UP NEXT: 2-seed Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) vs. 3-seed Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T00:53:54.515Z
Rising human population densities & agricultural expansion pose dangers to Asian elephants. Sri Lanka has the highest rate of elephant deaths due to human-elephant conflict in the world, with an average of 370 elephants killed annually since 2019. (Gunawansa et al 2023) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T00:54:46.864Z
Even when elephants are not killed, "nuisance" behaviors like crop raiding can lead to gunshot wounds & other injuries. In Sri Lanka, male elephants gain more scars as they age, suggesting that human efforts do not successfully curb repeated crop raiding behavior. (LaDue et al 2021) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T00:56:01.561Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #MoneyDivision #TeamAsianElephant Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T00:56:30.091Z
60% of the 🌏's wild Asian elephants (🐘) reside in India. Whole genome data from 34 Asian 🐘 reveal patterns of genetic divergence, diversity, inbreeding, + costly mutations that suggest 🐘 serially founded new populations as they moved north ➡️ south in India. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.08.062
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T00:56:31.378Z
Land use changes associated with the growing human demand for resources have also increased human-hippo conflict over the past several decades, leading to higher hippo mortality. In Kenya, conflict incidences rose 1285% from 1997 to 2008. (Kanga et al 2012) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T00:56:59.162Z
Hippos are also victims of the ivory trade, with their teeth a cheaper & legal alternative to elephant tusks. #2026MMM africageographic.com/stories/the-…
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T00:57:49.078Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #MoneyDivision #TeamCommonHippo Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T00:58:02.443Z
Hippos were present in central Europe until around 31,000 years ago at the same time as mammoths and woolly rhinos. This was likely a small and isolated population in the Upper Rhine Plain. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.cu…
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T00:58:09.241Z
In northern Sri Lanka's Udawalawe National Park, Elephant stands in shallow water, slaking his thirst. An elephant's trunk, which is capable of suctioning up water at 330 MILES PER HOUR, can hold 8-10 liters (up to 41 stoats). (Schulz et al 2021) #StoatsAsMeasurement #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T00:59:26.543Z
Hippo, meanwhile, is still in the Limpopo River, where he has recently taken care of business. Large quantities of hippo poop can sometimes cause mass fish die-offs, providing a food source for scavengers like crocodiles. #EcosystemEngineers #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:00:28.361Z
Another male approaches, and Hippo moves aggressively toward the interloper. He opens his jaws wide & prepares to attack his rival with his large, razor-sharp canines…#ItsGoTime (Eltringham 1999) #2026MMM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHXB…
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:01:28.993Z
SWOOSH Hippo is #MMMagically translocated to the stream where Elephant is drinking. #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:02:24.226Z
SLASH! The chillaxing Elephant finds himself on the receiving end of Hippo's already-launched attack, as HIPPO TUSKS TEAR INTO ELEPHANTS FLANK!!! (Eltringham 1999) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:03:20.892Z
Elephant trumpets in surprise & pivots to gore Hippo, his tusk gouging along Hippo's flank…(Nair et al. 2009) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:04:04.358Z
Elephant's tusk misses Hippo's belly, but lacerates a trough down Hippo's rump! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:04:55.825Z
Elephant's tusk misses Hippo's belly, but lacerates a trough down Hippo's rump! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:04:55.825Z
Hippo REAR TWISTS & BITE plunges his tusks into Elephants BACK LEG!! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:05:48.558Z
The mutually injured megaherbivores recoil from one another for a moment… #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:06:37.527Z
Elephant has the high ground of the bank! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:07:22.140Z
Hippo holds the center of the flowing river! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:08:03.990Z
The resident elephant limps, backing away from the translocated aggressor… (Beckmann et al. 2022) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:08:54.740Z
With blood from Elephant's tusk laceration dripping down his flank, Hippo stands this riverbed watching Elephant retreat, backing off the field of battle! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:09:48.923Z
