TONIGHT, we have HALF THE BATTLES but TWICE THE ACTION in the #2026MMM ELITE TRAIT!!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:00:37.713Z
Home Habitat Advantage, like the combatants from the Extinction is Forever Division… is now lost to the past! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:01:57.296Z
Tonight begins the randomization of encounter ecosystems as combatants are #MMMagically translocated into the Desert, the Swamp, the Ocean Reef, or the Eucalpyt Forest! WHO will fortune favor TONIGHT? #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:03:10.980Z
And one LAST warning… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:04:16.014Z
FIRST UP: 1-seed Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis) vs. 3-seed Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum). Tonight's battle is a collaboration with @mammalssuck.bsky.social #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:06:10.997Z
Honey Badger's flexibility about food- they will eat A LOT of different species, allows them to adjust their travel depending on who's about. Honey Badger is less detected where leopards are active, but more detected when spotted hyena are active on a landscape. (Kheswa et al. 2018) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:06:59.917Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #BoneyardDivision #TeamHoneyBadger Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:07:23.201Z
Honey badger is one of the species sequenced as part of the Zoonomia project, in an effort to better understand evolutionary constraint, and novel evolutionary genetics. http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/… #2026MMM
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:07:31.245Z
Rapid climate changes, faster than mutations can be favored by selection, will increase mismatches between species adaptive traits & their environment with consequences for species going extinct,breakdowns in ecosystem processes in ways that impact wildlife AND humans (Hromada et al. 2025) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:08:21.319Z
Gila Monster, well adapted to desert life, will feel the heat; hotter, drier patterns in the Mojave affects plants- essential microhabitats for Gila Monster & the primary producers for the primary consumers this carnivore hunts. (Hromada et al. 2025) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:09:04.025Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #BoneyardDivision #TeamGilaMonster Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:09:22.826Z
The first draft of the Gila monster genome was used to study whether there is equal expression of genes on the Z chromosome between males (who have two Z chromosomes) and females (who have a single Z chromosome). academic.oup.com/gbe/article/… #2026MMM
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:09:33.206Z
TONIGHT, Honey Badger is ON THE HUNT on the sandy thornveld of the Kalahari Desert (Begg 2001) while Gila Monster is RESTING amongst the saguaro of the Sonoran Desert (Gienger et al . 2014) after her HARROWING cliff experience in the Pyrennes in the Sweet Sixteen… #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:10:28.846Z
when both combatants are MMMagically translocated to the randomly determined habitat of… EUCALYPT FOREST!!! #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:11:15.467Z
SPECIFICALLY, the Eucalypt Forests of Murramarang Nat'l Park, Australia, site of one of the 10,000 wildfires that burned across Australia during the 2019-2020 Black Summer, scorching 59 million acres (93,000 square miles; 2 TRILLION square stoats #StoatsAsMeasurement) (Volkova et al 2025) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:12:01.006Z
SPECIFICALLY, the Eucalypt Forests of Murramarang Nat'l Park, Australia, site of one of the 10,000 wildfires that burned across Australia during the 2019-2020 Black Summer, scorching 59 million acres (93,000 square miles; 2 TRILLION square stoats #StoatsAsMeasurement) (Volkova et al 2025) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:12:01.006Z
Honey Badger slows his trot, assailed by the scents of the dry Eucalypt forest dominated by Eucalyptus sieberi, this sclerophyll vegetation is adapted for periods of prolonged dryness and heat, but looks LUSH relative to Honey Badgers home habitat. #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:12:49.378Z
Trees continued to die from fire-damage for 2 years after the megafires, but the forest is recovering with eucalypt & acacia, coarse woody debris & leaf-litter again blanket the forest floor providing shade & concealment for Australia's spiders, snakes, & small mammals (Volkova et al 2025) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:13:38.113Z
… and one out of place orange & black lizard… GILA MONSTER!!! #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:14:30.838Z
Honey Badger considers the loose bark of the nearby gumtree… that could be a likley location for a delicious gecko, the Mighty Mustelid trots toward the tree trunk to begin a CLIMBING HUNT (Begg et al. 2003) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:15:20.592Z
