Christopher N Anderson

Author: christophernanderson

2025MMM April 2 – Championship!

Are you ready? #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:01:12.467Z

It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights… youtu.be/EJ9yAV8uQ7g?… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:03:04.720Z

Recent weeks, months, years have been full of challenges and heartbreak. For everyone. For all of you here tonight, we are so happy and thankful that you are joining us in this celebration of our natural world. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:03:51.554Z

There's a lot of appreciation to express to all the folks who make MMM possible, year after year! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:05:03.954Z

A huge thank you to @mmmletsgo.bsky.social helmed by @jesspopescu.bsky.social to amplify all the OFFICIAL TWEETS! (& big thanks to Emma for launching this concept so many, many years ago!) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:05:47.615Z

A HUGE THANK YOU to the Library Team for creating and maintaining the LibGuide! (to ASU Library for hosting) Already there's been >1.1 million visits from 120 different countries in #2025MMM libguides.asu.edu/MarchMammalM…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:07:42.278Z

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, Will, Kathryn, & Dara THANK YOU!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:07:58.117Z

Also, keep an eye out for the Rundown Outtakes Bootleg Adult Swim Bloopers reel to drop later this week. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:08:22.286Z

Also, keep an eye out for the Rundown Outtakes Bootleg Adult Swim Bloopers reel to drop later this week. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:08:22.286Z

And a big thank you to @nickleyw.bsky.social for his elegant design of the bracket (English, Spanish, & Large Format Versions) & @jeclight.bsky.social for the screen reader bracket! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:08:45.821Z

Thank you to Oxford University Press for curating a special issue of #2025MMM combatants freely accessible to folks researching the contenders academic.oup.com/asm/pages/ma…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:09:05.286Z

Shout out to educators @ianhecht.bsky.social for the trading cards, Jeff Brunstrum, PoolsbyRound, & MMMBrackets for the online brackets & contest manager & ALL the EDUCATORS who shared resources in the CROWDSOURCED MMM RESOURCES! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:09:26.678Z

And another round of applause for Education Engagement Coordinator Jenna Kissel, @loreleipatrick.bsky.social, & Julia Berliner for those sweet, sweet combatant info slides! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:10:10.249Z

Huge thanks to Profs Miguel Rubio-Godoy and Alejandra Nuñez-de la Mora for translating Educator Materials into Spanish #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:10:29.391Z

Special shout out to the ART TEAM @opellisms.bsky.social @veppart.bsky.social & @maryfreisner.bsky.social & Art Director @oddangel.bsky.social for their GORGEOUS AMAZING HUMAN CREATED ART!!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:11:10.413Z

Big thanks to @ncse.bsky.social, @nabtbio.bsky.social, & Arizona State University for providing key support for #2025MMM! & Check out these sweet essays at NCSE: ncse.ngo/when-madness… & GOOD SCREAMING ncse.ngo/my-descent-m…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:11:41.816Z

HUGE THANKS to @acstone.bsky.social & @cegamorim.bsky.social for bringing together an incredible team of geneticists to unlock the mysteries of the genome of the combatants in each battle! (And nightly essays in the #MMMagazine!) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:12:25.796Z

Thank you to all the Genetics TeaMMM folks: @n8upham.bsky.social @fervillanea.bsky.social @lucasrocm.bsky.social @carloschalicothere.bsky.social @elinork.bsky.social @afogel29.bsky.social @elliecat.bsky.social #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:13:07.093Z

Thank you to the Sports Summarists helping make the MMMagazine possible- @margooutside.bsky.social & Melanie Beasley!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:13:31.587Z

And thank you to those narrators weaving science into story- The 2025 Narration Team!!! @ldurgavich.bsky.social @alybatgirl.bsky.social @marckissel.bsky.social‬ @chumblebiome.bsky.social @ldurgavich.bsky.social @midwesternmouse.bsky.social @tcastanea.bsky.social @tanisbp.bsky.social… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:14:13.950Z

The 2025 Narration Team CONTINUED!! @chloejosefson.bsky.social @jeclight.bsky.social @pkconnors.bsky.social @mammalssuck.bsky.social NEW NARRATOR @docrowschaef.bsky.social & GUEST NARRATOR @solomonrdavid.bsky.social #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:14:34.253Z

SHOUT OUTS TO @cnanderson.bsky.social for pulling together the archived Play-by-Play night after night & to @prairiedogking.bsky.social stage managing this rowdy crew! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:14:56.084Z

& Ringleader-Director-Editor-in-Chief… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:15:30.155Z

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 and collaborating with! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:16:40.224Z

Further- March Mammal Madness would not be possible without the incredible achievements of scientists the world over, so many funded by those engines of excellence- the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:17:06.787Z

March Mammal Madness would not be possible without MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES, & the Department of Education!!! Protect theses essential foundations of our society. These are the fulcrum moments of history on which our future TILTS. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:17:44.166Z

Time has NOT run out, & each of us can make an impact protecting our communities & recovering our ecosystems- through our time, through our effort, through our choices, through our political engagement, through our thoughtful conversations with loved ones. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:18:40.045Z

And lastly, thank you to all the coMMMunity for being an essential facet of the MMMagic of this annual extravaganza. Thank you for being us. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:20:17.716Z

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… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:21:16.478Z

And WITHOUT FURTHER #2025MMM ADO… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6eQ…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:22:31.634Z

The #2025MMM Championship Battle: PUMA (Puma concolor) vs POLAR BEAR (Ursus maritimus)! A BATTLE OF TWO HYPER-CARNIVORES!!!!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:24:21.400Z

Across their range, Puma share habitats with Grizzly Bears & Black Bears in North America and Spectacled Bears in South America. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:26:06.016Z

#2025MMM #FinalRoar #TeamPumaArt by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social and Mary Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— Opellisms (@opellisms.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:26:42.398Z

Reductions in genetic diversity have been correlated w/ reduced fitness (reproductive output & lifespan) in several puma pops in FL and CA. These declines are often associated w/ physical defects like kinked tails, sperm defects, & other cardiac abnormalities. http://www.cell.com/current-biol… #2025MMM
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:26:47.417Z

Polar Bears have no distributional overlap with any felids, but in parts of their range overlap with Grizzly Bears. At large whale carcasses, Polar Bears are typically submissive to the dominance of Grizzly Bears! (Miller at al 2015) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:28:15.457Z

#2025MMM #FinalRoar #TeamPolarBearArt by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social and Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— Opellisms (@opellisms.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:28:54.413Z

Microsatellites + SNPs + field data reveal a pedigree up to 6 generations for 4,449 polar bears in western Hudson Bay, Canada! It suggests that these polar bears rarely breed w/close relatives, occasionally have monozygotic twins, and sometimes adopt cubs! #2025MMM doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1871-0
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:28:38.027Z

Tonight the two combatants will encounter each other in the randomly selected landscape of… THE GEOTHERMAL WETLANDS!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:30:09.523Z

Specifically tonight's battle occurs in Laugavalladalur, west of the Jökulsá á Dal, some 20 km North of dam Káraghnjúkar in the Eastern Highlands of Iceland. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:31:30.519Z

Here in a landscape of FIRE & ICE, the very land is being RIPPED APART along the MidAtlantic Ridge as the North American plate & the Eurasian plate move apart in continental drift. By 2 centimenters a year, ICELAND IS TORN ASUNDER!!! #GeologicalCarnage #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:32:17.073Z

Or right, one thing I need to mention… TONIGHT'S BATTLE IS RATED C FOR CARNAGE!!! Graphic descriptions of predator-prey dynamics, intraguild competition, and continental drift. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:33:25.349Z

#MMMagically translocated, Puma arrives into the rocky crags of the Eastern Highlands of Iceland and sniffs the wind smelling something… almost… familiar. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:35:46.305Z

NEARBY… #MMMagically translocated, Polar Bear gazes at an eerily familiar but foreign snow-covered landscape… BUT he is not the first polar bear to look upon these lands! (Kutschera et al. 2016) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:36:18.998Z

Although not native to Iceland, for hundreds of years, humans have recorded sightings of vagrant, straggler polar bears visitng from eastern Greenland. The Icelandic Institute of Natural History manages a database of these records & mapped observations! http://www.ni.is/en/fauna/mam… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:37:28.516Z

In the nearly treeless landscape, Puma creeps among the crags and cuts of the geologically dynamic area, the snowcovered lichen making no sound beneath the felid's paw pads #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:37:52.784Z

Other than injured forepaw, Polar Bear is in PEAK CONDITION from winter ice hunting, but April is seal pup GORGING season ahead of the summer fast #SpringHyperphagy (Miller et al. 2015) Polar Bear limp tromps across the snowscape with three wide, weight distributing paws! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:40:03.459Z

Polar Bear sniffs the wind, smelling not seal… but something… MAMMAL! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:40:31.996Z

On the wind, Puma sniffs the unmistakeable scent of UNGULATE, but can not see any herbivores from his position in the rock crags!!! Puma selects an ambush position… awaiting what comes around the corner! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:41:27.976Z

Introduced from Scandanavia in the 1700s, several thousand reindeer/caribou wander the Eastern Fjordlands of Iceland today (Þórisson 2018) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:43:23.861Z

~1500feet apart from "5-7 reindeer grazing nearby", Polar Bear "frequently lifts his head, sniffing intensely." Normally it would take the bear about 2 minutes to cover this distance, but with his injured forepaw, Polar Bear limps more slowly… (Stempniewicz et al. 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:43:59.449Z

~1500feet apart from "5-7 reindeer grazing nearby", Polar Bear "frequently lifts his head, sniffing intensely." Normally it would take the bear about 2 minutes to cover this distance, but with his injured forepaw, Polar Bear limps more slowly… (Stempniewicz et al. 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:43:59.449Z

A large male caribou in good physical condition sits on the ground facing away from the Polar Bear, Polar Bear awkwardly gallops towards the caribou!!! (Stempniewicz et al. 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:44:50.273Z

Caribou's peripheral vision spots the galloping Polar Bear, and taking a moment stands up… AND RUNS TOWARD THE HOT SPRINGS CREEK!!! POLAR BEAR dashes behind the fleeing prey!!" (Stempniewicz et al. 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:45:36.801Z

Polar Bear's good paw claws into the caribou, but the crushed paw can't grip and the bucking caribou twists LOOSE of the Polar Bear and dashes around the rock crags!!! (Stempniewicz et al. 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:47:07.369Z

Caribou briefly stumbles AS POLAR BEAR ATTACKS!!! Grasping the caribou with clawed forepaws… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:46:08.849Z

PUMA SPRING-POUNCES FROM AMBUSH, BRINGING DOWN THE CARIBOU!!!!! Puma "readily consume a variety of secondary ungulate prey, such as elk, caribou, & moose" (Engebretsen et al. 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:47:41.670Z

PUMA bites into the caribou's throat, causing rapid hemorrhaging, and clamping tight with his jaws, crushes the caribou's trachea, suffocating the caribou quickly. (White et al. 2020) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:48:59.070Z

With rapid tearing, Puma rips into the torso of the caribou to eat the nutrient-rich organs first when… (Alt & Eckert 2017; Murphy et al 2010) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:49:21.491Z

ENTER, THE POLAR BEAR!#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:51:02.090Z

ENTER, THE POLAR BEAR!#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:51:02.090Z

PUMA lifts his face smeared with blood gives a harsh, hissing alarmed GROWL-SNARL-SCREAM at the danger presented by the marauding Polar Bear. (Allen et al. 2016) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:52:03.033Z

Puma deploys vicious claws into the caribou carcass to hold onto the prey! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:53:33.556Z

Polar Bear assesses the scene of inter-species competition at a carcass, Polar Bear makes huffing & jaw popping sounds of subtle, but overt aggression (Miller et al. 2015) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:52:43.570Z

With his injured foreleg, Polar Bear can not reach out to grab & pull the caribou carcass… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:53:53.886Z

AND the injured foreleg can not support Polar Bear's weight while he reaches with his good paw to claw-grasp-YOINK the carcass!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:54:21.015Z

POLAR BEAR HUFF-ROARS AT PUMA SHOWING THAT THAT ONE OF HIS CANINES IS BROKEN!!!!FROM MALE-MALE BATTLES AMONG ADULT POLAR BEARS!!!! (Tremblay et al. 2025) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:56:40.979Z

Puma keeps pulling the caribou carcass through the geothermal wetland as Polar Bear watches from a 3-point stance, holding his injured paw tucked to his chest! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:55:59.944Z

Male-Male Battles for Mates & Carcasses can cause significant canine breakage, especially as male polar bears reach older ages! PAPER DROPPED LAST WEEK!!! (Tremblay et al. 2025) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T00:58:34.782Z

Polar Bear RUSH CHARGES ON THREE LEGS TO 3-POINT STAND ON THE CARIBOU CARCASS!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:00:10.639Z

