2026MMM March 19 R2_LibraryLegends_MoneyMammals_Part 1 of 2

TONIGHT!! ROUND 2 of MONEY MAMMALS & LIBRARY LEGENDS #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:00:52.954Z

Round 1 we met them and they outlasted, outvibed, outfought, out plantcarnaged their opponents. Who levels up tonight? Who will be ELIMINATED?!?! #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:02:45.787Z

FIRST UP: #1-seed Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) vs. #9-seed Mouse (Mus musculus) #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:04:07.894Z

Nile Crocodiles are territorial animals, with bigger individuals making use of larger home ranges (Hutton 1989). Body size also impacts optimal prey choice & can be related to home range & habitat choice. #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:04:46.635Z

However, this territorial behavior diminishes in drier winter months when Crocodiles will congregate around dry basking sites to warm themselves & to mate (Kofron 1993). #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:05:32.189Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #LibraryDivision #TeamNileCrocodile Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:05:48.248Z

Kasai et al. (2012) used chromosome painting to show extensive homology (70%!) between Nile Crocodile (2n = 32) & chicken (2n = 78) chromosomes (focusing on larger chromosomes) despite a common ancestor 230 MYA! doi.org/10.1159/0003… #2026MMM

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:05:48.531Z

House Mice (Mus musculus) are adapted to live alongside humans. This includes adaptations to behaviors that equips them to explore & respond to new environments & stimuli. #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:06:21.361Z

When in new environments, mice will increase how frequently they urinate and defecate. This leaves scents behind that informs residence mice of their presences & can improve interactions with them later on. #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:06:55.576Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #LibraryDivision #TeamMouse Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:07:17.681Z

Dogs aren't the only ones who evolved to eat your leftovers. House mice, rats & pigs have MANY extra copies of the amylase gene that helps digest starch. Big clue about who has been eating our table scraps for 1000s of years. doi.org/10.7554/eLif… bsky.app/profile/cega… #2026MMM

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:07:19.556Z

TODAY's battle takes place in the marshlands around Lake Victoria, where the Nile Crocodile has partially hauled out of the water onto a muddy shoreline. #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:07:51.957Z

Crocodilians over 5kg have enough mass to resist major fluctuations in body temperature, yet as ectotherms, environmental conditions still dictate body temperatures. On this cooler morning, the Crocodile modifies its behavior to help control temperature #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:08:34.095Z

Body position on land in the sun & depth in the water are carefully controlled to alter conduction, convection, & radiation all to optimize body temperatures (Downs et al. 2008) #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:09:04.622Z

The mouse, transported from library to grasslands of South Spain, now finds itself along the marshy banks. Mice prefer to lurk in the dark where it is easier to go undetected. Uncomfortable in the bright, African sun, the mouse scurries towards the nearest thing casting a shadow. #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:09:54.264Z

The shadow was formed from the partially agape mouth of the Crocodile! Open jaws increase cooling in alligators, but Nile Crocodiles don't cool much from mouth gaping… instead mouth gape is for communication! (Price et al. 2022) #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:10:46.765Z

The massive crocodile notices the mouse scurrying towards its jaw. It hasn't eaten rodent in a looong while. Typically smaller mammals are eaten by smaller crocodiles. Larger crocodiles usually MEET greater energy demands with MEATIER meals. #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:11:40.777Z

SNAP! Nile Crocodiles are highly opportunistic. Even the largest crocs will devour a small crab or rodent if they are hungry & it would be an easy snack (Hutton 1987) #2026MMM.