Honey Badger looking up to the tree, nose NOT to the ground TRIPS OVER GILA MONSTER IN THE LEAF LITTER!! #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:16:08.265Z
PHFFFFHIIIISSST!!! #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:16:58.619Z
Gila Monster whips his head toward Honey Badger with a threatening lizard hiss! #2026MMM (Sidebar: don't pester wildlife, if your presence is clearly disrupting them BACK OFF! youtu.be/OHPs_PdY65g?…
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:17:47.533Z
Gila Monster's "phfhist" the open mouth teeth display, & the bright colors (aposematic coloration) warn that this lizard is locked & loaded with death-dealing venom! #2026MMM askabiologist.asu.edu/gila-monster…
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:18:35.629Z
BUT HONEY BADGER DON'T CARE, HE IS ADAPTED WITH REPTILE VENOM RESISTENCE!!!! #IBeenTanglingCobraSinceYouWereAnEggBoi (Drabeck et al. 2015) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:19:34.158Z
And this is the biggest "gecko" Honey Badger has ever encountered! With his fossorial claws Honey Badger prepares to DIG IN to dinner, flipping the lizard! #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:20:24.555Z
BUT GILA MONSTER LATCH BITES ONTO HONEY BADGER'S PAW!!!! Is Honey Badger resistant to the venom of the Gila Monster evolving 160 Million years since the last common ancestor with cape cobra?!?!!? #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:21:20.833Z
HONEY BADGER STILL DON'T CARE because Gila Monster CAN NOT inject venom!!!! Gila Monster's venom oozes slowly down tooth grooves during prolonged feeding, this is why it 'hunts easy pickings' nestlings!!! (Mackessy 2022; Beck 2005) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:22:15.876Z
With a crushing neck bite, Honey Badger slays Gila Monster, and chows down to finish the lizard entirely! (Begg et al 2003) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:23:03.762Z
HONEY BADGER DEVOURS GILA MONSTER!!!! #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:23:56.518Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #BoneyardDivision #TeamHoneyBadger Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:24:15.182Z
The group who originally generated the draft Gila monster genome is now working a complete genome sequence for this wonderful creature, sequencing every base from telomere to telomere. #2026MMM #RIP
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:24:23.723Z
NEXT UP: 1st-seeded Steller's Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) vs. 3rd-seeded Aurochs (Bos primigenius) #CowVsCow #2026MMM #ExtinctionIsForever #EliteTrait
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:28:36.154Z
This sequence was crafted with the wonderful MMM Teammmates @pkconnors.bsky.social & @mammalssuck.bsky.social #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:29:43.310Z
Large vertebrates went extinct in the Pleistocene mostly due to climate change & human impacts, but species interactions & community shifts matter, too. For Steller's Sea Cow, loss of sea otters then kelp forests could have led to it's disappearance (Estes et al 2016) #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:30:58.445Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #ExtinctionDivision #TeamStellersSeaCow Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:31:22.842Z
The enamelin (ENAM) gene is associated with tooth development in vertebrates. H. gigas harbors inactivating mutations in this gene, similar to birds, turtles, pangolins, & baleen whales, and analyses show signals of positive selection in the stem dugongid lineage. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.ym…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:31:31.612Z
Aurochs were hunted by humans for thousands of years, but their extinction is mostly attributed to ousting from preferred habitats. Human civilizations with agriculture grew along riparian zones & grassy edges of forests, which were the preferred habitat for Aurochs. #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:32:06.888Z
Small herds of Aurochs surrvived in managed forests, but over time these habitat were degraded. The final nail in the coffin for wild Aurochs was in Jaktorów Forest, Poland in 1627 – marking one of the first historically recorded extinction events (van Vuure 2014). #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:33:15.314Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #ExtinctionDivision #TeamAurochs Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:34:07.675Z
The extinct auroch was domesticated into modern cattle, but some modern cattle breeds are more genetically similar to the auroch. Park et all found modern British and Irish cattle are more similar to a 6,750-year-old British auroch than the other Eurasian breeds doi.org/10.1186/s130… #2026MMM
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:33:38.630Z
