachyurus), live in Western Australia near Perth. But DNA data shows that mainland populations fragmented < 6,000 yrs ago, likely due to reduced rainfall and the loss of Quokka's preferred wet forest habitat. #2025MMM link.springer.com/article/10.1…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:12:05.569Z

Tonight, Marsh Mongoose is patrolling his territory along a river bank in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. As he patrols, he uses long, unwebbed fingers to search for crabs, snails, and toads. (Kingdon et al., 2013; Do et al., 2020; Haring et al., 2023) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:12:55.120Z

Meanwhile, on Rottnest Island of SW Australia, Quokka is surrounded by her family group of about 20 members. It's the last month of summer down under, and this nocturnal animal is trying to rest and stay cool under a native skunk tree. (Poole et al., 2014) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:13:14.023Z

#MMMagic translocation delivers quokka into shallow waters next to a branch of the Great Fish River, she drinks deeply of opportunistic water and then Quokka slosh-hops onto dry land. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:13:57.422Z

Marsh Mongoose hears the sloshing & investigates– hoping it could be one of his prey fishies — but encounters… what is that thing? The quokka doesn't seem like a predator, but this mesocarnivore has a side of cautious with his curious. (Ray & Sunquist 2001) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:14:45.628Z

Quokka peers out into the thick, twisty forests of KwaZulu-Natal are different than the pine, wattle and tea tree woodland she calls home, when she spots the Marsh Mongoose watching her… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:15:20.391Z

To Quokka, Marsh Mongoose looks a bit like a quoll, the marsupial carnivore that can hunt Quokka, but long isolated from mainland predators, Rottnest Island Quokka has "prey naivety" & doesn't recognize Marsh Mongoose as a danger!!! (Waaleboer et al. 2024) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:15:50.654Z

Marsh Mongoose stares at Quokka. Quokka "smile" stares at Marsh Mongoose #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:17:11.636Z

<splash splash> Marsh Mongoose sees a favored fish and dashes into the water for the familiar prey, possessively carrying the scaly dinner away to eat nearer one of his many burrows… OFF THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:18:34.837Z

QUOKKA OUTLASTS MARSH MONGOOSE!!!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:18:49.198Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamQuokka Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:19:02.085Z

Two distinct rabies virus strains (one adapted to canids and one adapted to mongoose) have been found in southern Africa. A molecular study from Zyl et al. (2010) showed that the mongoose strain likely arrived prior to the arrival of the canid strain. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1016/j.vi…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:19:08.850Z

NEXT UP: #5 MANED WOLF (Chrysocyon brachyurus) VS. #12 COMMON MUSKRAT (Ondatra zibethicus) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:20:50.689Z

MANED WOLF is related to dogs, foxes & jackals – distinguishable from most other Canidae by its shaggy golden-red pelage & long, looooooong legs. Maned wolf is 36 inches (90cm) at the shoulder & weighs 50 lbs (23kg) (Dietz 1985) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:21:26.162Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamManedWolf Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:21:52.911Z

Patterns of genetic variation in present-day species can shed light on their historical population size extending 1000s of years into the past. This is what González et al. did for the Maned Wolf. DNA data recovered a signal of population expansion ~24K years ago. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/jher…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:22:06.759Z

MUSKRAT is a chunky uniform brown 4 lb (1.8kg) rodent, w/ a large, blunt head, small eyes, & short, rounded ears that barely protrude from the fur. It has partially webbed hind feet. The nearly hairless tail is almost as long as the whole animal. (Willner etal 1980) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:22:25.640Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamMuskrat Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:22:42.716Z

How many subspecies? Genetic analyses using microsatellites have contributed to our understanding of subspecies designations, where Laurence et al. (2011) revealed only 3 distinct clusters across the Muskrat's North American range. #2025MMM academic.oup.com/jhered/artic…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:22:48.454Z

TONIGHT'S BATTLE occurs at dusk in Pampas del Heath, the only tropical humid savanna in Peru, where a small population of MANED WOLF persists (Williams etal 2007) #2025MMM.

