Are you ready? #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:00:31.090Z
It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights… youtu.be/EJ9yAV8uQ7g?… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:01:28.716Z
TONIGHT is the Finale of the 14th Annual March Mammal Madness! This year MMM Celebrates LIBRARIES #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:02:25.808Z
Which means Settle IN for a lot of Pomp & Circumstance! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:03:11.413Z
Shout out to Marilyn Murphy & librarians interviewed in the sweet coverage of MMM celebrating LIBRARIES! #2026MMM news.asu.edu/20260220-art…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:03:54.177Z
Can we get an exuberant round of applause for @grumpator.bsky.social & everyone at ASU Library for the March Mammal Madness LibGuide with Player, Learner, & Educator Portals & updating the RESULTS page each night & LIBRARY COLUMNS in the MMMagazine libguides.asu.edu/MarchMammalM… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:04:41.857Z
HUGE, HUGE shout out to the Art Team & The Library Team who combined powers like freaking transformers to produce THE RUNDOWN so there could be in classroom video summaries of key battle shenanigans! Especially big thanks to Charon, Kirk, Matt, & Sierra THANK YOU!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:05:31.775Z
And a big thank you to @nickleyw.bsky.social for his elegant design of the bracket (English, Spanish, & Large Format Versions) & @jeclight.bsky.socialfor the screen reader bracket! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:06:29.608Z
Thank you again Oxford University Press or curating the special collection of articles about #2026MMM combatants freely accessible to folks researching the contenders academic.oup.com/asm/pages/ma…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:07:08.131Z
A million thank yous to @ianhecht.bsky.social for the trading cards, Jeff Brunstrum, Doug at MMMpools, & @MMMBrackets for the online brackets & contest manager & ALL the EDUCATORS who shared resources in the CROWDSOURCED MMM RESOURCES! >100 resources! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:07:57.524Z
And another round of applause for Education Team members for the Combatant Info Slides Jenna Kissel & @loreleipatrick.bsky.social for those sweet, sweet combatant info slides! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:08:54.504Z
Huge appreciation to Profs Miguel Rubio-Godoy and Alejandra Nuñez-de la Mora for translating Educator Materials into Spanish #2026MMM & lining up great coverage in Mexico City http://www.cronica.com.mx/academia/202…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:09:27.069Z
EXTRA HUGE HUZZAH to the ART TEAM for transcending excellence every year @opellisms.bsky.social @veppart.bsky.social & @maryfreisner.bsky.social & Art Director @oddangel.bsky.social for their GORGEOUS AMAZING HUMAN CREATED ART!!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:10:17.286Z
And special salute to those brilliant creatives @creativesatbc.bsky.social who do real-time artwork as battles unfold during the tournament & @drtljy.bsky.social for spearheading the most wonderful raucous #2026MMM college chapter!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:11:19.569Z
We also received 1000+ MMM art submissions from players, learners, & educators through the MMM facebook page, a showcase of that submitted art will be embedded in the CHAMPIONSHIP episode of the Rundown at Erminea's YouTube #2026MMM http://www.youtube.com/@ErmineaInc/…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:12:38.822Z
HAT-TIP @acstone.bsky.social & @cegamorim.bsky.social for leading the genetics teaMMM of @n8upham.bsky.social @fervillanea.bsky.social @lucasrocm.bsky.social @carloschalicothere.bsky.social @elinork.bsky.social @afogel29.bsky.social @elliecat.bsky.social @michelle-e-white.bsky.social #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:13:36.804Z
Thank you to smooth operating Sports Summarists who make the text-only summaries & the MMMagazine possible- @margooutside.bsky.social & Melanie Beasley!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:14:27.937Z
Weaving SCIENCE into STORY- THE NARRATION TEAM!!! @alybatgirl.bsky.social @marckissel.bsky.social @chumblebiome.bsky.social @ldurgavich.bsky.social @tcastanea.bsky.social @tanisbp.bsky.social @chloejosefson.bsky.social #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:15:12.090Z
The #2026MMM Narration Team CONTINUED!! @cnanderson.bsky.social @jeclight.bsky.social @pkconnors.bsky.social @mammalssuck.bsky.social @docrowschaef.bsky.social