PUMA SPRINGS BACKWARDS FROM THE MASSIVE BEAR! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:00:31.751Z

POLAR BEAR LEANS DOWN, AND WITH STILL STRONG JAWS "RIPS THE CARIBOU OPEN AND EATS ITS FLESH" SHEARING CARIBOU TISSUE WITH CARNASSIALS!! (Stempniewicz et al. 2021; Tremblay et al. 2025) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:02:15.355Z

PUMA STARES WITH POWERLESS DISDAIN AT THE CARCASS-STEALING URSID THIEF! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:03:55.443Z

After all… URSIDS ROUTINELY DISPLACE PUMA FROM SUCCESSFUL KILLS!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:05:00.142Z

In some regions, at times, puma-killed ungulates can support most of bear nutritional needs- bears eavesdrop on cougars, moving toward their calls and steal their kills! #KLEPTOPARASITISM (Rabe et al. 2025; Murphy et al. 1998; Engebretsen et al. 2021; Suraci et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:06:21.111Z

"Cougars may lose a considerable energy investment when displaced by an aggressive scavenger or may incur injuries when defending their kills" and do not fight to recover a stolen carcass from such a dominant scavenger!! (Murphy et al. 1998) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:07:03.106Z

Polar Bear guards the caribou carcass, chasing away sneaky sneak Arctic foxes for TWO HOURS consuming 60% of the caribou meat!!! (Stempniewicz et al. 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:08:47.520Z

PUMA FLEES the FIELD OF BATTLE! (Krofel et al. 2012) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:08:03.031Z

#2025MMM #2025MMMChampion #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamPolarBear Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social and Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— Opellisms (@opellisms.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:10:17.498Z

POLAR BEAR IS THE #2025MMM CHAMPION!!!!ARTWORK by @veppart.bsky.social!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:09:50.523Z

Though the puma didn't come out on top here, the species' resilience is unquestionable! Genetic analyses from Onorato et al. show a 20x increase in effective pop size and reduced signs of inbreeding in FL pumas after genetic rescue from Texas pumas. http://www.nature.com/articles/s41… #2025MMM #RIP
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:11:54.775Z

THANK YOU EVERYONE for another INCREDIBLE MARCH MAMMAL MADNESS! #2025MMMPlease help defend the Arctic and protect Polar Bears!www.defendthearctic.org
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:15:48.183Z

AND help protect Pumas! (good for nature, good for hunting dogs) #2025MMMFind out more from the Mountain Lion Foundation! mountainlion.org
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:18:04.417Z

Until NEXT WE MEET- GOOD NIGHT & GOOD LUCK!!!#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:19:16.154Z

Thank you for another great season of March Mammal Madness from Genetics Team!@acstone.bsky.social@cegamorim.bsky.social@elinork.bsky.social@afogel29.bsky.social@elliecat.bsky.social@lucasrocm.bsky.social@n8upham.bsky.social@carloschalicothere.bsky.socialand myself! #2025MMM
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:20:03.604Z

#2025MMM CHAMPIONSHIPEMOJI BATTLE🐻‍❄️🆚😼:🌋🧊/🪨↔️🪨/😼🪄😤🐻‍❄️🪄👀/😼🤫🐾/😼😤🔜🐻‍❄️🩼🦌/🐻‍❄️🦌🏞️/🐻‍❄️🔪🦌😼🛬🦌/😼🦷🦌/🐻‍❄️🩼↪️😼🩸🔊/🐻‍❄️🔉/😼🔪🦌/😼➡️🐻‍❄️🔊/🐻‍❄️🧍🏻🦌/🐻‍❄️🦷🦌/😼🛫😼🏃🏽‍♂️‍➡️👋🏽/🐻‍❄️🍽️🦌/🐻‍❄️🛡️🦊🏆🐻‍❄️
— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:12:00.558Z

#2025MMM CHAMPION: POLAR BEARThank you so much for following along, and we can't wait to see you next year for #2026MMM! Remember: if you're learning, you're winning!
— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T01:20:21.296Z

April 3, 2025
#2025MMM March 31 Final Roar

#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-31T23:59:24.917Z

Tonight the FINAL ROAR of this 13th Tournament celebrating the TREE of LIFE on this last day of March http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znFY… #2025MMM (Imma wait for you to watch this video discovered by @tcastanea.bsky.social)
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:01:28.747Z

WELCOME… to the PENULTIMATE NIGHT of #2025MMM!!!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:05:38.437Z

First Up: PUMA (Puma concolor) vs. GELADA (Theropithecus gelada) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:06:53.556Z

Although highly specialized stalk & pounce predators of deer species, especially in Northern N. America, Puma routinely make use of PRIMATE PREY in Mexico, Central America, & South America, especially where human activities disturb forest habitats impacting ungulates & more typical prey. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:07:34.959Z

Howler monkey, spider monkey, white-faced capuchin, & muriqui are some of the larger delectable delights on Puma's dinner plate, as evidenced by primate remains recovered from puma poop! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:08:21.484Z

For primate species worldwide, their historical (and often contemporary) ranges overlap with felids. As such, felid predators within the ecosystem have been an important selective force on primate anti-predator adaptations (Burnham et al. 2013) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:09:47.934Z

#2025MMM #FinalRoar #DivisionOnlyOnes #DivisionChampion #TeamPuma Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:08:49.897Z

Genome sequencing confirms that pumas colonized N. America from S. America ~100-300mya. However, fragmentation has left many N. American pops w/ low diversity and long ROH (signature of recent and severe inbreeding). #2025MMM http://www.nature.com/articles/s41…
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:08:58.811Z

Gelada can share habitat with leopards, serval, and caracal, though the smaller felids are less of a concern for an adult male Gelada. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:10:28.836Z

#2025MMM #FinalRoar #DivisionSameandDifferent #DivisionChampion #TeamGelada Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:11:25.804Z

Caldon et al. (2024) sequenced genomes from the 3 major gelada pops (north, central & south) & found S pops have + pancreatic amylase gene copy #. More tuber consumption when grass is scarce may serve selection pressure for more efficient processing of starchy food! #2025MMM doi.org/10.1111/mec….
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:11:32.572Z

TONIGHT Puma & Gelada will enouncter one another in the randomly determined habitat… TEMPERATE BROADLEAF FOREST!!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:12:04.580Z

Specifically, #MMMagic translocates Puma amongst the oak and hickory trees near the campus of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. The sun is sinking low, painted on the sky #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:13:12.025Z

In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains within the Potomac-Shenandoah watershed… ALMOST HEAVEN #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:13:57.145Z

Puma smells the air & assesses his surroundings. Having consumed Saiga last Wednesday, Puma prepares to hunt when a long sequenced GRUNT rumbles through the forest… #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:14:46.350Z

Puma crouches low… silently and furtively backtracking to the source of the sound… #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:15:37.818Z

Gelada is dismayed to be without his socially bonded unit, which typically associates with other units into a band. When large bands aggregate, these uniquely hierarchically organized primates can form grazing communities of hundreds (Painter et al. 2024) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:16:35.059Z

The large male Gelada gives another long sequence contact grunt typically made by males during group movements and travel (Painter et al. 2024) "I get a feelin' that I should've been home yesterday." #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:17:12.554Z

In the descending darkness, Gelada looks for a safe sleeping spot, ideally some hard to access cliff along an escarpment… Gelada turns just as Puma pounces!!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:17:55.873Z

Gelada gets out a startled alarm bark and then PUMA'S CANINES BITE INTO GELADA'S FACE!!! (Mori et al. 1997; Iwamoto et al. 1996) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:18:48.400Z

PUMA's 2-inch upper canines make two grooved wounds on either side of Gelada's nose! (Mori et al. 1997) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:19:31.711Z

Gelada counter-attacks with a barking lunge at Puma!! (Iwamoto et al. 1996) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:21:05.759Z

GELADA FLINCHES, tearing a horizontal rip under his nose from puma teeth (Mori et al. 1997) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:20:28.834Z

GELADA viciously slashes at Puma with Gelada's 2-inch, tissue-severing canines! (Washburn & Cichon 1974) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:22:01.127Z

Although a herbivore that grazes grass, Gelada wields some of the sharpest canines among all mammals, not the relatively blunt crushing canines of a felid. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:23:36.291Z

Male-male combat among the cercopithecines has favored weapon-like upper canines that are basically MOUTH DAGGERS that sharpen against the honing lower premolar as Gelada males open & close their mouths! (Washburn 1996) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:24:51.554Z

Highly manueverable, Puma leap avoids Gelada's attack, giving Gelada time to rush escape into a tree! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:25:45.464Z

PUMA CHASES GELADA INTO THE TREE CANOPY!!!!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:27:01.565Z

The 45lb Gelada backs away from the predatory 150lb Puma, backing out onto a swaying, dipping branch, and looks to leap to a nearby treetop to escape… #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:27:46.434Z

BUT THE FOREST CANOPY IS NOT CONTIGUOUS!!!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:28:31.491Z

Puma creeps out on Gelada's branch… DIPPING THE BRANCH… AS GELADA CLINGS… #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:29:48.017Z

Blood drips down Gelada's face, spattering on the branch & the first new leaves of spring… #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:29:11.612Z

SNAP SNAP SNAP #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:30:32.285Z

THE TERMINAL BRANCHES FAIL, PLUMMETING GELADA FROM THE TREE!!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:31:53.136Z

and into the river running through the forest!!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:32:46.336Z

Downstream on the far side of the river, Gelada hauls out beyond the field of battle, fleeing into the night #CountryRoadsTakeMeHome #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:33:32.037Z

PUMA DUNKS GELADA!!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:34:01.460Z

"Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education & research complex: 21 museums, 14 education & research centers & the Nat'l Zoo—shaping the future by preserving heritage, discovering new knowledge, & sharing our resources with the world" #2025MMM http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025…
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:34:31.090Z

#2025MMM #FinalRoar #DivisionOnlyOnes #DivisionChampion #TeamPuma Art by @opellisms.bsky.social & @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:34:51.304Z

Should geladas be divided into 2 species? Chiou et al. found that Northern geladas (2n = 44) have a fission of chromosome 7 compared with Central geladas (2n = 42) & all other papionins! This may affect gene flow within geladas! #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1038/s415…
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:35:20.243Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:37:41.230Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:38:45.013Z

LAST UP: Ginkgo & Rhizzo #BestFriends (Ginkgo biloba & Rhizophagus aggregatus) vs. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:41:27.655Z

Once Ginkgo are 30-40 years old, their autumn fruit "emits a rancid odor reminiscent of human vomit… In the horticultural literature, the smell is variously described as “disagreeable,” “evil,” “offensive,” “disgusting,” “repulsive,” “putrid,” & “abominable” (Del Tredici 2024) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:42:10.748Z

BUT to omnivorous scavenging Carnivora like leopard cats, civets, & racoon dogs… these seed packages are the siren scent of CARCASS! This adaptation of Ginkgos likely recruits far-ranging seed-dispersers. (Del Tredici 2024) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:42:32.674Z

Mycorrhizal fungi provide ~90% of the nutrients to their host plants, & plants provide 30% of the photosynthetic carbon to the mycorrhizal fungi; Fungi also release nutrients into the SOIL to support bacterial communities beneficial to the plant host! (Yu et al. 2022) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:43:45.182Z

Without their plant host, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi "can sustain for 2–4 weeks by utilizing their own energy sources such as triacylglycerides." (Yu et al. 2022) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:44:23.396Z

#2025MMM #FinalRoar #DivisionRootsandRelicts #DivisionChampion #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:44:58.704Z

Guo et al 2016 sequenced the ginkgo mitochondrial genomes to look at common features of gymnosperms. The Ginkgo mitogenome is relatively small, have low substitution rates, and possess numerous genes, introns, and edit sites; all present in the ancestral seed plant. doi.org/10.1093/molb… #2025MMM
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:46:39.604Z

Western Hudson Bay Polar Bears abandon the sea ice when cover falls below 30%, leading to a fasting period on land. Despite the energy constraints of fasting, this population includes adult male bears who use energy for social play! (Bissonnette 2020) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:48:09.592Z

Play behaviors involve "rearing, wrestling, mouthing, facial contact, foreleg pushing, rear & contact, inhibited bites, forward advances, backward retreats, and rushing & fleeing" (Bissonnette 2020) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:48:25.459Z

Counter-intuitively (aka OPPOSITE of PREDICTIONS), adult male polar bears increased play behavior as the fasting season progressed. Climate change is lengthening the ice-free fasting season, increasing polar bear mortality… so why use precious energy to play?(Bissonnette 2020) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:48:50.662Z

"Continuing to train-for-the-unexpected into adulthood must be beneficial in avoiding or escaping harmful situations… adults may benefit from continuing to develop muscle mass, also supporting the motor-training hypothesis." (Bissonnette 2020) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:49:36.672Z

#2025MMM #FinalRoar #DivisionTuxedoStyle #DivisionChampion #TeamPolarBear Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:50:21.903Z

