WELCOME TO THE SECOND ROUND OF #2025MMM!!!!Combatants from the ROOTS & RELICTS DIVISION & the ONLY ONES DIVISION battle for a berth to the Sweet Sixteen! Who will triumph?Who will perish?Who is stand there doing absolutely nothing at all?FIND OUT…. NOW!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:02:02.886Z
First Up: 3-seed Saiga (Saiga tatarica) vs. 6-seed Indri (Indri indri) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:04:28.426Z
During the mating season (Dec. & Jan.) male saigas produce "nasal roars" to deter rivals & attract females. (Frey et al 2007) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:05:22.545Z
#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamSaiga Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:06:09.512Z
Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) used to be WAY more widespread. Prior to 10,000 years ago, their range spanned from France to the NW Territories of Canada — this lasted until the end of the Soviet Union, after which its populations shrunk by >95% #2025MMM onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:06:51.119Z
Like in most lemur species, female Indris are dominant to males. Males, however, are the ones who scent mark & defend the group's territory. (Pollock 1979) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:06:50.402Z
#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamIndri Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:07:25.308Z
What colors can Indri see? A study of opsin genes found that they have more genetic variation than other lemurs, w/ at least 3 variants influencing color vision. This variation could potentially help Indris distinguish ripe fruits more effectively. #2025MMM royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:07:57.016Z
It remains cold in the Betpak-Dala region of Kazhakhstan. Saiga, covered in winter hair that is >75% thicker than its summer coat, is again grazing. Its plant diet has a high water content, making frequent visits to watering holes unnecessary. (Turlybekova et al 2017) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:07:44.803Z
Back in eastern Madagascar, Indri is also focused on eating, but her snack of choice right now is… soil? This behavior, which scientists call geophagy, is common in indris, helping them maintain their microbiome & manage the toxins of a leafy diet (Borruso et al 2021).#2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:08:22.984Z
Indri is just putting a handful of soil in her mouth when she is, without warning, #MMMagically deposited on the Eurasian steppe. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:09:08.274Z
Looking around, Indri finds herself surrounded by a herd of grazing animals. She sees they resemble goats from a Madagascan village, but extra snouty. #FrontTrunkJunk #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:09:49.538Z
As in Round 1, Saiga skip-startles & snorflewoofs at the unexpected newcomer. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:10:29.668Z
Indri, uneasy in this treeless landscape & eager to find her group, emits a contact call. In addition to songs, Indri vocalizations include hums, wheezes, & grunts. (Maretti et al 2010) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:11:09.281Z
Saiga shuffles his hooves & snorts. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:11:32.070Z
Receiving no reply to her contact call, Indri kicks up dust puffs as she does a series of vertical leaps off the field of battle in search of forest & friends. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:12:07.761Z
SAIGA OUTLASTS INDRI! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:12:41.126Z
#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamSaiga Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:13:25.140Z
Madagascar's giant lemurs may be gone, but their DNA tells a story! An ancient DNA study found that extinct giant lemurs were closely related to Indriidae—the family of living indris. #2025MMM #RIP link.springer.com/article/10.1…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:14:14.432Z
Next Up: #1-Seed Ginkgo & Rhizzo (Ginkgo biloba & Rhizophagus aggregatum) vs. 8-seed Asian Forest Tortoise (Manouria emys) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:15:52.408Z
Within the 3km radius of the Nuclear Bomb attack on Hiroshima are ~160 Hibakujumoku, meaning "Survivor Trees" or "A-bombed Trees", Several of these trees are Ginkgo biloba that continue to produce seeds 80 years later as emblems of remembrance & peace (Suzuki et al. 2000) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:16:44.152Z
#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:16:58.931Z
Species-specific genome databases allow us to better study the evolution and conservation status of Roots and Relicts. Gu et al 2022 created GinkgoDB, the ecological genome database for the world-renowned living fossil, Ginkgo biloba; containing 545 ginkgo genomes doi.org/10.1093/data… #2025MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:17:44.239Z
Female Asian Forest Tortoises "build a nest mound of leaves & other debris, in which they lay their eggs" similar to crocodiles and some birds and very rare for tortoises and turtles who typically dig into the soil or sand to lay their eggs (Høybye-Mortensen 2004) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:18:03.603Z
#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamTortoise Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #herps #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:18:28.124Z
The forest tortoise may be a Root and Relict but it's not alone! Le et al 2006 use mitochondrial and nuclear genes and found the most basal testudinid lineage is a novel sister relationship between the Asian forest tortoises and the North American gopher tortoises doi.org/10.1016/j.ym… #2025MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:19:17.363Z
Ginkgo & Rhizo #BestFriends stand in a temperate broadleaf forest on Mt. Jinfo in SW China as a light rain falls, the temperature hovers a few degrees above freezing. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:20:06.173Z