TONIGHT in the 1760s, off the coast of the Commander Islands, one of the last Sea Cows is being hunted from offshore boats, a bloody harvest for shoe leather from Sea Cow's hide and lamp oil from Sea Cow's blubber #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:35:24.054Z
Sea Cow has little defense against the hunters! He swims slowly and has limited ability to dive deep to escape the hunters' spears – the bone structure of his ribs is weighted for horizontal buoyancy as he slow grazes algae in the coastal shallows. #2026MMM http://www.biolib.cz/en/image/id3…
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:36:28.818Z
THUNK!!! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:37:32.704Z
MEANWHILE, Aurochs is again grazing and ruminating in 12th Century Poland, irascible as ever when… #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:38:37.348Z
#MMMagic translocates Sea Cow and Aurochs to the randomly determined habitat… DESERT!!! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:39:41.211Z
Specifically, the Atacama Desert, running for 1000km on the west coast of South America with some of the lowest rainfall on Earth, some hyperarid areas of the desert only get 1mm of rain a year (Vicencio Veloso et al. 2024) #2026MMM http://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/a…
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:40:47.930Z
And it is not raining today. The sun shines above. Each exhale of the Sea Cow and Aurochs have them losing precious hydration in the landscape of sand and stone. Both mammals' large body sizes and shapes help them retain rather than shed heat. #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:41:52.712Z
Sea Cow's thick blubber, so helpful for staying warm in North Pacific Ocean waters, accelerates the heat effect… #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:42:57.872Z
Even worse, Sea Cow's 10-ton body relies on floating in the ocean (Scheffer 1972). Without being in water, the Sea Cow will soon be crushed by his own weight, bending ribs until they break, crushing his own organs… slowly… as he dehydrates. #2026MMM centerforsurfresearch.org/how-do-whale…
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:44:02.273Z
But Sea Cow has bigger problems, the hunter's spear has perforated his 32lb heart, causing massive internal hemmorhaging (Forsten & Youngman 1982)!!! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:45:09.510Z
Aurochs approaches the still, silent Sea Cow. The Sirinean is casting the only shade as far as the eye can see in the desert. Aurochs hunkers down in the shade, a faint smell of the ocean in the still air…. #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:46:18.185Z
Without any incoming storms, only the Sea Cow's eyes are cloudy #BrokenHeart #QuickDeath #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:47:21.742Z
Unlike in history, in #2026MMM, Aurochs OUTLASTS Steller's Sea Cow!!!! #2026MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:48:23.725Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #ExtinctionDivision #TeamAurochs Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:48:43.839Z
The extinction of Steller’s sea cow may be more complex than we thought.Ancient DNA reveals Steller’s Sea Cows were already in long-term decline before humans reached the Bering Sea, suggesting fur traders didn’t *start* the extinction, they just finished it. #RIP #2026MMMdoi.org/10.1038/s414…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:48:53.731Z
#InspirationalIntermission #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:51:58.515Z
#InspirationalIntermission #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:53:05.631Z
NEXT UP: 1-seed Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) vs. 3-seed Common Hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:55:35.131Z
This battle is a collaboration of @mammalssuck.bsky.social, @marckissel.bsky.social, & myself. #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:56:33.857Z
TONIGHT, in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, mama Humpback Whale and calf are submerged to the shallow ocean floor so that calf CAN NURSE FOR MILK! (Tackaberry et al. 2020) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:57:36.929Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #MoneyDivision #TeamHumpbackWhale Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:57:53.828Z
Humpback whale 🧬 harbors clues about it's past. 🧬 patterns suggest that like its whale relatives, humpback whales had ⬆️ effective population sizes a few million yrs ago relative to today. It’s #️⃣s were approx stable 1 million➡️ ~30,000 yrs ago and then ⬇️ by 2/3 #2026MMM doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aap987
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:58:04.673Z
MEANWHILE, in the Limpopo River, Hippo's wound requires rest for wound healing and immune response… but challenger males are taking advantage to encroach on the combatant Hippo's territory! (Dudley et al. 2016) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:58:58.375Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #MoneyDivision #TeamCommonHippo Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T00:59:15.617Z