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:12:57.215Z

NILE CROCODILE EATS MOUSE!! #2026MMM

Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:13:18.764Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #LibraryDivision #TeamNileCrocodile Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:13:35.100Z

Small but mighty survivors. House mice followed humans into Andes & survived even at high altitudes. Genomic data reveals a threshold effect: hypoxia-related genes show dramatic allele frequency changes in mice living @ highest elevations (~3800m/11,176 stoats) doi.org/10.1093/gene… #2026MMM #RIP

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:13:51.558Z

Next Up is #4-seed Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) vs. #5-seed Grey Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:15:00.866Z

Breeding timing & success of Eagle Owls depends on the timing of preferred prey, & Eurasian Eagle Owl's breeding is synchronized with the European Rabbit's breeding cycle such that young bunnies are readily available when Eagle Owl chicks food demands are highest (Tobajas et al. 2021) #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:16:14.703Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #LibraryDivision #TeamEurasianEagleOwl Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:16:41.057Z

Owls are the only nocturnal raptors. A genome-wide scan across 11 owl species found positive selection on vision genes (e.g. dim-light detection) AND hearing genes (e.g. inner ear development) at the very origin of owls. Their DNA evolved to rule the night! #2026MMM academic.oup.com/gbe/article/…

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:16:45.740Z

Grey Foxes provide bi-parental care to young, bringing squirrels, rabbits, & bats to feed them as they are weaned but not yet ready to hunt, & if a pairmate is lost spending more time near the den if there are kits that they can care for (Allen & Kritzer 2023; Chamberlain & Leopold 2002) #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:17:49.470Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #LibraryDivision #TeamGreyFox Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:18:38.342Z

Eastern & western grey fox populations split ~800,000 years ago, making them more genetically distinct than most animal species that share a name. DNA from 378 foxes pinpoints where these ancient lineages still meet today: the Great Plains! #2026MMM doi.org/10.3389/fevo…

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:18:42.908Z

Tonight the gull-intimidating Eurasian Eagle Owl has gone ROGUE from it's handler at the University of Bath library, catching a campus rabbit #TalonsOut & flying to a nearby tree to eat the meal. #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:20:35.170Z

MEANWHILE in Tempe, AZ ASU Hayden Library Grey Fox is UP A TREE! #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:21:03.588Z

One of the most adept canids at climbing trees, the semi-arboreal activities of Grey Fox allows earlier access to seasonal fruits AND an escape option from coyotes & bobcats (Chamberlain & Leopold 2005; Armenta-Méndez et al. 2018) #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:21:45.855Z

Eurasian Eagle Owl rips up a young bunny chunk when Grey Fox is #MMMagically translocated into her tree! #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:23:03.592Z

Startled into gulping more than can safely be swallowed, Eurasian Eagle Owl is choking on her dinner! #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:23:26.204Z

Grey Fox is balancing on his branches staring wide-eyed at the struggling, choking OWL! #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:24:28.153Z

HORKING BACK OUT the BUNNY CHUNK, Eagle Owl grabs the rest of the rabbit and departs to a new tree to eat WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE! #2026MMM

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:25:08.520Z

AFTER ALL, swallowing capacity is a key factor in prey selection & processing prey into bite-sized chunks for Eurasian Eagle Owls! #2026MMM(Fosså 2013; Tobajas et al. 2021).

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:25:41.888Z

CPR recommendations were UPDATED in 2025- are you up-to-date on your CPR skills- the life you save could be your OWN! #2026MMMcpr.heart.org/en/resuscita…

Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:26:35.123Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #LibraryDivision #TeamGreyFox Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:26:53.466Z

#RIP Eurasian Eagle Owl 🦉 Owl feathers have comb-like serrated edges and a velvety surface that muffle air turbulence for near-silent flight. Nocturnal owls like Bubo bubo have more serrations than day-active owls of similar size. Super stealth! #2026MMM doi.org/10.1371/jour…

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:27:05.538Z

NEXT UP: #1 Seed Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) vs Seed #9 Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei)

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:28:52.937Z

Humpback whales are the marathon moms of the Pacific. Each year they migrate thousands of miles to give birth in warm Hawaiian shallows. With 3-meter flippers and acrobatic rolls, they’re surprisingly graceful for 30 tons of muscle and milk-making power #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:29:48.395Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #MoneyDivision #TeamHumpbackWhale Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:30:39.231Z