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:23:29.127Z

Combatant MANED WOLF stirs awake from a nap. Feeling a hunger pang, he has a stretch before he trots off through the tall grass toward the edge of a stream (aka riparian) where small mammal prey are more abundant #2025MMM http://www.canids.org/canidnews/15&#8230;

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:24:04.536Z

MEANWHILE… near Chicago in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, MUSKRAT is busy doing chores, pushing ice away from his doorway & re-mudding holes in his walls. Choring is never done when you live along a stream bank during spring melt #2025MMM http://www.fs.usda.gov/midewin

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:24:47.024Z

Upstream, an ice dam breaks, rushing water sweeps MUSKRAT off his feet and into the #MMMagic translocation portal… to the Peruvian grassland among a large patch of pampas grass. #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:25:21.868Z

Muskrat immediately begins searching for a new burrow site, haphazardly dashing about to explore the new habitat. #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:25:57.271Z

MANED WOLF hears rustling in the grass & pauses, staring intently while directing his ears toward the sound. Based on size, it looks like a hairy armadillo. JACKPOT! Armadillos only represent 4.5% of occurrence in their diet but 28% of biomass. (de Arruda Bueno&MottaJunior 2009) #NOMNOMNOM #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:26:40.234Z

MANED WOLF crouches down in the grass then quietly belly crawls toward the scurrying sound. Maned Wolf pauses. As ears triangulate the Musk Rat's movements, a stream of drool drips from the corners of his mouth… #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:27:19.403Z

MANED WOLF taps his front foot to scare MUSKRAT into moving to a spot in the open and POUNCES!! #2025MMM nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/mane…

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:28:06.556Z

MUSKRAT, pinned under MANED WOLF'S front paws, struggles!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:28:34.900Z

"A cornered muskrat is a notoriously desperate fighter" (Errington 1939). MUSKRAT's sharp front claws tear out & the rodent chomps his strong jaw sinking his teeth… #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:29:08.978Z

INTO GRASS AND DIRT- SMOOSHED FACE DOWN IN THE PAMPAS- THE MUSKRAT CAN NOT FULLY DEPLOY ANTI-PREDATOR DEFENSES!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:29:53.107Z

MANED WOLF expertly snap-grasps MUSKRAT by the neck, swings the now chittering rodent upward… MANED WOLF'S quick head shakes snap the spine of his prey. #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:30:24.605Z

Tonight, the old 1939 description of MUSKRAT hits differently… "doubtless true that their wandering may be so haphazard & their routes beset by so many dangers that they may never again encounter their own kind" (Errington 1939) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:30:46.879Z

MANED WOLF EATS COMMON MUSKRAT!!!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:31:13.523Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamManedWolf Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:31:32.300Z

Genetic data from mitochondrial & microsatellite loci showed that Muskrats were introduced to the Isles of Shoals, off the coast of Maine, in the early 1900s (Mychajliw and Harrison 2014). The Muskrats were likely introduced from New Hampshire for the fur trade. doi.org/10.1371/jour… #2025MMM #RIP

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:31:52.454Z

NEXT UP!! #4 seed CHACOAN PECCARY (Parachoerus [Catagonus] wagneri) VS. #13 seed MOUNTAIN BEAVER (Aplodontia rufa) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:33:02.959Z

CHACOAN PECCARY may look like a pig but it's not! Peccary (Tayassuidae) tusks grow straight up and down, while pig (Suidae) tusks curve backward. (Mayer & Wetzel 1986) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:34:05.907Z

Tonight's adult female CHACOAN PECCARY combatant weighs 40kg (88lbs). She has a grizzled gray-brown coat, a black stripe down her back & a white collar across her shoulders (Mayer & Wetzel 1986) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:34:43.344Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPeccary Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:34:59.538Z

The 3 species of peccary (Chacoan, white-lipped, and collared) have different numbers of chromosomes (10, 13, and 15 pairs). Recent work has found that the Chacoan peccary has a more similar chromosome arrangement to the white-lipped peccary. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1007/s133…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:35:11.356Z

The 3 species of peccary (Chacoan, white-lipped, and collared) have different numbers of chromosomes (10, 13, and 15 pairs). Recent work has found that the Chacoan peccary has a more similar chromosome arrangement to the white-lipped peccary. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1007/s133…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:35:11.356Z

Similarly, MOUNTAIN BEAVER is not a beaver but rather an ancient mammal that occurs in moist forests of the Pacific Coast USA & British Columbia, Canada. It belongs to it's own family (Aplodontiadae) & resembles an 800g (1.8lbs) oblong loaf of bread w/ stout legs (Carraway & Verts 1993) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:35:55.271Z

Tonight's battle takes place in the Paraguayan chaco thorn forest, home habitat for CHACOAN PECCARY (aka Tagua or Pecarí chaqueño). It's warm & sunny, the delightful aroma after a heavy rain is in the air (petrichor). Roadside potholes are full of water #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:37:10.574Z

MEANWHILE the Gifford Pinchot National Forest of WA State, MOUNTAIN BEAVER is tidying up its extensive burrow system. For camoflauge, it snips sword fern fronds, climbs into a hole & pulls fronds over the hole… #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:37:47.343Z