Polar bears and brown bears are close relatives but have very different diets! Polar bears (which eat mostly seals) have fewer copies of the gene AMY1B (important in starch digestion!) relative to brown bears (which consume plants for >70% of their diet). #2025MMM doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1901093116
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:50:56.008Z

TONIGHT, timbered Ginkgo & Rhizzo will encounter Polar Bear in the RANDOMLY SELECTED HABITAT… SEA CAVE!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:52:20.954Z

Specifically, Prince of Whales* Island on the Tongass National Forest, the Traditional Homelands of the Tlingit, Haida & Tsimshian People #SinceTimeImmemorial @shinstitute.bsky.social *maps probably have it as Wales, whatevsyoutu.be/63F1fIdKmgg?…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:53:14.611Z

Islands in this archipelago are "at the end of a tectonic conveyor belt where peices of 10 to 11 continents which no longer exist came rafted on plates & stacked up along the outer shores." -USFS There are >700 caves present here & more found each year!#2025MMM youtu.be/KgEgxVSs_Bo?…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:53:49.760Z

BUT WHAT KIND OF SEA CAVE?! Here the tectonics, glacial periods, sea levels, steep gradients, karst limestone, & heavy & frequent rainfall dynamically influence the formation and evolution of cave systems (Speleogenesis). Sea Caves can take SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORMS! (Aley et al. 1993) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:55:12.980Z

SUBMERGED SEA CAVES! Fully submerged due to sea level rise, these sea caves were the coastlines of late Pleistocene Alaska (10,600 – 17,000 years ago) & sites of underwater archaeology for understanding how earlier peoples used these caves. #2025MMM oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:56:11.601Z

UPLIFTED SEA CAVES! Land mass tectonics, changing sea levels & glacial isostatic rebound expose once underwater sea caves above sea level! Some are SINKHOLES IN THE FOREST! Storm surges can flow massive trees down into these caves, delivering nutrients & shaping cave ecosystems. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:57:05.592Z

TIDAL SEA CAVES!Along the present day coastline, erosion of rock by sea waves and rainstorms have created caves with water levels that CHANGE WITH THE TIDES#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:58:17.366Z

RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT… GINKGO & RHIZZO and POLAR BEAR are #MMMagically translocated to a TIDAL SEA CAVE! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T00:59:19.749Z

Ginkgo and Rhizzo are fully submerged in the salty sea water! As saplings, Ginkgos have relatively low tolerance for salinity. Throughout life, Ginkgos do poorly when waterlogged in flooded conditions for many days. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:00:10.984Z

Polar Bear swims upward… REACHING THE CAVE CEILING… BUT WATER MEETS ROCK WITH NO AIR POCKETS!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:00:33.778Z

WHOOOOSH!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:01:26.484Z

A WAVE BACKFLOWS FROM THE CAVE, BASHING GINKGO'S ROOT SYSTEM AGAINST THE SEA CAVE WALL GOUGING INTO THE KARST BUT BREAKING ROOT CELLS FROM THE TREE… AND FLUSHING RHIZZO INTO THE SEA WATER!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:02:21.058Z

WHOOOSH!!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:03:06.300Z

Polar Bear's extensive swimming in arctic waters and often-shifting drift ice keep Polar Bear from immediately panicking, Polar Bear dives swimming in the direction of the ocean flow… (Jodouin 2023) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:02:54.566Z

INCOMING WAVE SHOVES GINKGO INTO POLAR BEAR, CRUSH-PINNING THE BEAR'S FOREARM TO THE SEA CAVE WALL!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:03:44.854Z

IN A SUBMERGED ROAR OF PAIN, POLAR BEAR'S MOUTH FLOODS WITH SEA WATER!!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:05:16.901Z

WHOOSH!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:05:46.527Z

OUTGOING WAVE PULLS POLAR BEAR INTO THE GINKGO TREE!!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:06:04.713Z

WHOOOSH!!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:06:24.382Z

INCOMING WAVE DISLODGES GINKGO TREE FROM WEDGED POSITION, RELEASING POLAR BEAR WHO PUSHES WITH BACK LEGS AGAINST GINKGO'S TREE TRUNK!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:06:45.090Z

GAAAASSSSPPPPP!!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:07:40.824Z

POLAR BEAR SURFACES TO AN AIR POCKET IN THE SEA CAVE!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:07:52.200Z

WHOOSH!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:08:21.113Z

THE OUTGOING WAVE PULLS AT THE COMBATANTS… HIGH TIDE WAS 90 MINUTES AGO AND THE TIDE IS DROPPING FAST!!!! #2025MMM #WeCheckTideTables http://www.usharbors.com/harbor/alask…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:09:20.415Z

POLAR BEAR'S STRONG CLAWS & WITH ANKLES MORE MANUEVERABLE THAN A GRIZZLY BEAR (Polly 2024) DIG INTO THE KARST SEA CAVE CEILING, FIGHTS THE PUSH & PULLS OF THE WAVE TO STAY IN HIS AIR POCKET!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:10:00.926Z

WHOOSH!!!! WHOOSH!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:10:38.046Z

OUTGOING WAVE PULLS… PULLS… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:10:51.492Z

POLAR BEAR'S CLAWS SCRAPE AT THE CEILING, HOLDING… HOLDING… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:11:21.829Z

WHOOSH!!!! KARST CRUMBLES & THE POLAR BEAR LOSES HIS CLAWGRIP… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:11:53.545Z

BUT THE WAVE HAS ALREADY PULLED GINKGO & RHIZZO OUT OF THE CAVE!!! "Nearshore current and wave motion are the critical factors for driftwood deposition." (Doong et al. 2011, and see Murphy 2024) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:12:14.736Z

POLAR BEAR HOLDING HIS WOUNDED FOREARM CLOSE TO HIS BODY, laboriously paddles his way to shore… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:12:39.332Z

as the outgoing tide rafts Ginkgo & Rhizzo toward the open Pacific… and beyond the field of battle #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:13:00.569Z

POLAR BEAR OUTLASTS GINKGO & RHIZZO!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:13:41.015Z

PSA: Watch Those Logs!! It only takes four inches of water to lift a five-ton log. For your safety, if you see a log on the surf or sand, stay off of it. #2025MMM visitrockawaybeach.org/be-safe/
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:14:13.406Z

PSA: Support stewardship of Tongass National Forest and make your voice heard! The Tongass Land Management Plan is currently under revision! A representative from the Tongass team is available to attend your group meeting and/or provide a presentation. #2025MMM http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonga…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:14:35.889Z

#2025MMM #FinalRoar #DivisionTuxedoStyle #DivisionChampion #TeamPolarBear art by @oddangel.bsky.social & @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:15:03.312Z

The genomes of Roots and Relicts help understand the evolution of sibling lineages. Wang et al 2016 looked at gene expression for ovules and leaves in Ginkgo and find common mechanisms in genes expressed in the ovule related to flowering genes in angiosperms #RIP #2025MMM doi.org/10.1007/s112…
— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:15:11.402Z

AND YOU HAVE YOUR COMBATANTS HEADED TO THE #2025MMM CHAMPIONSHIP: PUMA & POLAR BEAR!!!! WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY!!!!You'll pay zero dollars for the seat… AND ONLY USE THE EDGE!!!!Come for the CARNAGE, GET STUCK WITH THE SCIENCE 😀
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:18:10.455Z

#2025MMM FINAL ROAREMOJI BATTLE RESULTS!😼🆚🐒: 🌳🌰/😼👂🏼🐒😼🛬🐒/😼🦷🐵/🐒🔊🦷😼🙅🏽‍♂️🔪/🐒🌳/😼🐒🌿🐒⬇️🌊/🐒🏃🏻‍➡️🌌/🏆😼🐻‍❄️🆚🌳🍄‍🟫:🌊🕳️/🐻‍❄️🧐💨/🌊🍄‍🟫🐻‍❄️🏊🏻🌊/🌳🔪🐻‍❄️/🐻‍❄️🔊🌊🐻‍❄️😤/🐻‍❄️🌳➡️/🐻‍❄️🔪⏸️🌳🌊🆘/🏆🐻‍❄️
— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:17:04.999Z

#2025MMM FINAL ROAR WINNERS:Polar BearPumaJoin us Wednesday 4/2 at 8PM EST for the CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE!
— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2025-04-01T01:18:48.111Z

April 1, 2025
#2025MMM March 27, Elite Trait

Tonight the ELITE TRAIT combatants who have thus far survived, persisted, photosynthesized, and carnaged their way through the first three rounds will now battle to be the champion of their division and enter the FINAL ROAR! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:00:24.348Z

But at this stage of the game, better-seeded taxa can no longer rely on HOME HABITAT ADVANTAGE, & the encounter locations are determined randomly, with replacement. the #2025MMM possibilities are… SKY ISLANDS, SEA CAVE, GEOTHERMAL WETLANDS, and most exciting of all… TEMPERATE BROADLEAF FOREST!!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:01:22.472Z

Oh right… one more thing… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:02:26.154Z

Tonight is rated DC for DIET CARNAGE! SAME GREAT BATTLES, SLIGHTLY FEWER GORY DETAILS #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:03:10.798Z

First Up: 1-seed Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) and Rhizzo (Rhizophagus aggregatum) vs. 2-Seed ALLIGATOR GAR (Atractosteus spatula) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:06:20.352Z

From the forest of Mount Jinfo, Ginkgo teamed up with Rhizzo and outlasted Asian Forest Tortoise & Ringed Seal in these figurative and "LITERAL" battles of Roots & Relicts #BecausePLANT #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:07:03.106Z

Ginkgo sequesters carbon & ozone, and produces oxygen from photosynthesis #EcosystemServices, but as ozone concentrations in the atmosphere increase, Ginkgo's ability to sequester ozone gets worse, water efficiency gets worse, & ability to photosynthesize gets worse (Chen et al. 2022) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:07:23.023Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:07:38.522Z

A Ginkgo genome provides new insights into the evolution of gymnosperms! Liu et al (2021) found functioning genes associated with the formation of sperm flagellum, which has been lost in all seed plants EXCEPT ginkgo & cycads, as pollen carries immobile sperm instead doi.org/10.1038/s414… #2025MMM
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:07:48.806Z

From Deep in the Heart of Texas, this water rodeo queen GARNAGED her way through the competition, launching Cyanobacteria, pulverizing Horseshoe Crab, and crush-biting Frilled Shark to be the last living fossil swimming! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:08:34.965Z

Alligator Gar are widely distributed in freshwater systems but are vulnerable to climate change that can warm & fragment thier waterways. Appropriate Alligator Gar habitat is expected to shift north from the Delta South to the Midwest in the next 50 years (Bartnicki et al. 2024) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:09:30.584Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGar Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:09:43.767Z

Enamel likely evolved ON SCALES, *not* teeth!Fossil and genetic data show ganoine in gars is enamel-like, with shared genes. Ancient fishes like Psarolepis had enamel on scales but dentine-only teeth. Enamel later spread to teeth via patterning shifts. #2025MMMdoi.org/10.1038/natu…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:09:53.508Z

TONIGHT the Ginkgo & Rhizzo face off against the Alligator Gar in the randomly selected habitat of… SKY ISLANDS! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:11:33.799Z

"Sky islands” refers to the forested areas at high elevations surrounded by the “seas” of desert-scrub-dominated communities at lower elevations" (Pelletier et al. 2013), as isolated as islands in the ocean!Specifically these #2025MMM combatants meet in the Santa Catalina Mtns of southern Arizona.
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:12:37.214Z

Here the movement and process of the earth's crust and climate impact topography, soil, and living organisms in dynamic ways that play out over thousands and millions of years. (Pelletier et al. 2013) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:13:18.551Z

The FULL Ginkgo tree and its mycorrhizal fungi Rhizzo #BestFriends are #MMMagically translocated to an elevation of 2.2 kilometers high in a mixed-conifer forest in the ridge & ravine upper mountain, where the soil depth is thickest (Pelletier et al. 2013). #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:14:01.293Z

As Ginkgo grow during development… their root systems respond to the soil substrate, providing stability to the tree in one of two ways… roots growing DEEP & DOWN or roots growing WIDE & SHALLOW. aka VERTICAL Type or HORIZONTAL Type (Liang et al. 2024) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:14:54.601Z

#2025MMM Combatant Ginkgo has a vertical type root system, that requires 4-6 stoat lengths to stabilize the tree (3.3-6 feet, 1-1.5 meters) (Liang et al. 2024)
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:15:41.173Z

But the average soil depth at this elevation of the Santa Catalina mountains IS ONLY 2 STOATLENGTHS DEEP and the root system buckles against the bedrock!!!!(Pelletier et al. 2024) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:16:08.193Z

Alligator Gar is #MMMagically translocated from the Trinity River system in Texas to the forest floor carpeted with ponderosa pine needles! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:17:13.967Z

Ginkgo teeters unstable in the shallow soil… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:18:08.835Z