COMMON HIPPO DEFEATS ASIAN ELEPHANT!!!! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:10:06.405Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #MoneyDivision #TeamCommonHippo Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:10:31.433Z
Asian elephant (🐘) lost tonight but it often wins against cancer! The Asian 🐘 genome + those of other mammals that are also less prone to cancer have a mutation in the ALDH6A1 gene that differs from other mammals and may help explain how they suppress cancer #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1111/acel.13917
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:10:38.387Z
UP NEXT: #2 Ossifrage (Gypaetus barbatus) vs #3 Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:13:41.087Z
A major killer of many vultures is lead from shotgun pellets, which can contaminate soils & water, or be ingested when vultures eat contaminated animals via bioaccumulation. Lead causes neurological damage and death #2026MMM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YJi…
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:14:27.561Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #BoneyardDivision #TeamOssifrage Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:14:48.939Z
The ossifrage hides Ice Age history in its mtDNA! Godoy et al. used museum specimens of now-extinct populations to reveal 2 lineages: one from W. Europe, one from Africa & C. Asia, shaped by separate glacial refugia. doi.org/10.1046/j.13… #2026MMM
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:14:50.048Z
Gila Monsters in some urban settings will adjust their diets and land use (Kwiatkowski et al. 2008 ) but when relocated more than 1000 meters due to complaining residents they have a hard time adjusting to new landscape (Sullivan et al 2004) #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:15:48.960Z
Fun fact: Gila Monsters who are translocated less than 1000 meters (~2940 stoats) just tend to find their ways back home (Sullivan et al 2004) #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:16:34.759Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #BoneyardDivision #TeamGilaMonster Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:16:48.780Z
Gila monsters get viruses, like other species. 33 microvirus genomes were discovered from studying fecal samples from 14 Gila monsters. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC… #2026MMM
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:16:51.583Z
Ossifrage is in the Pyrénées Mountains, still searching for food for her chicks. Now that the ravens aren't entreating entrance at her nest door, she needs to make sure they eat. 144 of Europe's 309 breeding pairs make the Pyrenees their home (Margalida et al 2025) #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:18:05.862Z
Gila Monster, resting after her exhausted day of doing something, is basking in the sun when #MMMagic translocates her to the mountains of France, a bit below and off to the side from the Ossifrage nest and her chicks #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:18:55.054Z
Gila Monster slowly climbs the rocks near the nest, a dwelling that different ossifrages have been using for over 600 years. Bits of human handcrafted materials make up layers of the nest, such as an old shoe and part of a crossbow (Margalida et al 2025) #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:20:06.976Z
Ossifrage has collected some squishy bits from dead sheep to bring to her nestlings… When they become fledglings she will help to make sure they know how to swallow bones since it is not easy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSp8… #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:21:08.150Z
Gila Monster is using her powerful fore-legs while balancing on the tip of her tail to help her climb the rocks of the cliff towards (Willey 1906) #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:22:09.954Z
Ossifrage has returned the food to her nestlings, crouching over them she stays vigilant for any marauding ravens or other possible predators at the cliff nest. #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:23:10.953Z
BUT GILA MONSTER HAVING GORGED ON BABY BUNNIES ONLY TWO DAYS AGO IS NOT IN PREDATORY MODE!!! Gila Monster needs to do some restin' & digestin' and is looking for a good rock shelter location when… #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:24:07.764Z
WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WUHMP!!! #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:25:17.449Z
A tourism helicopter is flying close to the cliffs!!! #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:26:30.404Z
The helicopter downwash blows air currents to the cliff… buffeting Gila Monster against the rocks as her claws grip in & she flattens her body to the rocky ledge… #Cliffhanger #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:27:52.062Z