MOUNTAIN BEAVER pauses for a big scratch… of the world's largest flea, Hystrichopsylla schefferi! While scratching #MMMagic translocates Mountain Beaver into a roadside puddle PECCARY is bathing in! (Carraway & Verts 1993, Hubbard, 1947) #2025MMM #CollectionsAreEssential @burkemuseum.bsky.social

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:39:41.272Z

MOUNTAIN BEAVER pauses for a big scratch… of the world's largest flea, Hystrichopsylla schefferi! While scratching #MMMagic translocates Mountain Beaver into a roadside puddle PECCARY is bathing in! (Carraway & Verts 1993, Hubbard, 1947) #2025MMM #CollectionsAreEssential @burkemuseum.bsky.social

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:39:41.272Z

Bathing PECCARY reclines in the muddy puddle, hair standing on end, & "moving the body rapidly in a squirming motion to cover itself with mud and water" completely unaware of the MOUNTAIN BEAVER's arrival (Smith 2019) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:40:26.721Z

"Drops of water could be seen being cast up into the air by the motion" of the PECCARY, giving a lovely rainbow effect in the air (Smith 2019) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:41:00.784Z

MOUNTAIN BEAVER is rolled under in the muddy waves created by the PECCARY!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:41:31.278Z

Surfacing, MOUNTAIN BEAVER lets out a high pitched squeal in frustration, but is pushed under and away by the PECCARY'S next wave… (Carraway & Verts 1993)` #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:42:02.927Z

… to the edge of the puddle!!! With long, strong & sharp claws, MOUNTAIN BEAVER grasps the muddy soil on edge of the puddle, hoists itself out of the water and scurries to a nearby culvert, abandoning the field of battle!!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:42:33.311Z

CHACOAN PECCARY takes MOUNTAIN BEAVER to the cleaners!!!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:43:02.099Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPeccary Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:43:27.603Z

Mountain Beavers have weird skulls! They are "protrogomorphous" which means that their jaw muscle (superficial masseter) originates on the upper palate (maxilla) and inserts along the back of the jaw (angular process) as compared to other rodents #2025MMM #RIP animaldiversity.org/collections/…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:43:33.961Z

Last Up: 8-Seed Spotted-necked Otter (Hydrictis maculicollis, previously Lutra maculicollis) vs. 9-Seed Tayra (Eira barbara) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:45:04.501Z

Sleek & slender, the Spotted-necked Otter has brown & white splotching on their throat & upper chest, with the rest of their coat various browns from reddish to chocolate (Soderman 2000). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:45:51.667Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamOtter Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:46:09.384Z

The Spotted-necked Otter (Hydrictis maculicollis) of Africa is sister to the Sea Otter (Enhydra), with a relatively short (530,000-year) interval separating them, which has led to discordance in genome-wide analyses of their history– let's get along sisters!! #2025MMM http://www.cell.com/current-biol&#8230;

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:46:13.055Z

About the size of a medium-small dog, the Tayra is a long-legged, long-necked weasel with a robust head and bushy tail. Tayra has a brown body, with a lighter color on its head, and a diamond-shaped patch on its throat (Presley 2000; Schreffler 2003). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:46:44.740Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamTayra Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:47:10.100Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamTayra Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:47:10.100Z

The Tayra belongs to a clade that also contains fishers, martens, and wolverines. Nuclear genetic analyses have shown that this group diverged from other mustelids between 10 and 15 million years ago. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.ym…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:47:23.249Z

In KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Spotted-necked Otter naps, curled into an adorable ball, resting peacefully in a hole between two large tree roots at the base of a tree alongside the river home of his social group. Four other otters snooze elsewhere along the tangled bank. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:48:27.796Z

MEANWHILE in Brazil, Tayra, most active in daytime, prowls the forest canopy for fruit & prey in Lauraceas State Park in this Atlantic forest biodiversity hotspot. Tayra will readily attack vulnerable sloths or monkeys to slake his hunger (Grotta‐Neto et al. 2021). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:49:05.889Z

BACK IN South Africa, Otter's grumbly tumbly awakens him for another round of fishing. Otter emerges from the hole, spin-twist-stretching. (Larivière 2002) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:50:03.025Z

BACK IN South Africa, Otter's grumbly tumbly awakens him for another round of fishing. Otter emerges from the hole, spin-twist-stretching. (Larivière 2002) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:50:03.025Z