Aligator Gar's gills uselessly flap as the fish slowly suffocates out of water. In a last ditch attempt at preserving her life, Alligator Gar's flexible strength makes her flop in the dry top soil, sending up puffs of dust!#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:17:46.926Z

ALLIGATOR GAR FLOPS INTO A SHALLOW TROUGH OF EXPOSED BEDROCK WITH PUDDLED WATER FROM THE RECENT STORM SYSTEMS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA!!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:19:06.815Z

Ginkgo tilts slightly away from the Alligator Gar toward the cliff… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:20:08.740Z

when a Turkey vulture lands on a branch above the SHALLOW BOUND ALLIGATOR GAR… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:20:49.582Z

WHAM! The extra 6lbs of Turkey Vulture shifts the timber trajectory and GINKGO CRASHES TO THE FOREST FLOOR & BEDROCK PUDDLE, RIGHT ON ALLIGATOR GAR'S SKULL! #aDifferentKindOfGarnage #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:21:26.103Z

Ginkgo's crushed root system protrudes above the soil substrate… and now exposed, Rhizzo experiences the mountain air for the first time of its existence #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:22:20.117Z

Turkey vulture hop trots along the forest floor to the protruding carcass of the dead Alligator Gar to deligthtfully dine (Sazima 2018)… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:22:00.476Z

GINKGO & RHIZZO CRUSH ALLIGATOR GAR!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:22:38.192Z

GINKGO & RHIZZO may be TIMBERED, but they are headed to the Final Roar! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:22:49.673Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionRootsandRelicts #DivisionChampion #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:23:40.363Z

Spotted Gar retinas reveal ancestral traits lost in teleosts—like retinal exo-rhodopsin expression and a lack of crystalline cone mosaics. Their opsin diversity helps trace how genome duplication reshaped ray-finned fish vision. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1002/jez….
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:23:35.298Z

NEXT UP: #1-seed ADDAX (Addax nasomaculatus) vs. #2-seed PUMA (Puma concolor) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:26:57.300Z

ADDAX joins the ELITE TRAIT after scaring PECCARY, watching OTTER pounce a migrating bird & accidently hoof smooshing on MOLE. #2025MMM #TheOnlyOnes
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:27:33.703Z

Staying hydrated in the desert is no easy task! In order to survive, Addax hold onto water from the grasses they eat for an average of 36 hours – longer than camels! They may store water in their rumen, a part of their complex stomachs used to help break down grasses (Hummel et al. 2008) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:28:05.703Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamAddax Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:28:26.674Z

Only ~300 Addax remain in the wild & ~1000 in ex-situ groups. The latter are vital for preventing extinction, but genetic data show wild Addax hold more diversity than all ex-situ combined. Enhancing genetic management in captivity is crucial to preserve the species. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1111/eva….
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:28:34.707Z

PUMA joins the Elite Trait after devouring SAIGA, having a QUOKKA bebe snack & accidently crushing MOLE on a deer carcass #2025MMM #TheOnlyOnes
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:29:05.712Z

Well-adapted to living in mountainous habitats, Pumas manage a careful balancing act of speed, distance, and energy use to climb steep hills. To accomplish this, Pumas slow down and climb slopes at an angle so that they minimize steepness, similar to our roads! (Dunford et al. 2020) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:29:50.604Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPuma Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:30:08.207Z

Fewer genetic studies have been completed on Central & S. American pumas than N. American pumas. However, mtDNA sequencing has shown that Central & S. American pumas form distinct groups and that N. American pumas are genetically homogenous. #2025MMM doi.org/10.3109/1940…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:30:20.900Z

TONIGHT'S RANDOMLY SELECTED HABITAT IS…. TEMPERATE BROADLEAF FOREST!!!!! #2025MMM http://www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:31:05.407Z

Specifically, the 650,000-acre Cherokee National Forest (CNF), the largest tract of public land in Tennessee & a key location for American Chestnut restoration #2025MMM Learn more about USDA Forest Service #ScienceInAction to restore this iconic keystone species #2025MMM youtu.be/HnYvUHW04QU?…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:31:36.203Z

CNF Dennis Cove Campground is one of many recreation areas closed because of Hurricane Helene. NOAA reported tropical storm force winds in the area. In 2025, US Forest Service was forced to rescind job offers & fire new staff who were hired to make repairs #2025MMM http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cher…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:32:16.509Z

ADDAX is astonished by this dense, lush forest & cacophony of forest sounds… the swirling wood thrush song & quacking of wood frogs fill the evening air #2025MMM http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_T… http://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlif…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:33:07.406Z

PUMA feels familiar in this landscape, though it's distant, as mountain lions are designated as extirpated from Tennessee due to the predator control programs of the early 1900s #2025MMM http://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlif…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:33:41.401Z

PUMA is delivered to the forest floor in the shadows beyond ADDAX… downwind from the hoofed mammal #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:34:11.602Z

PUMA silently pads to the top of a boulder above the Addax and LEAPS… #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:35:09.809Z

THE WINDS SHIFT, and ADDAX catches the felid's scent… different than the lion and leopard predators from home, BUT NEAR ENOUGH! ADDAX alerts with horn-swipes to the air (Packard etal 2014) and DASHES TO ESCAPE! #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:37:10.604Z

…into the mighty oak tree directly ABOVE ADDAX!!! #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:36:26.907Z

ADDAX immediately catches his horns in budding native azaleas that will blossom in white, pink & orange. LUNGING in a RUSH-CHARGE ADDAX trips on the azalea roots STUMBLING!!! (Packard et al 2014) #2025MMM http://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/n…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:37:41.198Z

PUMA'S PREDATORY EYES WATCH THE STRUGGLING ADDAX… as his lids drift lower… lower… lower… #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:38:15.798Z

PUMA GORGED JUST YESTERDAY ON SAIGA, and puma hunts every 6-10 days, he poses NO RISK TO THE ADDAX as he is still DIGESTING YESTERDAY'S DINNER IN HIS FULL GUT. PUMA slides into a pleasant CAT NAP!!!! #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:38:50.005Z

Unaware of the lack of danger, ADDAX thrashes his way OUT OF THE AZALEAS, and FLEES from the FELID OF NO BATTLE!!! #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:39:52.905Z

PUMA OUTLASTS ADDAX!!! #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:40:25.022Z

Thinking about boosting wild Addax populations w/ individuals from ex-situ groups?That’s called genetic rescue!Simulations by @ckyriazis.bsky.social show that choosing individuals from smaller source populations may reduce extinction risk more effectively. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1002/evl3…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:40:47.999Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionOnlyOnes #DivisionChampion #TeamPuma Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:40:42.428Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:42:30.423Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:43:33.721Z

Next Up: 2-Seed SUN BEAR (Helarctos malayanus) vs. 8-Seed GELADA (Theropithecus gelada) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:45:23.723Z

This battle was a collaborative effort between myself, @marckissel.bsky.social, & @mammalssuck.bsky.social #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:46:05.616Z

Unlike many herbivores, geladas do not have specialized stomachs. But they DO have a specalized microbiome "highly enriched for…baceteria associated with ruminant digestion" that helps them digest all that fibrous grass. (Trosvik et al 2018) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:46:43.437Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamGelada Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:47:09.307Z

Baniel et al. (2022) used 16S rRNA sequencing to assess Gelada’s gut microbiota maturation & found diversity increased rapidly after birth, followed by gradual changes in composition until weaning, when dietary changes (milk- to plant-based diet) drove shifts. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.cu…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:47:18.204Z

Sun Bears are excellent climbers! Their large paws, long claws, muscular limbs, and smallish body make them well-suited to live in the forest. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:47:46.298Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamSunBear Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:48:16.252Z

Sun bears live in the tropics and don’t need to hibernate. But in hibernating grizzlies, hundreds of genes shift expr. to protect brain, heart, and muscles. Understanding how they do this could change how we treat diseases like diabetes. #2025MMM http://www.nature.com/articles/s42…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:48:18.805Z

TONIGHT'S RANDOMLY SELECTED HABITAT IS…. GEOTHERMAL WETLANDS!!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:48:52.786Z

Specifically, Yellowstone National Park, home to more than 10,000 hydrothermal features, including hot springs, geysers, mudpots, & fumaroles! (Christiansen et al. 2007; Erfurt-Cooper 2017) #205MMM http://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/k…
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:49:36.311Z

Gelada and Sun Bear eye each other warily through the steam of Yellowstone's geothermal features. Around them mud and water roil… beneath mineral crusts of unknown depth and stability… #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:50:29.332Z

Sun Bear, adapted to warm climates, is chilled in the early Spring Rockies. His traits help him SHED heat, not conserve it! His high surface area to volume ratio & routine sitting in shade avoid over-heating (Schneider et al 2020). #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:51:04.551Z

Unlike Sun Bear, Gelada is unphased by the cool temps. Geladas' easy breezy beautiful fur keeps them warm, and individuals living at the highest altitudes, like Combatant Gelada, have the highest hair density. (Iwamoto & Dunbar 1983) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:52:32.123Z

Gelada stands bipedally to see the ursid better. Sun Bear stands bipedally to see the primate better. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:53:30.819Z

Both strangers in a strange land, unsure and cautious… Gelada and Sun Bear retreat from each other… each picking a different path… #ToEachHisOwn #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:54:06.315Z

Sun Bear intrinsically steers toward a warmer and warmer micro-climate. Right now this area of Yellowstone hovers at freezing, as rain turns to sleet to snow, with temps well below his usual coldest of 15C/59F (Schneider et al 2020) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:54:50.369Z

Trying to select which forested cliff to head toward, Gelada sends up a contact call toward his group, producing a long & complex sequence of vocalizations… but only silence returns. (Gustison et al 2019) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:55:33.606Z

Sun Bear's micro-climate is getting warmer as his path leads into pools of warmer water and many orange and yellow mineral deposits. The rough mineral crust is warm beneath his strongly-clawed paw pads… #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:56:07.605Z

SSCCCRACK!!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:56:42.292Z

Sun Bear takes an errant step & his back paw breaks through the thin crust of minerals to the boiling water underneath!! (Christiansen et al. 2007; Erfurt-Cooper 2017) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:57:53.538Z

Sun Bear regains his balance & quickly retracts his poached paw, the only body part to touch the scalding water!! He begins to limp away in a hurry, shifting more of his weight away from his injured paw! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:58:46.809Z

SUN BEAR HAS MOVED BEYOND THE MINERAL CRUST & TURNS TO HEAD DOWN INTO A GULLY… #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T00:59:31.690Z

SUN BEAR DROPS DEAD!!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:00:20.132Z

Geothermal gas emissions have collected in a gully, creating lethally high pockets of carbon dioxide (CO2) & hydrogen sulfide (H2S)!!! (Christiansen et al. 2007; Erfurt-Cooper 2017) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:01:29.067Z

A death gulch claims another ursid victim in Yellowstone! #2025MMM cowboystatedaily.com/2024/05/11/d…
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:02:02.087Z

Gelada selects a safe sleeping spot on a cliff above the Geothermal Wetlands. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:02:35.442Z

GELADA OUTLASTS SUN BEAR!!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:03:08.160Z

ALWAYS FOLLOW PARK GUIDANCE- stay on trails, stay on boardwalks! All too often park visitors are injured and unalived from geysers and geothermal water when they don't follow directions. (Erfurt-Cooper 2018) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:03:31.092Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionSameandDifferent #DivisionChampion #TeamGelada Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:04:24.873Z

Can sun bears survive modern threats?Genomics from a 100,000-year-old polar bear reveals ancient gene flow with brown bears during climate upheaval. Maybe mixing helped them survive.#2025MMM #RIP http://www.nature.com/articles/s41…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:04:17.409Z

Last Up: 1-Seed POLAR BEAR (Ursus maritimus) vs. 2-Seed NARWHAL (Monodon monoceros). This battle was co-written with @chloejosefson.bsky.social & @mammalssuck.bsky.social‬ & me #TeamWork #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:08:35.811Z

Polar Bears have high resting metabolic rates due to their large mass & carnivorous diet. They have adapted to prefer energy-dense prey to meet energetic demands & fuel daily activities (Pagano et al. 2018) & become "walking hibernators" in response to starvation (Lennox & Goodship 2008) #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:09:21.302Z

However, only pregnant Polar Bears hibernate, helping them cope w/ increased demands of reproduction. They mate in Spring but delay gestation (via embryonic diapause) until hibernation (late Fall) when they spend ~2mos before giving birth and another 3 mos lactating (Murphy & Fenelon 2020). #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:09:50.600Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamPolarBear Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:10:12.816Z

Southeast Greenland polar bears persist in a region with much more sea ice-free days than other polar bears! Genetic data suggest that they are also genetically distinct from other polar bears and should be considered the 20th subpopulation of the species #2025MMM doi.org/10.1126/science.abk2793
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:10:22.405Z