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:16:18.505Z
SHOUT OUTS TO @cnanderson.bsky.social for pulling together the archived Play-by-Play night after night; @prairiedogking.bsky.social stage managing this rowdy crew; & Jessica helming @mmmletsgo.bsky.social for amplifying all the official record (& those sweet emoji summaries) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:17:59.260Z
And Ringleader-Director-Editor-in-Chief… that's me. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:18:32.940Z
Real Talk: you hear from me A LOT, but March Mammal Madness is made possible by the most incredible teaMMM of the very awesomest people you will ever have the honor of knowing! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:19:11.005Z
Lastly, the HEART & SOUL of MARCH MAMMAL MADNESS is this amazing emergent coMMMunity of fans & contributors to this PERFORMANCE SCIENCE #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:19:59.972Z
MMM no longer presents official spectator awards, but we do specifically thank @animordle.bsky.social for the games, @stoatamatic.bsky.social for letting us know how many stoats that is, @littlejems.bsky.social for the crowns & elder @natickbobcat.bsky.social for guidance & remembrance #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:20:35.671Z
So, so many of you, who we know by handles & avatars, who have become essential to the MMMagic, Legend & Legacy. To all the filthy weasels & fiesty felids, mean monkeys & rowdy rodents, for the years of banter & kindness, THANK YOU. You shine a light when so much else has turned so dark #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:21:46.941Z
Now, for the singing of the Animal Anthem, played annually for the Wild Card & Championship events since 2013… Three Dog Night with "Joy to the World" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as8K… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:22:38.809Z
And WITHOUT FURTHER #2026MMM ADO… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6eQ…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:23:44.459Z
The Championship Battle of #2026MMM: Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) vs. Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:27:45.231Z
Tonight's battle is a collaboration between @marckissel.bsky.social & myself #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:28:27.596Z
And since this is the final battle of the 14th Seasonw/ 64 battles each season… & adding in the exhibition battles of 2022 10th extravaganza (Ye Olde Timey Battle, #MMMafterDark Battle, Kid Narrator Battle, & @natickbobcat.bsky.social vs. RadiationMouth Jeopardy Showdown)… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:29:17.395Z
Humpback Whale vs. Nile Crocodile is the 900th BATTLE IN MARCH MAMMAL MADNESS HISTORY!!!!! #2026MMM #MMMath
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:29:44.579Z
Humpback Whale has outlasted Red Squirrel, Eastern Gorilla, Indian Rhino, Common Hippopotamus, & Aurochs to battle to be the #2026MMM Champion!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:30:57.631Z
#2026MMM #Championship #MoneyDivision #TeamHumpbackWhale Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social and Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:31:24.417Z
There are many ways to get animal DNA! In a preprint (not yet peer-reviewed), scientists have shown that instead of invasive biopsies, they can generate whole genomes for humpback whales by non-invasively sampling their exhaled respiratory vapor or ‘blow’! #2026MMM doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.08.710374
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:31:30.514Z
Nile Crocodile has outlasted Papyrus, Mouse, Gray Fox, Lions, & Honey Badger to reach this Championship Battle! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:33:15.448Z
#2026MMM #Championship #LibraryDivision #TeamNileCrocodile Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social and Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:33:37.257Z
Sales‑Oliveira et al. (2023) found that croc chromosomes are conservative maintaining similar karyotype structures & diploid chrom numbers for ~100 MY! Most Crocodylinae (including Nile Crocodile) maintain the ancestral number of 2n = 32 (16 pairs) #2026MMM doi.org/10.1007/s004…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:33:48.183Z
Tonight, once again, Humpback Whale is in her shallow winter waters, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, the warmer tropical waters where she gave birth to her calf almost 2 weeks ago. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:36:27.862Z