BUT THE HELICOPTER DISTRESSES THE OSSIFRAGE!!!! WHO IS NOW FLYING AWAY FROM THE NEST!!! #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:29:40.058Z
AFTER ALL: Sounds such as helicopters, motorcycles, & forestry activities often make Ossifrage leave their nests unattended (Arroyo & Razin 2006) #HumanImpacts #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:30:19.958Z
GILA MONSTER OUTLASTS OSSIFRAGE!!! #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:31:10.659Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #BoneyardDivision #TeamGilaMonster Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:31:40.591Z
#RIP Genome-wide heterozygosity of the ossifrage: 0.0011 sites/bp, roughly half the avian average. Zou et al. 2021 traced this genetic impoverishment to the Last Glacial Maximum (~20 kya), suggesting vultures were never genetically diverse to begin with. doi.org/10.1093/molb… #2026MMM
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:31:24.213Z
UP NEXT: #2-seed Wild Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius) vs. #3-seed Aurochs (Bos primigenius) #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:34:17.190Z
Because Dromedary Camels are well adapted to living in arid environments & have a long history of domestication, there have been many attempts to introduce them throughout the globe. (Köhler-Rollefson 1991) #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:34:58.633Z
A feral population of over 1 million Dromedary Camels has been reproducing in the Australian outback. These “out of place” species have disrupted ecosystems & human cultural values. (Crowley 2014). #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:35:47.346Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #ExtinctionDivision #TeamWildDromedaryCamel Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:35:58.945Z
To protect their kidneys during extreme dehydration, camels use a unique metabolic strategy. Rather than importing osmolytes like most mammals, they increase glucose uptake in renal cells, fueling osmolyte production to balance osmotic stress. #2026MMM http://www.nature.com/articles/nco…
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:36:02.454Z
Aurochs were occasionally hunted as food by early humans of the Pleistocene & Holocene. Aurochs bones are frequently found with marks of processing. However, even through historical times, Aurochs were challenging for human hunters (Yeshurun et al. 2025) #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:37:03.601Z
Last summer an archaeological dig in Lüchow, Germany uncovered an Aurochs skull in association with a wooden post. This suggests Aurochs remains were used ceremonially to those Mesolithich people. #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:37:51.166Z
Last summer an archaeological dig in Lüchow, Germany uncovered an Aurochs skull in association with a wooden post. This suggests Aurochs remains were used ceremonially to those Mesolithich people. #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:37:51.166Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #ExtinctionDivision #TeamAurochs Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:38:06.970Z
Aurochs used to live in Northern and Southern Europe and carried many mitochondrial genome lineages. Lari et al found that Southern Italy aurochs have similar lineages as modern cattle unlike northern Europe Aurochs, suggesting a role in domestication for Italy doi.org/10.1186/1471… #2026MMM
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:38:09.367Z
Tonight’s battle takes place 12,000 years ago in the Nefud Desert. The Camel enjoys his home habitat, is tracing his way along the rocky outcrops. Herds of camel have drunk the ephemeral waters dry & now Camel browses on the little remaining vegetation.#2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:39:17.367Z
Aurochs arrives via #MMMagic translocation from 12th century Europe squinting as his eyes adjust to the bright desert light. Aurochs finds himself next to the Camel! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:39:58.753Z
Camel & Aurochs eye each other…. and Camel goes right back to browsing unperturbed by the bovid. #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:40:54.567Z
BECAUSE AUROCHS & CAMEL WERE SYMPATRIC HERE!! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:41:36.064Z
Combatant Aurochs maybe from 12th century Poland, but 12,000 years ago Aurochs & Camel both used these seasonal water holes at the Pleistocene-Holocene transition- humans carved “monumental rock engravings of camels, ibex, wild equids, gazelles, AND AUROCHS" (Guagnin et al. 2025). #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:42:21.240Z
The two herbivores stand ruminating. Both camel & cattle herds trample & heavily browse vegetation near seasonal watering holes, leaving denuded & degraded habitats (Brim-Box et al. 2010). #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:43:07.781Z