Toothed whales (like Narwhal) have flexible rib cages that allow for lung compression in response to depth-related pressure changes that would otherwise cause their lungs to burst (Rommel et al. 2006). #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:11:12.707Z

During dives, Narwhal do not breathe; insights into their physiology during oxygen-poor (hypoxic) conditions have been applied to understanding human physiology during COVID-19 infections (Williams & Davis 2021). #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:11:36.206Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamNarwhal Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:11:54.203Z

Louis et al (2020) used mtDNA genome analyses to assess narwhal population history in relation to past climatic shifts. They showed narwhals had a long-term low effective population size, which increased after the Last Glacial Maximum (when suitable habitat expanded) #2025MMM doi.org/10.1098/rspb…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:11:59.902Z

Tonight begins in the high arctic, along the costal shore of The Barrow Strait in Nunavut. Here is where both arctic combatants call their native home, which they both have been enjoying with home habitat advantage through the first 2 rounds! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:13:30.305Z

The Narwhal is wary and alone. Orcas had targeted the pod & in evasive maneuvers, our narwhal split away from the group. Now Narwhal swims alone much closer to the shoreline, moving quietly so not to attract attention of nearby predators (Laidre 2006). #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:14:09.006Z

But one predator does sense the narwhal… Polar bear sits quietly on the shoreline still consuming yesterday's CAPE BUFFALO, when the lone cetacean catches his attention. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:14:44.003Z

While typically cetaceans make up less than 6% of a polar bear’s diet, during the spring, close proximity with migrating whales in this strait can increase consumption rates with some individuals having more than half of their diet consisting of narwhal meat!!! (Galicia 2021) #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:15:50.611Z

But a smart bear knows the odds… targeting a large male narwhal with room to swim away is a waste of energy than a filling meal. Narwhal in the diet of most polar bears comes from scavenging individuals that died navigating gaps in the ice (Galicia 2021) #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:17:07.810Z

Polar Bear turns to refocus on Cape Buffalo carcass…WHEN SUDDENLY AN ORCA STREAKS TOWARD THE NARWHAL! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:18:26.008Z

NARWHAL FLEES THE ORCA TOWARD THE POLAR BEAR ON THE SEA ICE!!! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:19:12.807Z

JUST AS THE #MMMagic Translocation Portal Opens relocating Narhwal and Polar Bear to a GEOTHERMAL WETLANDS!!! [Did you think we forgot about that???] #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:20:17.305Z

SPECIFICALLY the Tauranga geothermal system adjacent to the Bay of Plenty in Aotearoa / New Zealand! (Carden et al. 2024; de PS Zuquim et al. 2022) #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:21:23.303Z

Still fearful of the a possibly lurking orca, Narwhal makes use of the shallow water (Laidre et al. 2006), where the warm springs from the Tauranga geothermal system flows into the lagoon… the Narwhal gets caught on a submerged muddy sandflat! #BEACHED #2025MM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:22:34.702Z

Under extreme stress, most organisms have elevated flight or fight responses. But Narwhal instead has a massive DROP in heart rate, as low as 4 beats per minutes! This "Paradoxical Response" likely conserves oxygen as long as possible… (Williams 2013). #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:23:57.207Z

Seeing the Narwhal stranded in the shallow pool, polar bear re-calculates the odds of a successful hunt & moves in fast for a FEAST! After all, spring is the MAIN GORGING season of Polar Bears that will continue to consume meat available many days in a row! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:25:48.407Z

POLAR BEAR DEFEATS NARWHAL!!! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:26:09.909Z

AS FORETOLD in 1877!!! commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:An…
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:26:43.303Z

#2025MMM #EliteTrait #DivisionTuxedoStyle #DivisionChampion #TeamPolarBear Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:26:53.421Z

Analyses by Louis et al. (2020) also showed that narwhals have among the lowest levels of diversity of all cetaceans for which population-level mtDNA genome data are publicly available #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1098/rspb…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:27:08.799Z

AND YOU HAVE YOUR FINAL ROAR!!! Ginkgo & Rhizzo #RootsAndRelicts, Puma #TheOnlyOnesGelada #SameAndDifferent AND Polar Bear #TuxedoStyle #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:30:00.065Z

#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:31:30.057Z

#2025MMM ELITE TRAITEMOJI BATTLE RESULTS!🌳🍄‍🟫🆚🐊:🌫️🏝️/🌳🫚🪨/🐊😵🌳💥🐊/🦅🍽️🐊/🌳↔️/🏆🌳🍄‍🟫🦌🆚😼:🌳🌰/😼🤫🛫/🦌😤😱🦌🌸🔄/😼🥱😴/🦌🏃🏽‍♂️‍➡️👋🏽/🏆😼☀️🆚🐒:🌋🏞️/☀️👀🐒/🐒☀️🧍🏻‍♂️☀️🐒🔀/☀️🦶🏻🔥/☀️👇🏻😵/🏆🐒🐻‍❄️🆚🦄:🐻‍❄️🤔🍽️/☠️🦄🐻‍❄️/🌋🏞️🦄🛑🏖️/🐻‍❄️🤔🦄/🐻‍❄️🍽️🦄/🏆🐻‍❄️
— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:28:35.117Z

#2025MMM ELITE TRAIT WINNERS:GeladaPolar BearPumaGinkgo & RhizoJoin us MONDAY 3/31 at 8PM EST for the battle of the FINAL ROAR!
— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T01:37:01.546Z

March 28, 2025
#2025MMM March 26, Sweet 16_Part 2 of 2

Last Up: 2-Seed NARWHAL (Monodon monoceros) vs. 6-Seed MOUNTAIN ZEBRA (Equus zebra). This battle is co-narrated by @tanisbp.bsky.social #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:00:36.653Z

Narwal are physiologically adapted for icy waters w/ key diving muscles having high amounts of slow-twitch oxidative fibers that allow for endurance & myoglobin that allows for prolonged diving (Williams et al. 2011). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:01:27.549Z

Narwal’s adaptations leaves them w/ little physiological flexibility to adjust swimming & diving behavior in response to rising ocean temperatures and restricts them to specific ecological niches vulnerable to the effects of climate change (Williams et al. 2011). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:02:19.226Z

Narwal’s adaptations leaves them w/ little physiological flexibility to adjust swimming & diving behavior in response to rising ocean temperatures and restricts them to specific ecological niches vulnerable to the effects of climate change (Williams et al. 2011). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:02:19.226Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamNarwhal Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:02:31.234Z

McGowen et al. (2019) sequenced 3191 protein-coding genes from 68 species of cetaceans. Their phylogeny shows narwhal is closest to beluga & beluga + narwhal are most closely related to Phocoenidae (porpoises) diverging from them in the neogene (~15 mya) #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/sysb…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:02:43.382Z

Mountain Zebra are increasing though still listed as vulnerable by IUCN due to habitat loss/encroachment, hunting & trapping, and drought (Gosling et al. 2019). Zebra have long been threatened w/ the 1st hunting ban in 1742 and populations nearing extinction in early 1900’s (Penzhorn 1988). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:03:20.040Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamZebra Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:03:45.454Z

The Cape mountain zebra—one of two mountain 🦓 subspecies—nearly went extinct in the 1950s with <50 individuals in the wild. The subspecies has recovered today to >4000 animals but microsatellites suggest they might not have recovered genetically…yet. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220331
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:03:43.261Z

TONIGHT, we find Narwhal in the North Water Polynya in the northern Baffin Bay region of the Arctic. Narwhal swims near the surface, his tusk closely pursuing a single Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:04:57.124Z

The function of Narwhal’s tusk (actually, a long, spiraled tooth!) is unclear, but very recent work shows that they are used in prey capture and in “exploration and likely play” (O’Corry-Crowe et al. 2025). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:06:01.724Z

Narwhal's fishy playmate makes a quick escape by rapidly swimming in the opposite direction (O'Corry-Crowe et al. 2025). Narwhal plunges deeper into the Bay. #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:06:57.686Z

In the grasslands of the Mountain Zebra National Park in S. Africa, Zebra has just finished grazing for grasses and is at a watering hole for his daily drink of water (Penzhorn 1988). He takes a few steps into the water. #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:08:01.748Z

But the water is much colder than Zebra was expecting. MMMagic has transported this odd-toed ungulate to the open waters of Baffin Bay, where sea ice is reaching its maximum coverage this time of year (Harning et al. 2021). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:09:14.608Z

Zebra’s legs “stride powerfully underwater” (Stone 2008) as he attempts to swim to land he assumes would be surely upstream… but where? #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:10:03.133Z

As Narwhal returns from the depths, he spots something strange moving at the surface above. Narwhal’s laterally-oriented, smaller optic nerve canals mean that he likely has reduced depth perception but a wider field of view (monocular vision) (Racicot et al. 2018) #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:10:56.391Z

Though many mammals exhibit some degree of the mammalian diving reflex (or response), it is much stronger in aquatic mammals like Narwhal than terrestrial species. This physiological reflex is triggered by submersion in cold water & likely helps preserve oxygen stores (Godek & Freeman 2022) #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:11:58.346Z

…Zebra grows sluggish as the blood vessels in his legs constrict to redirect blood towards core organs. Zebra's legs become tired as his muscles run out of available energy after shivering in hopes of producing body heat (thermogenesis) #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:13:01.650Z

Narwhal's large, hollow horn is aimed at Zebra, who is treading water with greater and greater difficulty… until… Zebra sinks below the icy water's surface… forever #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:13:45.686Z

Cold-water drowning can happen in minutes in the Arctic Sea: "Thermal conductivity of water is 20 to 25 times that of air, so a body will lose heat approximately three times faster in water than in air." (Rolf & Gallagher 2018) #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:14:51.742Z

Narwhal follows another Arctic char, flushing it to the surface only to be snatched by a glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) (O'Corry-Crowe et al. 2025). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:15:34.165Z

NARWHAL OUTLASTS ZEBRA!!! #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:16:14.948Z

#2025MMM #Sweet16 #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamNarwhal Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:16:27.440Z

Mountain zebras lost this round…and have also lost the most chromosomes out of all equids! Mountain zebras have only 16 pairs, their zebra relatives have 22 and 23 pairs, and the Przewalski’s horse has the most in the equid genus w/33 pairs. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1007/s10577-013-9346-z
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:16:31.621Z

AND A BIG WARM WELCOME FROM THE #2025MMM COMMMUNITY for our special GUEST NARRATOR FOR THIS NEXT BATTLE… @solomonrdavid.bsky.social
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:20:23.470Z

Next Up: #2 seed ALLIGATOR GAR (Atractosteus spatula) vs. #3 Seed Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:21:28.726Z

While adult Alligator Gars have few predators, humans are their biggest threat. Loss of river-floodplain spawning habitat and overfishing have led to a drastically reduced range, smaller population sizes, and local extinctions (Smith et al. 2020). #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:23:38.838Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGar Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:24:17.801Z

Gar, an actinopterygian, has mineralized tissues involving SCPP genes, which were previously unidentified in chondrichthyans. In gar, 38 SCPP genes were found – a genetic system for tissue mineralization in early osteichthyans, w/ rapid expansion in actinopterygians. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1002/jez….
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:24:54.574Z

Frilled Sharks are not often encountered by humans, however, they are occasionally taken as bycatch in deep-sea commercial trawls and longlines. They're currently considered Least Concern (Smart et al. 2016) #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:26:06.062Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamShark Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:26:48.801Z

Frilled sharks (C. anguineus) show extremely low intraspecific genetic variation: distant populations have >99.9% identical mtDNA. This low diversity suggests a historically widespread population or very slow drift—likely aided by deep-sea stability. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2015.1137801
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:27:11.005Z

The Trinity River empties into the Gulf Coast, and this productive ecosystem is home to Alligator Gars and other apex predators, including several shark species. (Livernois et al. 2024) The gar is no stranger to its cartilaginous counterparts. #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:28:58.429Z

Meanwhile, in Suruga Bay, Japan, Frilled Shark has evaded deep-sea trawlers and moved into shallower water in search of squid. While swimming higher in the water column, a burst of #MMMagic warps this living fossil on a shark trek to Galveston Bay! #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:30:19.029Z

Frilled Shark gets her bearings through the murky estuarine waters of the bay, slithering eel-like until she sees a large log just below the surface. WAIT, that's no log… #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:31:09.933Z

Alligator Gar catches a glimpse of what appears to be a giant eel swimming her way. The gar paddles her pectoral fins, slowly pivoting for a better look at this bizarre visitor. #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:31:56.285Z

Frilled Sharks can eat prey nearly 1/2 their body length, and this living fossil is hungry! A relatively weak swimmer, Frilled Shark makes a stealth approach toward the lumbering Alligator Gar. #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:32:22.181Z

Alligator Gar turns just in time to see the serpentine shark swimming directly for its flank, Frilled Shark's toothy mouth agape! #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:32:58.997Z

Frilled Shark's rows of needle-sharp teeth clamp down on Alligator Gar's side! #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:33:47.877Z