At the base of the tree, Otter rolls onto his back, in the dappled sunshine below the branched tree canopy, reaching his toes above him, splaying out his fully webbed feet, tipped with sharp, half-inch claws…(Larivière 2002) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:50:32.307Z

MEANWHILE in Brazil, a twig snaps on the forest floor beneath the hoof of a young, grey brocket deer directly below Tayra's branch on the tree… (Grotta‐Neto et al. 2021) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:51:10.579Z

Tayra stealthily positions to startle attack the brocket deer… and DROPS… right through the #MMMagic transportal!!!!#2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:52:24.868Z

…TAYRA LANDS DIRECTLY ONTO SPOTTED-NECKED OTTER!!#2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:52:54.112Z

BOTH MUSTELIDS ARE NOW UNINTENTIONALLY IN A DEADLY BATTLE, AS OTTER & TAYRA IMMEDIATELY ATTACK EACH OTHER!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:53:22.371Z

Normally such near-evenly matched mustelids would avoid a battle- too much risk of serious injury! Indeed, otters are adapted *to avoid competition* by fishing waterways not typically used by other mustelids in their environments… (Bonesi et al. 2004; Powell & Zielinski 1983) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:54:36.654Z

<breaks the 4th wall> BUT I AM TIRED OF COMPLAINT EMAILS THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CARNAGE AND TOO MUCH *SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE* RUNNING AWAY NIGHT ONE #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:55:55.128Z

Spotted-necked Otter has 3lbs in body weight & 2 inches in body length on the Tayra! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:56:29.546Z

Spotted-necked Otter bites down on Tayra's shoulder thickly muscled from climbing trees! Tayra bites down on Spotted-necked Otter's shoulder, made strong from holding down big fish for bite & rip eating! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:57:16.701Z

LOCKED IN, TOOTH AND CLAW, TORSO-TWISTING OTTER ROLLS WITH TAYRA INTO THE RIVER!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:58:12.160Z

LOCKED IN, TOOTH AND CLAW, TORSO-TWISTING OTTER ROLLS WITH TAYRA INTO THE RIVER!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:58:12.160Z

TAYRA SLAPS OUT WITH ONLY PARTIALLY WEBBED TOES SO MUCH BETTER ADAPTED TO LAND & TREE!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:58:31.503Z

Panicked, Tayra's relatively long legs reach, reach, reach, slipping in the silty, slippery mud at river's edge! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:58:52.408Z

Underwater, Otter attack-bites Tayra's back feet! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:59:24.749Z

TAYRA'S FRONT CLAWS CONNECT WITH A TREE ROOT OF THE TANGLED BANK… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:00:27.059Z

TAYRA hauls out of the river & flees into the forest, far from his mustelid foe so well-adapted for an aquatic encounter!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:01:36.744Z

SPOTTED-NECKED OTTER DEFEATS TAYRA!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:02:12.994Z

<breaks the 4th wall> HAHAHAHAHAHA RUNNING AWAY ANYWAY!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:02:50.251Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamOtter Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:03:23.017Z

A genome assembly for the Tayra by Derežanin et al. (2022) revealed that the Tayra split from other mustelids in the late miocene, and comparative analyses revealed genes putatively under selection for seasonal breeding. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1111/mec….

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:03:47.354Z

Addax, Puma, Peccary, Maned Wolf, Saiga, Indri Otter, and Quokka ADVANCE!!!!!!Tomorrow Night- Round 1 of Roots & Relicts!!!!#2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:07:29.321Z

#2025MMM The Only Ones Round 1 Battle WINNERS:Addax, Saiga, Indri, Puma, Quokka, Maned Wolf, Peccary, and Otter!Join us TOMORROW at 8PM EST for Round 1 of ROOTS AND RELICTS!

— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:08:15.721Z

#2025MMM THE ONLY ONES ROUND 1 BATTLE RESULTS🦌🆚🐹:🐹🏊🏼‍♀️🪲/🦌🦶🏼🐹/🏆🦌👃🏼🆚🐀:🐀🚫⛏️/🐀😰🏃🏽‍♂️/🏆👃🏼🔲🆚🐰:🔲🌳🔊/🐰😱💨/🏆🔲😼🆚⭐:💀➡️😼/🐾🍂⭐/🏆😼🪿🆚🥹:🪿👀🥹/🪿👂🏽🐟/🏆🥹🐺🆚🦫:🐺📍🦫/🐺🙂‍↔️🩻/🏆🐺🐗🆚🍞:🐗🛀🏽🌊/🍞🪜🆓/🏆🐗🦦🆚🦡:🦦🦷🦡/🦡↪️🌳/🏆🦦

— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:13:14.314Z