MEANWHILE, in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Borneo the rains are also falling onto the shell of Asian Forest Tortoise… but the weather is about 50 degrees warmer in the tropics. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:20:35.707Z
Asian Forest Tortoise is braced up on her back legs, stretching her neck to bite down on the delecious taro leaves (Alocasia) she prefers. (Høybye-Mortensen 2004) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:21:16.404Z
#MMMagic Translocation has Asian Forest Tortoise now standing upright propped against the Ginkgo Tree! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:21:44.794Z
IN THE FRIGID WEATHER, WELL BELOW TORTOISE'S PREFERENCES!!! Indeed 40 below her Farenheit preferences! (Høybye-Mortensen 2004) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:22:32.162Z
In her nearly vertical standing position, cold rain is pouring down Tortoise's shell onto her neck and she drops down to the ground! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:23:07.476Z
Looking around the base of the massively tall and strong Ginkgo tree, it has no clumps of leaf debris and rotten logs at for Tortoise to dig into as her short term burrow or "hide" (Høybye-Mortensen 2004) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:23:25.770Z
Slow and steady, Tortoise crawls away to a better hidey hole in the forest, BEYOND THE FIELD OF BATTLE! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:23:55.820Z
Ginkgo shares carbon with Rhizzo, Rhizzo helps Ginkgo's rainwater and soil nutrient uptake. #BestFriends #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:24:17.983Z
Gingko (& Rhizo) OUTLAST Asian Forest Tortoise!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:24:28.567Z
#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:24:38.956Z
Forest tortoises determine whether they are born male of female based on the temperature of egg instead of relying on a genetic mechanism. Emer 2007 hatched male tortoises at low temperatures (24.99°C, 27.18°C) and female tortoises at high temperatures (30.79°C) doi.org/10.57709/105… #2025MMM #RIP
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:25:30.981Z
Next Up: 3-Seed Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) vs. 11-Seed Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:26:38.756Z
The Frilled Shark, fresh off the fern-y carnage of round one, is hungry for battle (and squid)! While these sharks spend a lot of time in the ocean depths, especially in warmer summer months (Tanaka et. al 1990), they spend time higher up in the water during cooler months looking for a meal #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:29:07.852Z
#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamShark Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:27:32.258Z
🦈 Unlike most live-bearing animals, frilled sharks still keep egg yolk genes (VTG). A 2023 study found their genome actively retains these genes, helping sustain embryos for 3.5 years before birth (!!!). Evolution repurposes, rather than erases! #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/gbe/…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:28:18.765Z
The Tuatara is one cold-blooded competitor – literally! Because they can't regulate their own body temperature, they use behavior to beat the heat or survive the cold. They're sensitive enough to change the temperatures they prefer based on humidity! (Corkery et al. 2013) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:30:11.453Z
#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamTuatara Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #herps #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:30:23.396Z
Roots and Relicts can help us understand the evolution of the skin. In vertebrates, this is controlled by the epidermal differentiation complex (EDC). Holthaus, et al 2020 identified EDC genes the tuatara and found them to be close to the snakes and lizards doi.org/10.1038/s415… #2025MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:31:10.565Z
We're back in Suruga Bay, Japan, where Frilled Shark lies in wait in the midwaters. Their eel-like form and fins positioned near the back of their bodies suggest that they may wait for food to come to them, then strike with snake-like precision! (Ebert and Compagno, 2009) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:31:06.548Z
Mid-March marks the end of the courtship season for Tuatara, so our competitor is looking for a last chance at romance on Stephens Island in New Zealand. He proudly puffs up & displays his spines, strutting around in a "proud walk" (Gans et al, 1984) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:31:45.250Z
But Tuatara's handsome display is cut short as a burst of #MMMagic deposits him into the waters of Suruga Bay! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:32:06.849Z
Now swimming, Tuatara's thrashing & splashing attract the attention of the hungry Frilled Shark… #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:32:43.249Z
Frilled Shark stealth approaches Tuatara, assessing the potential meal… as frilled shark stomachs hold prey between 1/3 and 1/2 their body length! (Ebert and Compagno, 2009) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:33:03.955Z
With a whip-like strike, Frilled Shark launches forward towards the unsuspecting Tuatara! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:33:34.355Z
Frilled Shark's needle-sharp, barbed teeth close around Tuatara's torso… #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:34:04.855Z
But FRILLED SHARK'S TEETH ARE DEFLECTED by Tuatara's PLATED SCALES! Tuatara's own scales and spines scratch at Frilled Shark's mouth!! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:34:28.350Z
Frilled Shark RELEASES TUATARA!!!!! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:34:42.958Z
TUATARA swims toward the surface of the bay, fleeing the field of battle and a now even HUNGRIER Frilled Shark!! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:35:08.151Z
Frilled Shark TERRIFIES Tuatara! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:35:20.547Z