Despite her giant gape and multi-barbed teeth so great at jigging squid, Frilled Shark can't penetrate Alligator Gar's armored scales (basically covered in tooth enamel)! #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:35:03.589Z

With a thrust of her paddle-like tail, Alligator Gar bursts forward, while Frilled Shark slides down the gar's body, teeth scraping but not gripping…until reaching gar's pelvic fin, a weaker spot! #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:35:32.116Z

Frilled Shark's teeth tear through the fellow living fossil's fin turning it to ribbons, a small pulse of blood clouds the water around the battle. #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:35:50.245Z

Gar curves her body nearly 180 degrees, Alligator Gar's armored scales make her SEEM rigid, but she's actually flexible! Alligator Gar GRABS Frilled Shark with her DOUBLE-ROW of conical sharp teeth! #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:37:30.565Z

Frilled Shark has no armor! Alligator Gar's teeth sink in to the sharks sand-papery, scaly skin!! #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:38:17.709Z

Alligator Gar begins its characteristic quick open-close jaw movements shimmying Frilled Shark into position to be swallowed head first. #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:38:49.829Z

As Alligator Gar begins to swallow Frilled Shark, Gar realizes this prey is too large to consume!!! Alligator Gar releases the mortally wounded chondrichthyan! #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:39:06.468Z

Lacerated Frilled Shark takes her final swim down to the bottom of the delta. Alligator Gar, still hungry, is the last of these two living fossils that remains… living in #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:39:34.884Z

ALLIGATOR GAR DEFEATS FRILLED SHARK!!! #2025MMM
— Dr. Solomon David (@solomonrdavid.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:40:03.692Z

#2025MMM #Sweet16 #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGar Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:40:21.841Z

C. anguineus has an unusually high chromosome count (100 chromosomes) compared to many other sharks. Such a high diploid number may hint at chromosomal reorganizations or ancient polyploidy events in its lineage. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1023/A:10…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:40:30.699Z

Next Up: 2nd seed PUMA (Puma concolor) vs. 3rd seed SAIGA (Saiga tatarica) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:44:00.963Z

Some Western US states allow sport hunting of pumas, but a 2020 analysis found this did not accomplish stated management goals of reducing problematic puma-human encounters & predation on domestic livestock (Laundré & Papouchis 2020). #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:44:56.650Z

Near urban areas, humans have direct & indirect impacts on puma populations. In addition to highway collisions like the one that led to puma P-22's death in 2022, habitat fragmentation reduces genetic diversity (Ernest et al 2014). #2025MMM http://www.nps.gov/articles/000…
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:45:35.656Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPuma Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:46:01.224Z

How does puma diversity compare to other wild felids? A study on pumas, jaguars, and ocelots in Belize showed jaguars had the lowest genetic diversity, followed by pumas, then ocelots. Puma pops showed the most structure of the 3 cats across the fragmented landscape. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1371/jour…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:46:12.868Z

While their recent population rebound is a conservation win, saigas in Kazakhstan compete with livestock farmers for land & resources. Poaching, driven in part by the use of saiga horn in traditional Chinese medicine, also remains a threat (Doughty et al 2019). #2025MMM http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/science…
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:46:51.925Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamSaiga Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:47:13.492Z

European populations of Saiga have low variability of microsatellite loci, but highly variable mitochondrial control region and nuclear DNA– why? Likely due to the overhunting of adult male Saiga in the early 1990s, which caused the loss of paternal lines #2025MMM research.ebsco.com/linkprocesso…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:47:17.887Z

In the Santa Susana Mountains in southern California, traditional home of the Chumash people, Puma is "scraping," using his hind feet to create a small mound of dirt & leaves that he then urinates on. Pumas use scrape marks to communicate & mark home ranges (Allen 2014) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:48:23.668Z

Meanwhile, on the open Kazakh landscape, Saiga mills among his herd, still snoofling. Saiga's gnarly nose "is highly specialised, adapted to remove dust from the air they breathe" (Mullineaux et al 2024). #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:49:04.916Z

But it's #MMMagic time and Saiga is translocated mid-inhalation to Southern California, landing just 25 feet away from scraping Puma! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:49:46.973Z

Saiga skip-startles & stares, unfamiliar with the sight of a big cat like Puma (tigers disappeared from Kazakhstan in the 1950s, although 2 were recently reintroduced in a Kazakh nature reserve). #2025MMM http://www.cnn.com/science/kaza…
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:50:25.117Z

Puma, on the other hand, knows a potential meal when he sees one. From a standstill, he LEAPS 30 feet to reach the tasty-looking Saiga. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:51:08.367Z

Saiga turns to run as Puma soars through the air. Adult saiga can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour (Moon 2023)! #SpeedySnoot #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:51:50.977Z

BUT the Californian landscape is rockier and more uneven than the steppes Saiga is used to, and he stumbles! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:52:52.121Z

In an instant, Puma is on top of Saiga, clawing at his head & shoulders, "causing hemorrhaging in the muscle tissue." (Alt & Eckert 2017) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:53:34.266Z

Saiga throws his head back! His 16 inch long horns arc through the air…. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:54:23.597Z

But do not gouge or dislodge Puma, whose "well-developed forelimbs and protracted claws" let him tightly grasp his prey! Puma BITES Saiga at the back of the neck, SNAPPING the vertebrae with sharp 2-inch canine teeth, & Saiga collapses. (Alt & Eckert 2017) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:55:29.255Z

While pumas in North America eat more than 125 species (Karandikar et al 2022), our Puma may be the first to dine on Saiga, entering the thoracic cavity through a wound that "almost looks knife-like." (Alt & Eckert 2017) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:56:09.933Z

"Cougars typically select the nutritious thoracic organs, diaphragm, and liver for consumption first, followed by other abdominal organs, fats, the rib cage, and muscle tissues." (Murphy et al 2010) #ProteinLoading #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:56:47.448Z

PUMA DISEMBOWELS SAIGA!! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:57:14.016Z

#2025MMM #Sweet16 #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPuma Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:57:31.262Z

Efforts to protect Saiga have been mixed– they are susceptible to the bacterium Pasteurella multocida, which tragically killed more than 200,000 individuals in 2015 alone. Very high temp & humidity that year may have contributed to the die off. #2025MMM #RIP http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:57:56.796Z

Last Up: 1-Seed Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) vs. 4-seed Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T01:59:59.395Z

The Polar Bear is uniquely adapted to life on the ice, the global warming climate crisis is quickly deteriorating the sea ice on which the Polar Bear & numerous other species rely. nsidc.org/sea-ice-today #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:00:42.603Z

Explore the Circumpolar Action Plan polarbearagreement.org/circumpolar-… & Take Climate Action today: polarbearsinternational.org/act-now/take… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:00:57.538Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamPolarBear Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:01:16.880Z

Polar bears in the Svalbard Archipelago (Norway) have experienced rapid sea ice loss over the past few decades. Microsatellites from 622 polar bears living in this region in 1995-2016 (2 generations) show ⬇️ in genetic diversity + ⬆️ in relatedness over time. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.1741
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:01:19.094Z

The Cape Buffalo "is the largest and most massive bovid of the African continent"- Across its African distribution, 80% of the Cape Buffalo population died during the rinderpest epidemic of 1896, now eradicated thanks to vaccines! (Morens et al. 2011) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:01:59.383Z

As one researcher stated in their #OverlyHonestMethods about their study on anti-predator behavior in the bovidae: "Though numerous, Cape buffalo Syncerus caffer were not approached on foot in the interests of completing the study"-Tim Caro, 1994
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:02:33.262Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamBuffalo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:02:51.309Z

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) split from its Asian relatives (Bubalus spp.) ~7 million years ago. Fossils and DNA agree ➡️ Bovini arrived in Africa during the late Miocene, giving rise to a new branch of buffalos. #2025MMM link.springer.com/article/10.1…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:02:50.907Z

After several months prioritizing still-hunting at breathing holes, Polar Bear sniffs natal lairs of any seals giving birth approaching the April birth peak or hauled out seals to stalk hunt (Togunov et al. 2022; Stirling 1974) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:04:19.030Z

MEANWHILE, in Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania, Cape Buffalo approaches the river, to drink some of the ~12 gallons of water he needs, drinking every day or every other day to meet his hydration requirements (Cornélis et al. 2014) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:04:47.203Z

After quickly assessing from lions in ambush- he can outrun them if he gets a head start- Cape Buffalo lowers his head, dropping his wide mouth to the water… to be #MMMagically translocated to the High Arctic sea ice ABOUT TO DRINK SALT WATER!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:05:18.888Z

The edge of the ice begins to crumble under the heavy front-end weight of the Cape Buffalo, and the 2000lb herbivore backs up blinking in surprise that he is now in the Arctic. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:05:40.835Z

Although cold, the open landscape is reassuring to the Cape Buffalo. At Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania, his greatest source of mortality are cooperative hunting attacks from lions in habitats that provide ambush cover. (Prins & Iason 1989) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:06:08.456Z

200 feet away, a 1700lb Polar Bear slips into the water between chunks of sea ice… and begins an "aquatic stalk" toward the Cape Buffalo. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:06:29.363Z

Cape Buffalo remains thirsty, and turns his back to the water. Cape Buffalo uses his wide front hooves to gouge at the frozen ice… most chunks have low salt content due to the freezing process creating brine pockets (Vancoppenolle et al. 2006). #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:07:00.367Z

Polar Bear swims below the ice, surfacing through a gap to breathe, looks at Cape Buffalo, and dives again. Polar Bear has such intense control that he surfaces, breathes, raises his head slightly to look, and submerges "without making a ripple in the water." (Stirling 1974) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:07:47.983Z

The bear swims closer… closer… closer… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:08:06.676Z

FWOOSH!!! Polar Bear bursts from the arctic waters surging toward Cape Buffalo!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:08:44.683Z

Recognizing the sound of :an aggressive territorial hippopotamus" behind him attacking from the water, Cape Buffalo bolts without even looking, quickly getting to TWICE the speed of the charging Polar Bear!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:09:33.778Z

Slowing down when feeling safely clear from the water, Cape Buffalo turns to see THE STILL STALKING POLAR BEAR!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:09:58.454Z

SubSahara Africa's paleobear Agriotherium africanum went extinct 2 million years ago, but Cape Buffalo perceives the predatory intent of STRANGER DANGER and spins to run away… but the slope of the ice dips INTO THE ARCTIC WATERS!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:10:24.740Z

CAPE BUFFALO IS A MIGHTY SWIMMER!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:10:42.361Z

BUT POLAR BEAR IS AN EVEN MORE ADEPT SWIMMER IN THESE ARCTIC WATERS!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:11:26.610Z

Polar Bear reaches his prey and grasps the Cape Buffalo's 'rump, sinking claws into the artiodactyl!' (Stempniewicz et al. 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:11:52.451Z

Polar Bear climbs onto the Cape Buffalo, using his "weight to submerge the prey so that only the latter’s head and neck are still visible above the water!" Then with his teeth, Polar Bear grabs the Cape Buffalo by the nape, immersing the artiodactyl completely! (Stempniewicz et al 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:12:28.811Z

Polar Bear and Cape Buffalo "struggle, parts of each animal appearing alternately on the surface." Cape Buffalo is tiring under the onslaught in the cold, bleating out a DEATH BELLOW… WHEN…#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:13:01.217Z

POLAR GRIPS THE CAPE BUFFALO'S "NECK FROM BELOW AS POLAR BEAR DISPATCHES HIS PREY WITHIN ABOUT A MINUTE" (Stempniewicz et al. 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:14:21.440Z

Polar Bear hauls Cape Buffalo onto a submerged chunk of ice, and stands holding the carcass down with front legs, ripping chunks of meat from his fallen foe. (Stirling 1974) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:15:12.511Z

POLAR BEAR CONSUMES CAPE BUFFALO!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:15:58.371Z

#2025MMM #Sweet16 #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamPolarBear Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:16:07.188Z

The Cape Buffalo has undergone major genetic shifts due to recent and ancient events. DNA analysis revealed 3 distinct population clusters, likely shaped by Holocene climate change and more recent human impacts like habitat fragmentation and disease. #2025MMM #RIP link.springer.com/article/10.1…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:16:17.781Z

WOW WHAT A NIGHT! Polar BearNarwhalGeladaSun Bear Gingko & RhizzoAlligator GarAddax& Puma ADVANCE to Tomorrow Night's ELITE TRAIT and the beginning of RANDOM HABITATS! Who will triumph? WHO WILL FALL? #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:17:58.669Z