WHEN BOTH COMBATANTS ARE #MMMagically translocated to the randomly determined habitat of… OCEAN REEF! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:00:00.793Z
Specifically NO NAME REEF at the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef system of thousands of reefs along Australia's continental shelf to the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean. #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:01:13.539Z
Although not an adept swimmer since being a calf diving to nurse underwater, Hippo does not panic immediately in the ocean! The hippopotamuses from the coastal Loango National Park in Gabon gave Loango its nickname ‘Land of the surfing hippos’ (van der Geer et al. 2015)
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:02:24.054Z
Humpback Whale and calf surface together from their nursing bout as the Hippo bobs in the saltwater near them… #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:03:43.452Z
Hippo, bobbing in the water, is startled by the whales. His wound from the elephant tusk is oozing & the salt water stings, but may also help healing (Helmick 2017) as the wound seeps a blood slick into the water… #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:04:42.805Z
BUT will Hippo's blood attract sharks cruising the continental shelf, bringing them toward the Hippo & Humpback Whale mom & calf!?! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:05:43.071Z
Shying away from the massive whales, Hippo spots sections of coral exposed from the low tide and awkwardly swims to the "rocky" outcrops. #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:07:05.746Z
Attempting to clamber onto the coral, these faster-growing, but more fragile stag and plate corals crumble beneath Hippo's weight, scraping gouges into her skin as she plunges back into the water… #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:07:53.228Z
SNIP SNAP, SNIP SNAP SNIP SNAP!!!! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:08:49.330Z
Hippo is being viciously attacked by a A TITAN TRIGGERFISH!!! #TritonWasRightTherePeople #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:10:31.512Z
A large female titan triggerfish defending her eggs in her nest is basically the 'territorial hippo' of the coral reef. 2.5 feet long, she has a strong jaw wielding 8 long, protruding chisel-like teeth (+ a row of inner teeth!) (Randall & Millington 1990) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:11:44.407Z
The hair-trigger, get off her lawn, scourge of scuba divers, titan triggerfish bites Hippo skin rolls with her "rapid, forceful closure of the jaws" like she does to TIGER SHARKS during March-May nesting season (Bocchi et al. 2025) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:13:03.009Z
Dun Dun. Dun Dun. Dun Dun. #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:13:56.326Z
Great White Shark, attracted by blood in the water, swims alongside the Humpback Whale & calf. #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:15:38.539Z
Mama Humpback Whale vocalizes to her calf, WOPING & GRUMBLING (Dunlop et al 2008) to keep her calf close by for greater safety & easier swimming by making use of mama's hydrodynamic aspiration flow (Saloma 2018) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:16:55.807Z
The calf is ALREADY bigger than the 12 foot Great White Shark… but Great White Sharks aren't only scavengers of whale carcasses… (Tucker et al. 2019; Dines & Gennari 2020) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:17:59.625Z
SLOSH, WHOOSH! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:19:10.592Z
Hippo scramble-swims away from the triggerfish attack, splashing into the water from the bleeched reef, headed toward Lizard Island in the distance… #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:20:50.023Z
Great White Shark, attracted to the disorganized splashing, follows the hippo… circling and assessing the injured Hippo… #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:22:22.671Z
Preferring to prey on an already weakened and injured mammal, Great White Shark gives a deep penetrating bite on Hippo's rump, but not ripping away muscle or fat (Dines & Gennari 2020) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:24:20.335Z
Shark swims away as the Hippo now bleeds more copiously and swims more slowly… Great white shark circles the swimming Hippo, not approaching closer than 10 feet, trailing it as it swims laboriously toward land… but the Hippo will never reach Lizard Island! #HurtinHurtinHippo #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:25:18.405Z
Mama Humpback and calf swim into the coral lagoon for another bout of nursing. #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:26:28.569Z
HUMPBACK WHALE OUTLASTS HIPPO!!! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:27:13.801Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #MoneyDivision #TeamHumpbackWhale Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:27:34.508Z