#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamShark Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:35:32.627Z
The most complex and rearranged vertebrate mitochondrial genome is found in the tuatara! Macey et al 2021 find all 37 common vertebrate genes with an extra three control region blocks, and duplicate tRNAs. The tuatara mt-genome shows drastic gene rearrangements #RIP #2025MMM doi.org/10.1038/s420…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:36:24.684Z
Next Up: #4-seed Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) vs #5-seed Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:38:51.463Z
Latimeria chalumnae is Critcally Endangered http://www.iucnredlist.org/species/1137… & is 1 of 2 Coelacanth species. Coelacanths are an extremely old fish group, more closely related to lungfish & tetrapods (4-limbed animals) than other fish ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/f… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:39:47.222Z
#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamCoelacanth Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:40:17.894Z
The "living fossil" coelacanth has a 2.74 Gbp genome w 60% repetitive elements and low gen. diversity. It shares tetrapod-like olfactory genes and limb enhancers, hinting at early adaptations in Sarcopterygii and giving insights into fish-tetrapod transition. #2025MMM http://www.genome.org/cgi/doi/10.1…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:41:07.832Z
Ringed Seals have spent 9500+ years isolated in Lake Saimaa, Finland's largest lake. They are listed as Endangered due to a small population (~400 individuals) & threats of hunting & fishing bycatch combined with impending climate change (Kunnasranta et al. 2021) http://www.sll.fi/en/saimaa-ri… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:41:51.570Z
#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamRingedSeal Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:42:06.671Z
Ringed seals populations disperse all across the Arctic and may migrate long distances during the summer months. Martinez-Bakker et al 2014 found that the Lake Saimaa seals do not exchange many seals with other arctic populations and are genetically differentiated doi.org/10.1371/jour… #2025MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:42:47.873Z
Coelacanth is drift-hunting off the west coast of Grande Comoro Island between Africa & Madagascar. She hunts the extremely steep lava-formed underwater slopes using her limblike fins to steer (Fricke & Plante 1988, Hissman et al. 2000) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jl_… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:43:18.112Z
Ringed Seal is in the water of Lake Saimaa near his snow lair (Liukkonen et al. 2018; Niemi et al. 2019). He pops his head out of his breathing hole, inhales, & dives below the ice encrusted surface to hunt for his favorite fish: perch, smelt & ruff (Auttila et al. 2015) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:43:37.351Z
Ringed Seal is transported via #MMMagic 150m deep in the Indian Ocean! Our 1.5m long, 100kg Ringed Seal is swimming deeper than he ever has in his freshwater lake, pushing his forelimb flippers hard against the water (Kunnasranta et al. 2002) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:44:17.725Z
BUT Ringed Seal is within the dive depth of his ocean-going fellow ringed seals! (Harwood et al. 2015) what I'm saying is, HE CAN HANDLE THE PRESSURE. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:44:42.521Z
Coelacanth uses passive drifting to hunt the underwater slope. Little light reaches these depths, but Coelacanth eyes have adapted to detect light & color.Our 2m long, 100kg Coelacanth notices a dark, large object above her (Yokoyama et al. 1999; Yokoyama & Takashi 2000). #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:45:23.094Z
The deep water is dark & Ringed Seal is not able to rely on VISION… but his sensitive whiskers (vibbrissae) will identify anything *familiar* he comes into contact with… (HYVÄRINEN 1989) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:45:58.091Z
Coelacanth neutrally buoyant uses very little fin action to maintain her drift course, almost effortlessly keeping her position & movement in the water column… (Lauridsen et al. 2022). #DunDun #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:46:57.703Z
Coelacanth drifts closer to the large, dark object. Is it another Coelacanth? Adjusting her forelimb fins to directly approach the unknown object #DunDun #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:46:26.913Z
Ringed Seal does a swimming spin-flip… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:47:49.136Z
Gently drifting, neutrally buoyant Coelacanth COLLIDES with powerfully Spin-Turning Ringed Seal!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:48:15.283Z
WHAM!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:48:00.492Z
Richocheting from the collision, Ringed Seal's whiskers (vibbrissae) had no opportunity to assess a fish bigger than the pike of Lake Saimaa… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:49:03.875Z
BUT Coelacanth has caught a new ocean drift and continues hunting for the smaller prey she is adapted to eat… BEYOND THE FIELD OF BATTLE! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:49:30.574Z
RINGED SEAL OUTLASTS COELECANTH!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:50:02.357Z
#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamRingedSeal Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:50:18.401Z
Coelacanths have a unique adaptive immune system, w distinctive IgW loci, no IgM, & tetrapod-like immune genes. Their T-cell receptor organization mirrors tetrapods, raising questions about immune evolution and expanding our understanding of vertebrate immunity. #RIP #2025MMM doi.org/10.1002/jez….
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:51:07.350Z
#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:52:45.533Z
#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:53:21.293Z
Christopher N Anderson 
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