#2025MMM SWEET 16 EMOJI BATTLE RESULTS!🦝🆚🐒:🐆🦷🦝/🐒🫤🌾/🏆🐒🦌🆚🐗:🦌🚽⏱️/🐗😤😱/🏆🦌☀️🆚😳:☀️📌😳/😳🪂🍂/🏆☀️🌳🍄‍🟫🆚🦭:🦭💆🏽‍♂️/🦭🚽/🏆🌳🍄‍🟫🦄🆚🦓:🦓🏊🏽‍♂️⚰️/🦄🔝🐟/🏆🦄🦈🆚🐊:🦈🦷🐊/🐊🦷🦈/🏆🐊😼🆚👃🏽:😼🛫👃🏽/😼🍽️👃🏽/🏆😼🐻‍❄️🆚🐃:🐻‍❄️🔜🐃/🐻‍❄️🍽️🐃/🏆🐻‍❄️
— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:17:15.946Z

#2025MMM SWEET 16 WINNERS:Gelada, Sun Bear, Polar Bear, Narwhal, Addax, Puma, Ginkgo & Rhizo, Alligator Gar Join us TOMORROW 3/27 at 8PM EST for the battle of the ELITE TRAIT!
— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T02:20:04.311Z

March 27, 2025
#2025MMM March 26, Sweet 16_Part 1 of 2

TONIGHT THE SWEET SIXTEEN, ALL DIVISIONS UNDER ONE ROOF! and for better-seeded species, their last assured evening of HOME HABITAT ADVANTAGE!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:01:01.879Z

Oh yeah… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:01:46.024Z

TONIGHT IS RATED C FOR CARNAGE!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:02:45.991Z

First Up: 3rd seed Coati (Nasua narica) vs. 8th seed Gelada (Theropithecus gelada) #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:04:08.677Z

When geladas yawn, they show off an impressive set of thick canines, accompanied by a loud yawning noise. That yawn noise is contagious between gelada individuals – just like yawns in humans (Pedruzzi et al 2024)! (are you yawning now?) #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:04:32.486Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamGelada Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:04:48.198Z

Baniel et al. (2021) found gelada gut microbiome composition covaried w/ rainfall & temp suggesting responses to dietary & thermoregulatory challenges. Ex: rainy season => cellulolytic/fermentative bacteria specializing in digesting grass #poopscience #2025MMM doi.org/10.1186/s401…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:04:54.519Z

Coati are small. The dwarf coati of Cozumel island are tiny!! Half-sized coati, and genetically unique. Island life gave it its own evolutionary path. Now genetics can help conserve the population. #2025MMM link.springer.com/article/10.1…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:05:55.874Z

Many mammals love to roll in smelly things, and coati are no exception. Captive coati have been known to rub lemons and other citrus on their fur, and free-ranged coatis have been caught anoiting themselves with 4-day-old tayra poop! (Fleming & Weldon 2021) #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:05:36.157Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamCoati Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:05:54.204Z

The afternoon sun filters through the Costa Rican forest as we find our Coati once again picking its way through the gnarled roots of a large fig tree #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:07:14.649Z

Over in Ethiopia, our Gelada is pacing the edge of a large barley field. Agricultural expansion near protected areas has led to increased human-gelada conflicts (Yihune et al 2009). A pair of human guards watch the Gelada carefully, when suddenly the Gelada is magicked away. #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:07:54.134Z

Used to a cooler, high elevation climate, the thick, humid Costa Rican air is uncomfortable for our Gelada. He carefully ambles into the shade of a nearby fig tree, close to where our Coati forages. #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:08:19.498Z

As the Gelada picks through the limited grass offers of the tropical forest, an ocelot trots into view. Used to watching Ethiopian wolves hunt rodents in their midst (Venkataraman et al 2015), the Gelada ignores the small cat. #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:08:57.102Z

The cat pauses, its elegant striped tail twitching as it lowers its body to the ground in a crouch. Turning, the Coati stares down the cat, nervously shuffling as it tries to back up and away from the predator. #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:09:31.957Z

The ocelot launches forward. Limbs flail as the coati and ocelot roll and scramble across the dirt floor. youtube.com/clip/UgkxzC8… #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:10:02.575Z

CRUNCH! Despite the Coati's large claws, the ocelot manages to land a killing bite to the back of the neck. #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:10:40.387Z

Dragging the dead coati between its front legs, the ocelot waddles off with its prize (youtube.com/clip/Ugkx50L…). Gelada continues to pick through the grass, unimpressed #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:11:03.754Z

GELADA OUTLIVES COATI!!! #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:11:34.391Z

#2025MMM #Sweet16 #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamGelada Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:11:46.230Z

How did Coati get their stripes? Not yet known … but we know how another Carnivore loses them! 3 mutations in gene TAQPEP changes a cat from tabby striped to blotchy #RIP #2025MMM http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:12:05.346Z

NEXT UP: #1-seed ADDAX (Addax nasomaculatus) VS. #4-seed CHACOAN PECCARY (Parachoerus [Catagonus] wagneri) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:14:00.305Z

CHACOAN PECCARY is vulnerable to the trifecta of rapid deforestation, competition with cattle, and pneumonia, which infants are particularly vulnerable to. The impenetrable nature of the Chaco thorn-scrub forests makes assessing population status difficult (Saldivar-Bellassai etal 2021) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:14:35.497Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPeccary Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:14:55.188Z

Mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences have revealed that the Chacoan and white-lipped peccary are more closely related to each other than the Collared peccary, but their divergence time and place (either N or S America) remains unclear! doi.org/10.1016/j.ym… #2025MMM
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:15:18.200Z

Mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences have revealed that the Chacoan and white-lipped peccary are more closely related to each other than the Collared peccary, but their divergence time and place (either N or S America) remains unclear! doi.org/10.1016/j.ym… #2025MMM
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:15:18.200Z

ADDAX was widespread and abundant across the dunes & gravel plains of the Sahara, but suffered catastrophic declines due to unsustainable hunting, habitat degradation, competition with domestic livestock, regional insecurity & impacts of oil exploration (GIlbert etal 2018) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:15:41.005Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamAddax Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:16:01.744Z

The Addax is critically endangered today. DNA from museum specimens suggests its population began declining in the Late Pleistocene (~30K yrs. ago), long before the human disturbances of the last few centuries. #2025MMM http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:16:04.927Z

Tonight, we find ADDAX in Djebil National Park, Tunisia, where it was reintroduced to a large fenced area of the park to exclude domestic livestock. The reintroduction made possible by zoos all over the world that are part of Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:16:32.904Z

ADDAX is engaged in "high intensity resting" aka sleeping, in the prone position, head tucked against side with eyes closed (Packard etal 2014) #2025MMM jzar.org/jzar/article…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:17:06.899Z

MEANWHILE, at the Proyecto Taguá in the central Chaco of Paraguay, PECCARY is also in a large conservation enclosure. She is resting with her herd in the shade with her new infants! PECCARY leans back for a dust bath… when the #MMMPortal opens! (Yahnke etal 1997) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:17:39.505Z

ADDAX alerts immediately, he scrambles to stand, stomps his foot on the ground, and gives a loud BLEAT to get PECCARY'S attention (Packard etal 2014) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:18:11.405Z

PECCARY stands and stares, giving a "repetitive huff whoof". ADDAX assesses this potential threat by facing his opponent and scent marking (Packard etal 2014) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:18:42.199Z

Hold on, let's give ADDAX a few seconds… 21 seconds (plus or minus 13 seconds) as the LAW OF URINATION states, all mammals empty their bladders over the same amount of time!! Go on, see for yourself! #YoureWelcomeTeachers (Yang etal 2013) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:19:22.212Z

The strong aroma of dominant male ADDAX urine fills the air. PECCARY'S olfaction (sense of smell) is well developed and "scent alone causes alarm and fright" (Bissonette 1982) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:19:54.598Z

PECCARY flees with "mane & dorsal bristles fully erected, scent gland exposed". She bounds "with leaps in excess of 3m (10 ft) in length" to a patch of woody shrubs in search of her young, off the field of battle!!! Leaving ADDAX in the aroma of her musk (Bissonette 1982) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:20:24.799Z

ADDAX ELIMINATES PECCARY!!!!!! #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:20:45.998Z

#2025MMM #Sweet16 #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamAddax Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:21:02.879Z

Captive pops of peccaries (Chacoan, white-lipped, collared) were established due to conservation threats. Nuclear markers show ⬇️ diversity and ⬆️ inbreeding in these pops, underscoring the importance of conservation management efforts in the species. #2025MMM #RIP pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:21:16.350Z

Next Up: 1st Seed Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) vs. 3rd seed Sunda Colugo (Galeopterus variegatus) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:25:49.223Z

While they don't have many predators, sun bears are poached by humans, which makes it risky for them to use trails near agricultural lands (Guharajan et al 2018) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:26:17.310Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamSunBear Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:26:31.326Z

How did sun bear get that sunny chest patch? Still a mystery. But scientists recently discovered that a 1 base change in the gene TYRP1 can turn black bears brown. #2025MMM http://www.cell.com/current-biol…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:26:39.527Z

Colugos can survive in fragmented landscapes, but their dwindling natural habitats need to be properly managed for the species to persist (Agoramoorthy et al 2006) and are at risk of vehicle collisions when they glide across roadways (Hui 2023) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:27:25.795Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamColugo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:27:43.303Z

Colugo has 28 pairs of chromosomes & ""painting"" shows 44 homologous segments w/human chromosomes. Comparing colugo, treeshrews & primates, Nie et al. (2008) found 1 interchromosomal rearrangement suggesting colugo was closer to treeshrews than primates#2025MMM http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/6/18
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:27:53.168Z

Sun bear lumbers in the forest arriving at a preferred fig tree, using his excellent climbing skills, sunbear hauls himself into the tree leaving conspicuous claw marks that scientists use to discern their presence in the ecosystem (Steinmetz & Garshelis 2008) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:28:45.543Z

Back in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Colugo is again camouflage clinging to a tree trunk having slipped away from macaques, when #MMMagic translocates her clinging in camouflage to Sun Bear's fig tree. #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:29:36.150Z

Sun Bear has been resting with his belly on a tree branch, with his legs hanging down, but then uses his right paw to reach some figs, plopping them into his mouth. One name for him in Sumatra is 'Bagindo nan tinggih' (he who likes to sit high) (Meijaard 1998) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:30:33.783Z

Colugo sends an ultrasound calls to attempt to communicate with any nearby colugos… an ability discovered by researchers studying bats & bat ultrasound calls! (Miard, et al 2019)
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:31:21.430Z

Sun Bear begins to climb down, only a few feet from Colugo! His ability to bend his foot back and put weight on outside of foot, plus a well developed tibialis cranialis, has made him one of the best climbers among the bears (Sasaki et al 2005) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:32:31.608Z

Sun Bear's climb steps with his back foot… digging claws into the tree trunk… ONE CLAW IMPALING Colugo's patagium to the tree trunk!!! #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:33:11.259Z

Bear lifts his foot, freeing Colugo who starts falling…. #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:34:43.628Z

Colugo releases the tree flailing, screaming, striking, STILL PINNED TO THE TREE BY BEAR CLAW THROUGH HER PATAGIUM!!! #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:33:55.305Z

PFFFFT!!! Colugo deploys patagium in glide position!!! #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:35:40.171Z

MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY!!! Colugo's air cushion is partially compromised by her torn patagium, letting air flow through her body parachute!! In turbulence and limited maneuverability, Colugo glide-careens through the canopy, small blood droplets splattering…. #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:36:20.403Z

COLUGO MANAGES TO LAND IN A SOFT CUSHION OF TREE LEAVES AND SUPPLE BRANCHES… BEYOND THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!! #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:36:55.204Z

SUNBEAR DEFEATS COLUGO!! #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:37:06.178Z

#2025MMM #Sweet16 #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamSunBear Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:37:14.968Z

But wait! DNA evidence points to colugos as the sister species to primates! Janečka et al. analyzed 19 nuclear gene segments & found that treeshrews diverged first (~87.9 mya) followed by primates & colugos (~86.2 mya) during the Cretaceous! #2025MMM #RIPwww.science.org/doi/10.1126/…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:37:39.173Z

Next Up: 1-seed Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) and Rhizzo (Rhizophagus aggregatum) vs. 5-seed Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:42:22.302Z

Using models of future climate impacts, researchers anticipate that the current habitat for Ginkgo will shift in the coming years, and that areas in the southern edge of Ginkgo's range may experience significant habitat fragmentation (Xie et al., 2024) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:42:59.017Z

This increased fragmentation, or breaking up of habitat, means that it will be harder for Ginkgo trees to exchange genes in reproduction and may lead to the species becoming less diverse over time. #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:43:21.202Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:43:40.988Z

Ginkgo is an economically valuable tree worldwide but cultivated trees have lower genetic diversity than wild trees. Hu et al 2023 genotype 102 cultivars and found that genetic diversity declined but started growing during the Sui and Tang dynasties ~1500 years ago doi.org/10.1093/hr/u… #2025MMM
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:43:50.590Z

In the 1980s, researchers determined that "approximately 70% of [Saimaa ringed seal] pups drowned each year after becoming entangled in gill nets," in Lake Saimaa, Finland (Bell et al., 2008). #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:44:21.505Z