The shallows avoids pestery male Humpback Whales, closer to the continent, shallows also gives mama Humpback Whale advantages in fighting off predatory Orca. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:37:48.881Z
During this 1st month that the calf is particularly vulnerable, mama Humpback Whale & calf have been almost constantly swimming, rarely resting & staying vigilant.(Cartright & Sullivan 2009) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:38:19.881Z
MEANWHILE: Back in Lake Victoria… Nile Crocodile is resting & digesting his meal of banteng #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:39:23.648Z
WHEN SUDDENLY Nile Crocodile & Humpback Whale and calf are #MMMagically Translocated to the randomly determined habitat… OCEAN REEF!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:40:02.743Z
Specifically, Montgomery Reef in the Indian Ocean off the coast of the Kimberly Region of northwestern Australia (Wilson & Blake 2011) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:41:56.527Z
AND HERE BE MONSTERS: tiger sharks, great white sharks, estuarine crocodiles, & ORCAS!!!! (Gallagher et al. 2018; Hutchings et al. 2025) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:43:01.763Z
Montgomery Reef is famous for the most extreme tropical tides in the world, forming whirlpools & horizontal waterfallsSo forceful are the ocean tides that freshwater flow from rivers during the wet season (happening NOW) barely shifts water salinity at the river mouth (Ivey et al. 2016) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:44:03.960Z
And the most extreme tides happen during the full moon… let's check the moon phase chart… and the time difference between New York City & Broome Australia… #FullMoon #2026MMM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcGE…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:44:35.778Z
The shelf that is Montgomery Reef 'rises' 12 feet out of the water at low tide, into the air & sunshine- an environmental challenge that selects for extremely resilient adaptations in the coral species of the reef!!! #2026MMM http://www.pew.org/en/research-…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:45:47.531Z
BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS ONLY MINUTES FROM HIGH TIDE!!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:48:17.480Z
The tide is up +10 meters, giving Humpback Whale and calf enough vertical column for manueverability over Montgomery Reef; with high water nigh, it's also SLACK TIDE- the ocean conditions are relatively calm!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:48:59.105Z
Mama Humpback Whale's puncture wound from Aurochs horn is in the first stages of healing (inflammatory phase); She has formed a blood clot, the "blood vessels have dilated to allow for antibodies, white blood cells, & nutrients to reach the wound" (Hill et al. 2017) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:50:04.362Z
Nile Crocodile swims several whale-lengths, ~200 stoat-lengths, ahead of Humpback Whale intrigued by something ahead… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:51:08.378Z
ALTHOUGH Combatant Nile Crocodile has only experienced the freshwater of Lake Victoria area swamplands… many a Nile Crocodile has enjoyed the transitional salt life, once living very successfully in coastal river delta areas (de Smet 1998; Ijeomah et al. 2012; Abdelsalam et al. 2024) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:52:10.009Z
A FIN RISES IN THE WATER! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:52:54.544Z
A great white shark swims along and circles Humpback Whale & calf, inspecting them for vulnerabilities, but disinclined to tangle with a Humpback Whale with only a minor injury. And there's something more enticing on the horizon… (Dines & Gennari 2020) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:53:35.294Z
Bobbing in the water is the carcass of a male Humpback Whale, already being scavenged by TIGER SHARKS & ESTUARINE CROCODILE!!!! #Saltie FOR REAL OBSERVATION AT MONTGOMERY REEF!!!!(Gallagher et al. 2018) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:54:19.431Z
With lazy tail strokes, Nile Crocodile crusies to investigate the carcass as great white shark circles elsewhere to join the floating carcass feast… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:55:34.267Z
Mama Humpback Whale is ALSO curious about the dead whale and approaches to investigate the floating carcass, known as Post-Mortem Attentive Behavior (Frediani et al. 2020) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:56:45.374Z