The sun is climbing to its highest point in the sky, baking the landscape as temperatures soar to 40°C. #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:43:57.126Z
Aurochs feels the building heat stress & saunters towards the only sliver of shade beneath the rocky outcrop. When hot, cattle slow foraging & seek shade around noon (Foust & Headlee 2017).#2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:44:51.214Z
Camel is slightly more heat tolerant… but slows rumination rate & has a strong preference for shade when temperatures are over 35°C. But there is only one small bit of shade, and Aurochs is already in it! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:45:53.439Z
Camel doesn't mind a crowd to get into the shade so Camel moves very close to the Aurochs, trying to nudge itself into the best of the shade (Zappaterra et al. 2021) #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:46:44.548Z
Aurochs is incredibly stubborn, disinclined to fear or flee. Europeans encountering an Aurochs in the road had to be like tourists encountering Bison in Yellowstone – one must wait or go well around! (vanVuure 2014) #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:47:35.673Z
Accustomed to jockeying for dominance in the herd, Camel nips at Aurochs' haunches and turns slightly to give a kick to encourage Aurochs to budge up and SHARE THE SHADE! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:48:29.161Z
THWUMP! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:49:11.692Z
Aurochs quickly spins his massive head & neck, AND BASHES CAMEL with his 107cm long horn! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:50:31.042Z
Still in mating season, androgen-influenced dominance battle mode, Camel kicks BACK AGAIN! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:51:21.844Z
AUROCHS, the ancestral Hook 'Em Horns, escalates from BASH TO SLASH, with a RIGHT UPWARD HORN HOOK INTO CAMEL'S THIGH!! (van Vuure 2014) #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:52:22.016Z
Bruised & bleeding with a nasty gore wound likely to FESTER, pestering CAMEL retreats as quick as his limp allows, BEYOND THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!! (Onoja et al. 2011) #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:53:11.891Z
AUROCHS GORES CAMEL!!! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:53:41.115Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #ExtinctionDivision #TeamAurochs Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:53:58.657Z
Across 27 dromedary camel-types, DNA analysis showed that names based on coat color often didn’t match real genetic boundaries. The strongest pattern was geography: camel-types cluster broadly by origin (Asia vs. Africa). #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1093/jher…
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:53:59.255Z
LAST BATTLE OF THE NIGHT! 2-seed Lions (Panthera leo) vs. 6-seed Library Cat (Felis catus) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:57:33.150Z
Male lions leave their family pride because they are displaced by new resident males or for new reproductive opportunities; young males may wander for >2 years before becoming resident in a new pride (Packer 2026) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:57:53.030Z
In Lions, about half of male pairs are brothers, but half have formed their team because solo males team up with other nomadic males to form a coalition.Because just like in MMM, TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAMWORK!(Packer 2026) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:58:57.483Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #LibraryDivision #TeamLions Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:59:25.792Z
Lions & tigers & bears? Genomic work from Sun et al. (2025) found the Japanese Archipelago housed lions, not tigers, during the Late Pleistocene. Originally, all big 🐱 fossil remains were attributed to tigers. Oh my! doi.org/10.1073/pnas… #2026MMM
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T01:59:27.888Z
Domestic cats are CATastrophic for wildlife- hunting wildlife (killing hundreds of millions of birds, rodents, marsupials, lizards etc), out-hunting wildlife (example: quolls), & interbreeding with wildlife (see Scottish Wildcat) (Loss et al. 2022) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:01:14.448Z
BUT people LOVE their cats, in some countries cats have outpaced dogs and CATS are the most popular companion animal! Getting folks to care about 'abstract' wildlife over their special pet is an uphill battle… (Calver et al. 2026) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:01:48.110Z