Hippo DNA shows that they expanded across Africa in the Pleistocene when overflooding created a large network of lake and river systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Lack of geographical clustering in the haplotype network = recent population expansion. #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1038/sj.h…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:27:40.876Z
FINAL BATTLE OF THE NIGHT: 1-seed Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) vs. 2-seed Lions (Panthera Leo) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:31:28.063Z
The most devastating element of Human-Crocodile conflict are lethal attacks on humans engaged in fishing, water-gathering, swimming, water-crossing & washing activities (Pooley et al. 2019) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:32:09.709Z
In Botswana, Nile Crocodile is second ONLY TO LIONS as predators most responsible for taking livestock, particularly toward the end of the dry seasonAlong with elephant crop loss to elephants (peaking in MARCH!) are important to manage to reduce human-wildlife conflict (Pozo et al 2021) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:32:44.292Z
Crocodiles attack not only humans, livestock, & ungulates… efforts toward extermination initiated by colonialist game wardens expanded with the development of commercial fishing efforts to feed intensifying urban centres (Musambachime 1987). #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:33:11.079Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #LibraryDivision #TeamNileCrocodile Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:34:22.596Z
Fernino et al. (2013) studied DNA from trypanosomes affecting S. Am & African crocodilids (including Nile Croc). Results = SA & Afr croc trypanosomes show relationships consistent w/ 4-5 MY croc dispersal across Atlantic & then host switch to infect alligatorids! doi.org/10.1186/1756… #2026MMM
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:34:08.424Z
Lions attack with bite forces to the neck, crushing bone into open spine fractures, mangled soft tissue, & ruptured jugular and carotid arteries for rapid blood loss. Lion claws are even "more blade-shaped than the canines & inflict deeply penetrating" lacerations. (Kirtland et al. 2024). #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:35:05.313Z
& Survivors of lion attacks are likely to develop wound infections (Kirtland et al. 2024). #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:35:24.713Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #LibraryDivision #TeamLions Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:35:56.741Z
Genomic work from de Manuel et al. revealed deep divergence (~70,000 years) between northern (including Asia, west, & north Africa) and southern (including south, east, & central Africa) lion lineages. Post split, these lineages have experienced gene flow. doi.org/10.1073/pnas… #2026MMM
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:36:08.430Z
TONIGHT Crocodile swims in a swamp around Lake Victoria, the water is flowing deeper and faster than usual from the recent rains… Crocodile drops down into the water with nary a ripple when…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:37:50.030Z
#MMMagic translocates Crocodile to the RANDOMLY DETERMINED HABITAT… SWAMP!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:38:55.146Z
Specifically the swampland on the north side of the Kazinga Channel in Uganda, "camel-spitting distance" away AND NEAR WHERE THE LIONS ALREADY ARE!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:40:18.631Z
The deeper waterway runs cooler and Crocodile swims away from the deep channel to the swampy shallows #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:41:22.713Z
MEANWHILE… Torn Ear & Dark Mane have wandered as nomads for years now, large & strong they have sought a pride, but the lion population in the area is sparse, they aren't encountering any lionesses, just repeatedly skirmishing with rival coalitions! (Braczkowski et al. 2024) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:42:04.074Z
Although loathe to risk the crocodiles and hippos, dispersing across the 1+ kilometer Kazinga Channel in Uganda is their best chance to claim a pride and establish FAMILY (Braczkowski et al. 2024) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:42:58.422Z
Just after 9PM, Torn Ear walks ahead of Dark Mane, striding confidently in the swampy forest toward the Kazinga channel #NightCam #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:43:46.623Z
Close together the Lion coalition walks into the water, Dark Mane slightly ahead of Torn Ear… #NightCam #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:44:37.723Z
The Lions swim from the swamp into the channel (Braczkowski et al. 2024) #NightCam #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:45:35.724Z