Mama Humpback swims along side the Humpback whale, extending her long flipper above and below the carcass, and touching the carcass gently with her flipper… (Frediani et al. 2020) #2026MMM#AlasPoorYorick #IKnewHimHoratio #AFellowOfInfiniteJest #OfMostExcellentFancy
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:57:28.539Z
Meanwhile, Nile Crocodile gorged on Banteng Monday; his gut passage time is 72+ hours. (Pooley & Gans 1976) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:57:53.845Z
Nile Crocodile's stomach secretes hydrochloric acid to make stomach fluids at ph1.5 to break down bone, skin, meat… AND MMMOLD. Indeed crocodilians have MULTIPLE mechanisms that protect them from pathogenic fungi!!!!(Williams et al. 2023) #2026MMM theconversation.com/crocodiles-a…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T00:59:10.641Z
But the cool ocean water is slowing his disgestion; Nile Crocodile needs to haul out in the heat of the day to more optimally digest! Turning away from the carcass to swim toward the nearby island… slightly further away bc high tide #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:00:41.640Z
WHEN THE PLAYFUL HUMPBACK WHALE CALF BEGINS SURFACE-TWIRLING IN CURIOSITY TO NILE CROCODILE! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:01:07.611Z
The calf's flipper flicks Nile Crocodile snoot and the Nile Crocodile lifts & tosses his head to bash the calf's rostrum #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:02:20.362Z
Humpback Whale calf exhales a wheezing blow indicating fright (Frediani et al. 2020), alerting Mama Humpback Whale to her calf's distress! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:02:51.969Z
Among baleen whales, species cluster in their response to predators- some species use FLIGHT: swimming fast & far to flee, while other species use FIGHT in self-defense, collective defense, or defense of calf! (Ford & Reeves 2008) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:03:55.095Z
AND HUMPBACK WHALES CHOOSE VIOLENCE! (Ford & Reeves 2008) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:05:43.961Z
WITH A TRUMPET BLOW & FLUKE SLAP, the highly agitated Humpback Whale CHARGES Nile Crocodile! (Ford & Reeves 2008) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:06:58.512Z
Nile Crocodile drop submerges to escape! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:08:15.226Z
DIVING DOWN, Mama Humpback Whale FORCEFULLY EXHALES at the Nile Crocodile sending air bubbles enveloping Nile Crocodilelimiting the reptile's situational awareness! (Ford & Reeves 2008) #FogOfWar #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:09:06.558Z
Humback Whale rolls & thrashes with her long pectoral flippers, shaking her head she delivers a body blow to Nile Crocodile!! #KnockinSkullToCrackRibs (Ford & Reeves 2008) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:10:13.512Z
NILE CROCODILE'S tucks his limbs to his body #TorpedoMode AND SWOOOOOSHES HIS POWERFUL TAIL… (Pooley & Gans 1976) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:11:09.115Z
TO SWIM FLEE THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:12:05.579Z
MAMA HUMPBACK WHALE DEFEATS NILE CROCODILE! HUMPBACK WHALE is #2026MMM CHAMPION! Artwork by @veppart.bsky.social & @opellisms.bsky.social !!!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:13:16.962Z
#2026MMM #Champion #MoneyDivision #TeamHumpbackWhale Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social ,Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social , Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social ,and Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:13:45.714Z
Pizzigalli et al. (2025) used mtDNA from tissue & poop samples to investigate croc diversity in Guinea Bissau in W. Africa. They found evidence for Nile crocodile (previously thought to be extinct in that region 200 years ago)! doi.org/10.1038/s415… #2026MMM #RIP
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:15:09.772Z
CHAMPION⛵ #2026MMM EMOJI BATTLE:🐋🆚🐊: 🪄🪸/🌕🌊🆗/🐋🩹🗡️/🐊🤨🏊🏾♂️/🦈🔁🤱🏼🙂↔️/🦈🐊💀🙂↕️/🐋🤨👉🏼💀/🐊🙅🏾♂️🍽️🥶/👶🏼🔁🐊/👶🏼👉🏼👃🏼🐊/🐊💥👶🏼🐳/🐋👶🏼😡/🐋🔜🐊⤵️/🐋🫧🐊😵💫/🐋💥🐊/🐊🏊🏾♂️👋🏼/🏆🐋
— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:16:37.153Z
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ANOTHER MMMAGNIFICENT JOURNEY OF SCIENCE, STORY, & NATURE. Y'all are the very best! #2026MMMUntil next time, be well, good night & good luck.
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:20:13.832Z
WINNER of the #2026MMM CHAMPIONSHIP:HUMPBACK WHALE! Please join us next year for #2027MMM! Don't forget: if you're learning, you're winning.
— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T01:19:28.077Z
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