Better messaging is how cats being allowed outside increases INJURY, ILLNESS & EARLY DEATH OF THE CAT; that means higher vet bills & more heartbreak. ALSO well-managed #IndoorLife can improve cat well-being AND human-cat bonds! (Calver et al. 2026) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:02:15.097Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #LibraryDivision #TeamDomesticCat Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:02:30.666Z
Bengal cats (house cats that are ~4% Asian leopard cat) look wild, but domestic cat controls the coat color. Leopard cat color genes are suppressed. Genome version of home habitat advantage http://www.cell.com/current-biol… #2026MMM
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:02:34.093Z
Our two male Lions, Dark Mane and Torn Ear are prowling around the savanna, on the lookout for the FOUR Fs: females, food, friends, or foes. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:04:00.962Z
Library Cat #MMMagically translocates into the savanna battlefield, arriving in the low crawl space beneath a thorny shrubbery with the Lions nearby. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:04:47.628Z
Library Cat looks around, she's an INSIDE CAT… always been in the Library, and this setting is entirely unfamiliar. She stands up, getting stabbed by a thorn and quickly crouches back down, commando crawling to get out from under the shrubbery… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:06:05.608Z
Dark Mane spots small felid movements and lunges forward, chasing the awkwardly moving felid, unfamiliar with the landscape… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:06:40.410Z
Leaping forward, Dark Mark tumbles the small felid and takes her up in his jaws! (Laurenson 1994) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:07:38.508Z
SQUILSH CRUNCH #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:08:20.726Z
Dark Mane's canines bite through her skull & spine, dropping the small felid's now lifeless body to ground. Not even interested in eating the small felid, Dark Mane looks over at Torn Ear (Laurenson 1994) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:09:28.006Z
Crouched low tucked WAY back beneath the thorny bush, Library Cat has watched in horror at the Lion's lethal attack on the young cheetah cub,just emerged from the lair, taking early steps into the savanna landscape (Laurenson 1994) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:10:49.140Z
AFTER ALL: cheetah cub mortality is extremely high, peaks in the first two weeks after emerging from the lair, & lions responsible for ~80% of cheetah cub predation deaths (Laurenson 1994) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:12:51.100Z
Nearby, Torn Ear pees and with his massive front paw scrapes earth, scours claws into the sandy soil, scraping MOLD from under claw nail… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:13:38.833Z
Again soaked in urine, will MOLD attract insects seeking essential nutrients into chowing down on the #FungusAmongUs?!?! Biting flies & locusts are attracted to urine; some butterflies even prefer carnivore urine! (Bodrie 2018) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:14:52.618Z
But as Torn Ear Lion steps forward, his back foot crushes into urine-damp mud, catching mold in the fur between the lion's back paw toe beans. (Golan & Pringle 2017) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:15:27.432Z
The two LIONS let out a roar! Behind them Library Cat bolts out the far side of the thorn bush in search of a safer village & friendly people, far from this dangerous wilderness. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:15:47.118Z
LIONS OUTLAST LIBRARY CAT!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:16:14.116Z
#2026MMM #SweetSixteen #LibraryDivision #TeamLions Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:16:28.344Z
Orange cat mystery solved! Orange cats lack ~5,100 bases of DNA that normally regulate the gene ARHGAP36. The gene is still there, but switched on when it should be off. http://www.cell.com/current-biol… #2026MMM #RIP
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:16:52.044Z
WOW WHAT A NIGHT! Steller's Sea CowAurochsHoney BadgerGila MonsterHumpback WhaleHippoNile CrocodileLIONS ADVANCE!#2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:18:53.716Z
See you TOMORROW for the ELITE TRAIT!!! Until then BE WELL, good night, & GOOD LUCK!#2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:20:01.147Z
Sweet 1️⃣6️⃣ EMOJI BATTLES: #2026MMM💀 Is Forever:🐮🆚🐬: 🐬🦦🤸🏼♀️/🐬🧂😕/🏆🐮🐪🆚🐂: 🐪🐂🌳/🐂🗡️🐪/🏆🐂📚 Legends:🐊🆚🦊: 🦊🌅🥤/🐊🍽️🦊/🏆🐊🦁🆚🐈: 🦁🍽️🐆/🧫🙀👋🏼/🏆🦁💲Mammals:🐋🆚🦏: 🦏💥🐋/🦏🏊🏾♂️🏖️/🏆🐋🐘🆚🦛: 🦛🦷🐘/🔙🐘👋🏽/🏆🦛That's So 🤘🏻:🦡🆚👄: 🐟👄😰/🦡🍽️👄/🏆🦡🥸🆚📿: 🚁📿🪺/🥸😫🛫/🏆📿
— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:20:01.361Z
SWEET 16 WINNERS:#2026MMMSteller's Sea Cow, Aurochs, Humpback Whale, Hippopotamus, Lions, Nile Crocodile, Honey Badger and Gila Monster!Please join us TOMORROW (3/26) at 8PM EST for the ELITE TRAIT!!
— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2026-03-26T02:21:02.083Z
Christopher N Anderson 
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