Humpback whales (+ many other whales) have evolved large body sizes + long lives. Cancer should ⬆️ w/body size + age but whales do not suffer ⬆️ cancer risk. 212 genes in the humpback whale genome show evidence of positive selection, some of which may ⬇️ cancer #2026MMM doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msz099

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:30:50.715Z

Eastern Gorillas dominate the misty mountains with 195 kg of muscle, massive jaws built for tough plants, and chest-beats that echo across valleys. Powerful yet gentle, silverbacks rely on posture, displays, and sheer presence to keep peace in their troop. #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:32:16.616Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #MoneyDivision #TeamEasternGorilla Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:33:03.936Z

In the last century, Grauer’s+mountain (⛰) gorillas (🦍) ⬇️ but ⛰🦍 now show signs of some recovery. 🦍 genomes today have ⬇️diversity, ⬆️inbreeding, + ⬆️costly mutations vs 100 yr old samples only in Grauer’s (not ⛰) 🦍, maybe b/c of ⛰🦍 recovery + longer-term past #2026MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.055

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:32:49.447Z

When we last saw our Lady Humpback Whale she was in the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of Maui. She's joined by another male whale nearby, who is keeping a close watch on her #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:34:01.385Z

Gorilla returned home is crossing a shallow waterway, "sinking in up to the knees under their own weight". Some gorilla hate the water, but he is not "shy of the water" wades slowly so as to not go in over his waist (Casimir 1975), #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:34:32.848Z

Whale's male escort blows a cloud of bubbles from his blowhole towards her. As they rise to the surface, the bubbles burst, creating a bubble blast! (Patton & Lawless 2021) #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:35:22.725Z

Gorilla, still fording the river, slips in the silty mud hidden drop off, plunging UNDER THE WATER! Gorilla kicks against the river bottom to push-jump back to the shallows, surfacing in the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! #MMMagicTranslocation #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:36:21.765Z

Lady Humpback whale turns in the water at the surface… she's GIVING BIRTH and the baby's tail is visible from the birth canal!! (Ranscombe et al 2021). #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:37:17.002Z

Gorilla is struggling! His dense muscles & bones make him NOT BUOYANT & can't just float. He is trying to stay afloat but while his long front arms & short back legs are great for arboral locomotion & knuckle walking, they aren't synchronized for swimming (Yerkes and Yerkes 1929) #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:38:15.596Z

The Humpback Whale rolls onto her side as a contraction hits. Each slow rotation sends a wave towards the eastern gorilla, struggling in the water with no swimming skills #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:39:09.579Z

With a powerful contraction, the calf is born! The Humpback Whale mama relaxes slightly after her labor. #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:40:02.720Z

Baby whale is STRUGGLING! The calf's trying to get to the surface but is swimming for the first time and her swimming reflex is not fully coordinated (Ransome et al 2022) #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:40:49.722Z

Mama Humpback Whale has gone under her calf slowy lifts calf above the water level, so that the calf's body is completely out of the water! The calf takes first breaths!!! (Ransome et al 2022) #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:42:24.268Z

Swirling waters from the mother-calf Humpback Whale approach Gorilla as he is sinking, sinking, sinking from his own lack of buoyancy. A final last gasp becomes a gulp as he slips below the water one final time. #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:44:02.168Z

HUMPBACK WHALE OUTLASTS EASTERN GORILLA!!! #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:44:38.399Z

PSA: Swimming skills can save a life!(www.redcross.org/take-a-class…)! Records of swimming lessons have been found from 4000 years ago in Egypt (McVicar 1936) & artistic depictions of humans swimming date to 9000 years ago in the "Cave of Swimmers" #2026MMM

Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:44:56.729Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #MoneyDivision #TeamHumpbackWhale Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:45:05.889Z

Gorilla is gone and so is the “ghost” lineage that left its mark on 3% of eastern gorilla DNA! This archaic group split >3 mya from the ancestor of living gorillas. It has not been sampled directly–it was only detected via its DNA in eastern gorillas #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02145-2

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:45:18.741Z

NEXT UP: 2nd seed Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) vs. 7th seed Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:46:57.154Z