The paddling paw movements alert Nile Crocodile that food is afloat, and the massive crocodile slips into the shallows into the channel on a course to intercept the Lions! (Braczkowski et al. 2024) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:46:27.270Z
Crocodile swims closer… closer… closer… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:47:03.456Z
DARK MANE PANICS IN THE WATER AND REVERSES COURSE BACK TO SHORE LEAVING TORN EAR!!! #NightCam (Braczkowski et al. 2024) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:48:00.739Z
Nile Crocodile swims toward Torn Ear…. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:48:34.305Z
BUT TORN EAR HAS REVERSED COURSE AND SWIMS TO REJOIN HIS BROTHER!!!! #NightCam (Braczkowski et al. 2024) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:49:05.507Z
BACK ON SHORE Lions REGIRD their loins, and re-enter the water, the siren song of sexy ladies luring them back across the Kazinga Channel… #DayCam (Braczkowski et al. 2024) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:49:45.272Z
Torn Ear in the lead, Dark Mane close behind… but they are still being HUNTED! (Braczkowski et al. 2024) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:50:59.041Z
They are swimming closer to the further shore of the Kazinga Channel… #DayCam #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:51:52.191Z
SUBMERGED NILE CROCODILE ATTACKS TORN EAR FROM BELOW!!!! #DayCam #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:52:48.490Z
Nile Crocodile has clamped massive jaws & conical teeth into Torn Ear's BACK LEG, dragging the Lion down into the water! (Pooley & Gans 1976) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:53:48.974Z
Dark Mane paddles faster to try and save his brother, duck-diving down so his tail flips and flicks above the turbid water!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:54:33.989Z
Crocodile closes his bony-eyelids to protect his eyes from Dark Mane's slashing claws! (Pooley & Gans 1976) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:55:28.922Z
Under siege, and without trying to get a better bite grip on Torn Ear's body-Nile Crocodile starts death-rolling… (Pooley & Gans 1976) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:56:07.336Z
SKIN TEARS, LIGAMENTS RIP!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:56:44.055Z
NILE CROCODILE HAS TWIST-TORN TORN EAR'S BACK LOWER LEG OFF!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:57:12.771Z
WHOOSH!!!! LIONS SURFACE AND PADDLE FAST TO SHORE!!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:57:36.250Z
WHOOOSH!!!!! NILE CROCODILE SURFACES & SWALLOWS TORN EAR'S TORN LEG AND MMMOLD!!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:58:27.725Z
Both Lions dripping water, Torn Ear hobbling as back leg bleeds. But rear limb loss is less debilitating since forelimbs bear more body weight in terrestrial quadrupeds (Hogy et al. 2013). shout out @opellisms.bsky.social.Having survived the swim, the Lions FLEE THE SCENE OF BATTLE!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:59:10.283Z
CROCODILE DE-FEETS LION!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T01:59:54.878Z
Epilogue: Dark Mane & Three-Legged Torn Ear- AKA Tibu & Jacob- continue their adventures! (note limb-loss was actually due to poacher's trap, & big animal encounter in river was either Croc or Hippo) #2026MMM http://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts… & http://www.futura-sciences.com/en/an-amputa…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T02:00:24.305Z
WATCH NIGHT CAM FOOTAGE in LINK ABOVE; WATCH DIFFERENT (sadder) DayCam Footage of Coalition Lion Pair & Croc Attack here! #2026MMM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HUJ…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T02:01:17.540Z
#2026MMM #EliteTrait #LibraryDivision #TeamNileCrocodile Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T02:01:38.487Z
Severe declines of lion populations have been documented over the last century. Curry et al. (2020) used microsatellites & mtDNA to show a significant diversity ⬇️ in the nuclear genome & more structure (less gene flow) in modern compared to historic lion pops. doi.org/10.1093/molb… #2026MMM #RIP
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T02:01:35.590Z
WOW!!! WHAT A NIGHT!!!!Your #2026MMM FINAL ROAR:HONEY BADGER #MightyMustelidAUROCHSHUMPBACK WHALENILE CROCODILE!!!!See you MONDAY MONDAY MONDAY!!!Until then, be well! Good Night & Good Luck!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T02:06:21.039Z
#2026MMM ELITE TR8️⃣ EMOJI BATTLE🦡🆚📿: 🪄🌳/🦡🙄🌳/🦡💥📿/📿🙂↔️🔊/📿🫦🦡/🦡🤷🏻♂️🍽️📿/🏆🦡🐮🆚🐂: 🚣🏼🏹🐮/🪄🏜️/🐮🐂🥵/🏹🫀🩸/🐂➡️👥🐮/🐮☁️👀/🏆🐂🐋🆚🦛: 🪄🪸/🦛🏊🏾🪨/🐟✂️🦛/🐋🔊👶🏻/🦈🔜🦛🩸/🦈🍽️🦛/🏆🐋🐊🆚🦁: 🪄🇺🇬/🦁🦁🏊♂️/🐊👂🦁/🦁😱↩️/🐊🍽️🦵🏻🧫/🦁🦁👋🏻/🏆🐊
— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T02:02:18.057Z
ELITE TRAIT #2026MMM WINNERS:Aurochs, Humpback Whale, Honey Badger and Nile Crocodile!Please join us on MONDAY March 31st at 8PM EST for the FINAL ROAR!
— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2026-03-27T02:07:08.437Z
Christopher N Anderson 
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