Asian elephants are social, intelligent, & emotionally expressive. In their matriarchal herds, females help care for each others' calves. Adult males like our contender, however, often fly solo or live in loose "bachelor groups" after adolescence. (de Silva et al 2021) #ItTakesAVillage #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:47:27.705Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #MoneyDivision #TeamAsianElephant Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:48:01.118Z

Around 50,000 Asian elephants remain in the wild and are scattered across South/South-East Asia in isolated populations. Whole genome data confirms 4 subspecies—Bornean, Sumatran, Mainland, and Sri Lankan—and suggests they began diverging 169,000-48,000 yrs ago. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72019

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:47:43.152Z

The oryx is built for endurance. Adapted to the harsh deserts of Arabia, it can go days without drinking, surviving on dew & desert grasses. During the cooler spring months, it roams & grazes through the day, gathering in herds around rainwater pools. (Hetem et al 2017) #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:48:52.741Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #MoneyDivision #TeamArabianOryx Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:49:08.363Z

After a herd of Arabian oryx suffered an outbreak from an unknown agent, Coronavirus (CoV) particles were found in sick individuals. CoV particles were present in several tissues, including intestines and heart. This work could help treat infected herds. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1128/spec…

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:49:17.908Z

Monsoon season has ended in northern Sri Lanka's Udawalawe National Park, but a light rain falls. The air smells of wet earth & hums with insect sounds, & Elephant roams the evening landscape searching for shoots & water. (Alahacoon & Edirisinghe 2021) #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:50:35.158Z

MEANWHILE, as Oryx begins to settle down for the night he is translocated by #MMMagic to a strange new landscape. Gone is the dry air. Gone are the open flats. Instead, Oryx is surrounded by dense, humid air & a sea of lush green vegetation. #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:51:05.134Z

Despite the late hour, Oryx cannot resist the smorgasbord of water-rich plants around him & begins to feed. #GrazersGonnaGraze #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:51:38.060Z

Elephant moves slowly nearby, the ground trembling beneath his weight. #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:52:02.683Z

Oryx freezes & lifts his head. Through the misty rain he observes a looming gray giant, unlike anything he has ever seen. Massive tusks gleam faintly in the moonlight. #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:52:30.362Z

Heartrate accelerating, Oryx flicks his tail & pivots. The giant is too close for comfort, but Oryx is hesitant to abandon the delectably wet foliage he is dining on. He warily trots a short distance away, his slender legs sending up spatters of mud. #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:52:57.853Z

Elephant pauses briefly & glances in Oryx's direction. Calm & unbothered, he sways his trunk & continues to eat the rain-soaked vegetation. Mealtime for an elephant can last 17-19 hours a day as it consumes 150-200kg (~900 stoats ) of plants. (Vancuylenberg 1977) #StoatsAsMeasurement #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:53:22.149Z

Elephant's calmness reassures Oryx who continues his own #PlantCarnage. #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:54:05.958Z

Trunk swinging, Elephant meanders closer to Oryx & "roar-rumbles." (de Silva 2010) #2026MMM soundcloud.com/elephantvoic…

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:54:27.464Z

Elephant lowers his trunk… AND UPROOTS A NATIVE WOOD APPLE TREE!!!! #ItsGoingDown #ImYellingTimber #YouBetterMove #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:55:03.175Z

Elephants are well-known #EcosystemEngineers, & their presence "positively correlate[s] with the abundance of mammal species, especially ungulates and primates" (Li et al 2025) #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:55:41.457Z

Startled, Oryx bolts away from the Ecosystem Engineering for a quieter corner of the forest beyond the field of battle! #2026MMM

Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:55:51.756Z

#2026MMM #2026mmm #MoneyDivision #TeamAsianElephant Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social

V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:56:15.194Z

Across 57 Arabian Oryx samples, only three MHC (gene involved in infectious disease resistance) alleles were observed. However, the 3 alleles are highly different from each other, which may help the oryx population recognize many different pathogens #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1111/j.00…

Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-20T00:56:25.562Z

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