New regulations banned the use of these nets from April to June and have generally been successful in protecting these endangered seals. According to locals, the main threats to the Saimaa Ringed Seal are summer residents of the region, who sometimes violate regulations to catch large fish. #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:44:44.405Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamRingedSeal Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:45:16.573Z

Saimaa ringed seals are endangered with a population of ~400 individuals. Sundell et al 2022 found a high degree of inbreeding. Genetic diversity is alarmingly low and the high degree of isolation within the lake exposes the population to deleterious genomic effects doi.org/10.21203/rs…. #2025MMM
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:45:44.313Z

Ginkgo shifts slightly in a soft breeze on the mountainside broadleaf forest on Mt. Jinfo in SW China. Below ground, Rhizzo plays host to a number of microorganisms, including beneficial bacteria (endosymbionts). #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:46:21.905Z

On the rocky shore of Lake Saimaa, Ringed Seal drags himself up out of the water – not onto ice, but onto land! Unlike other seals, who use ice for their spring moult, Saimaa Ringed Seals often return to the same place on land each year to shed their old fur (Biard et al., 2021) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:46:57.217Z

Using his front flippers to pull himself forward, Ringed Seal lumbers clumsily onto the rocky shore. While many other seal species haul out in large groups, Saimaa Ringed Seals are less social, and tend to haul out alone or in smaller groups (McLaren, 1954). #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:47:35.196Z

Suddenly, Ringed Seal feels the texture of the ground shift beneath him. Instead of rough rock, he now feels soil, roots, and plant material! #MMMagic has translocated him to the Chinese mountainside forest, near where Ginkgo and Rhizzo stand together! #bestfriends #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:47:57.606Z

While this environment isn't exactly completely foreign to Ringed Seal, he shifts around and notices that he is no longer near the large lake he calls home. His flippers scrape against the soil as he shifts against Ginkgo's trunk… #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:48:23.999Z

Ahhhhhh… The rough texture of Ginkgo's bark feels AMAZING on Ringed Seal's moulting skin, scraping off fur and dead skin. #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:49:05.916Z

SCRITCH SCRITCH SCRITCH- Ringed Seal rolls against the impervious Ginkgo. Ringed seal urinates, releasing nitrogen and other nutrients into the soil, and then galumphs down the hillside searching for freshwater… BEYOND THE FIELD OF BATTLE! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:49:33.474Z

Ginkgo and Rhizzo OUTLAST Ringed Seal! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:49:51.805Z

Persistent organic pollutants can accumulate in the blubber of arctic marine mammals. Brown et al 2017 assembled the transcriptome of ringed seal exposed to PCB and found five candidate genes that may serve as indicators of toxic exposure in other marine mammals #RIP #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.aq…
— Elinor Karlsson (@elinork.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:50:18.910Z

#2025MMM #Sweet16 #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:50:08.204Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:54:39.320Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-27T00:55:20.856Z

March 27, 2025
#2025MMM March 24, Round 2: Same/Different & Tuxedo style_Part 2 of 2

Next Up: 4-seed Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) vs. 5-Seed MALAYAN TAPIR (Tapiris indicus) #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:58:28.109Z

Cape Buffalo are social & form herds that may be mixed-sex & age (w/ a core unit of adult females) or bachelor (all male) #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:59:44.817Z

Pathfinders lead their herd and rely on scent & sounds (Ng 2015), though herds demonstrate shared decision-making (members change their body orientation to vote on preferred direction to travel; Prins 1996). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:00:39.190Z

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) exhibits extreme morphological variability. How is this reflected in their genes? Mitochondrial DNA analysis reveals two distinct lineages that diverged 145,000–499,000 years ago. #2025MMM journals.plos.org/plosone/arti…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:00:54.820Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamBuffalo Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:00:47.496Z

Little is known about Malayan Tapir behavior, especially in the wild (Tawa et al. 2021). They are generally solitary but may form pairs (Gilmore 2007) or groups when there is a food shortage (Gearty 2012). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:01:30.242Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamTapir Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:01:49.081Z

Analysis of mitochondrial control region in tapirs from Thailand and Malaysia found that these two populations likely interbred during times of lower sea levels and were isolated when sea levels rose #2025MMM doi.org/10.1007/s105…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:02:14.204Z

TONIGHT'S BATTLE takes place in Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania, which has "possibly the greatest biomass density (weight per area) of mammals in the world" (UNESCO, nd). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:02:55.964Z

This includes lions (Panthera leo), Buffalo's primary predator (Owen-Smith and Mills 2008), accounting for almost 90% of adult and sub-adult deaths (excluding disease and drought) in the park (Prins and Iason 1989). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:04:15.968Z

MEANWHILE, in the Temengor Forest Reserve of northern Malaysia, solitary Tapir approaches the Tersau salt lick, a naturally-occurring deposit of minerals frequented by wild animals (like Tapir) to get essential nutrients to supplement her herbivorous diet (Tawa et al. 2021). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:05:21.262Z

Tapir places her snout into the mud.. and is transported by MMMagic to the banks along the Endabash River, where Buffalo is grazing on the periphery of his herd #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:06:03.657Z

Unsure of her surroundings, Tapir lets out a squeal followed by a "hiccup" indicating her fear and agitation (Gilmore 2007; Gearty 2012; Tawa 2021) #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:07:05.056Z

Buffalo looks up from a patch of tall grasses to survey the strange black-and-white creature. Cape Buffalo gives a warning snort and then… #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:07:56.602Z

Cape Buffalo, 4x more massive, starts lumbering towards Malayan Tapir (Ng 2015) #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:08:54.237Z

Cape Buffalo, standing carefully back from water's edge, watches the river for Tapir's emergence… #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:09:36.577Z

Tapir holds her breath, fully submerged, and walks along the river bottom… (Gilmore 2007; Gearty 2012). #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:10:21.695Z

TAPIR SURFACES ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE RIVER, and trots FURTHER FROM THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!! #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:11:24.757Z

CAPE BUFFALO INTIMIDATES TAPIR! #2025MMM
— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:12:03.450Z

Malayan tapirs can digest hundreds of different plant species. Their gut microbiome contains several phyla involved in carbohydrate breakdown, such as Firmicutes #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1007/978-…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:12:45.597Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamBuffalo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:12:19.772Z

Next Up: 3rd-seed Wild Yak (Bos mutus) vs. 6th-seed Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra), written by @chumblebiome.bsky.social #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:14:58.001Z

Wild yaks like to have friends in high places – they're herd animals that once numbered in the millions in the high elevations of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Despite almost being driven to extinction in the 1970s by excessive hunting, yaks still prefer to live in herds of tens to hundreds. #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:15:54.995Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamYak Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:16:12.046Z

Wild yaks live on the Tibetan Plateau, a high-altitude area w/ very low oxygen. A mutation in EPAS1, a gene already found in humans to be vital for a low oxygen lifestyle in this region, likely changes the gene’s expression in yaks so they can thrive too #2025MMM doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41220-x
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:16:34.326Z

Reindeer games? Try zebra games! While other zebra sp are rarely recorded engaging in play, mountain zebra often initiate play by racing or chasing each other. From there, they may rub their nose/body, groom, or play-fight (fighting, now with exaggerated movements). (Penzhorn 1988) #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:17:25.992Z

Comparing the genomes of mountain zebras w/their sister 🦓 species—the plains zebra + the Grevy’s zebra—reveals that the 3 species began diverging ~1.3 mya. After, mountain and Grevy’s zebras remained at relatively small pop sizes while plains zebras rapidly ⬆️ #2025MMM doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaq0392
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:18:05.128Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamZebra Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:17:44.791Z

Tonight's battle is back in the remote, high-elevation alpine meadows of Chang Tang Reserve. Our large male Wild Yak has gone back to peacefully grazing with his herd after the highly volatile (pun intended) antics of Zorilla in Round 1. #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:18:37.760Z

Meanwhile, Mountain Zebra finishes his daily dust bath and rolls into a kneeling position. Now that he's right side up, the ground feels much much colder on his knees. What is this squishy green plant material he's in? #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:19:09.390Z

Mountain Zebra stands up. He sniffs the moss he was just resting on and gives it a tentative nibble. His sharp hooves easily part the moss, but there's no dust underneath, just ice. #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:19:32.722Z

Mountain Zebra surveys the meadow. Is that a herd of wildebeest? They look a lot more hairy than usual… #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:19:58.722Z

The wild yak herd continues peacefully grazing. While they have a keen sense of smell, their vision is…less good. (Blanford 1888; Bower 1894) Like Zorilla, Zebra is downwind of the herd. #OuttaSightOuttaMind #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:20:27.390Z

Zebra eyes Wild Yak. The Yak seem more similar to the African buffalo Zebra is used to – maybe it's better to steer clear since bovids of this size seem to be aggressive and belligerent. (Harris 2008) #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:20:52.234Z

The entire herd of wild yaks high tails it ["when running, the yak carries its tail high up or even over its back" (Rockhill 1895, p266)] "until visual contact is no longer possible, often over mountain passes or onto distant snowfields" (Harris 2008, p154) & OFF THE FIELD OF BATTLE #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:21:42.259Z

Just as Zebra starts to trot towards warmer pastures, a rogue domestic yak comes charging onto the scene, with its herder in hot pursuit! #2025MMM youtu.be/HpflduYGqJQ?…
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:21:18.216Z

Mountain Zebra Outlasts Wild Yak! #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:22:01.897Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamZebra Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:22:27.697Z

Wild yaks are thought to be extinct in Nepal but recent animal sightings suggest they might still be around! mtDNA from a few bones, hair, & dung piles suggest some might be related to wild yaks from the Tibetan Plateau while others are likely domestic yaks. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7660
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:23:18.617Z

Next Up: 1-Seed Thorold's Deer (Cervus albirostris) vs. 8-Seed Gelada (Theropithecus gelada) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:25:00.884Z

As with most herbivores, Thorold's Deer spends the vast majority of time feeding, with resting and moving their other main activities, although males increase their vigilance during the cold season (Li et al. 2014) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:25:53.185Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamThoroldsDeer Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:27:14.302Z

Thorold's deer and its relatives have a complicated genetic history. DNA from 21 Cervus subspecies finds gene flow between populations, and surprising diversity within populations. #2025MMM link.springer.com/article/10.1…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:26:22.236Z

As with most herbivores, Gelada spends the vast majority of time feeding, with resting and moving their other main activities, with some increases in vigilance during the wet season (Gosheme et al. 2023) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:29:08.605Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamGelada Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:37:26.238Z

Gelada is in the tangled family tree of Old World monkey tribe Papionini. Liedigk et al. (2014) analyzed mtDNA genomes but found it hard to resolve whether gelada, or black crested mangabey is closest to baboons because of rapid divergences ~5 mya. #2025MMM http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/14…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:29:43.828Z

Thorold's Deer is foraging on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau in the Gansu Qilianshan National Nature Reserve in Northwest China. Here Thorold's Deer competes wild & domesticated ungulates with while trying to evade brown bears, wolves, & snow leopards (Xu et al. 2024) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:33:00.624Z

Meanwhile, in the Simien Mountains of the Ethiopian Highlands, one of the few regions of Africa to routinely get snowfall, our #2025MMM combatant Gelada is grazing and grumbling to his group mates earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/8632/… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:33:32.101Z

Thorold's Deer, unlike red deer & musk deer, prefers meadowland away from the high-intensity grazing of domestic horses, yaks, & sheep.although this area was recently grazed by wild blue sheep that have moved on… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:34:09.937Z

#MMMagically translocated, Gelada blinks quickly, arriving downslope from #2025MMM Thorold's Deer on the edge of his bachelor group. The lower oxygen of the mountain presents little challenge to the Gelada adapted to higher altitudes communities.springernature.com/posts/inside…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:35:06.347Z

Thorold's Deer startles looking hard at the newly arrived primate- is it a wolf? Is it a threat? Focused on assessing the primate interloper, Thorold's Deer turns his back to the mountain cliff… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:36:30.138Z

AND THE VERTICALLY-AMBUSHING SNOW LEOPARD!!!! that also prefers to hunt prey further from domestic animal grazing and their humans!(Kachel et al. 2023, Xu et al. 2024) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:37:19.144Z

Gelada moves away from the now feasting snow leopard and fallen Thorold's Deer! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:38:14.606Z

Gelada OUTLASTS Thorold's Deer! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:38:25.306Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamGelada Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:41:30.381Z

How does Thorold’s deer survive 5,000 meters up? Clue might be to look down. Way down. Weddell seals dive to 1000 meters deep. Tolerate extreme low-oxygen for 1.5 hours. Do deer and seals share genetic changes? #RIP #2025MMM pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:39:20.714Z

Next Up: #2 Seed Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) vs. #7 Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:42:54.760Z

Sun bears are smaller than the average bear at 25-65kg. They have claws adapted for digging & climbing, w/ bowed legs & inward facing paws that help them arboreally. These traits help sun bear obtain one of their favorite foods: figs! #GrubDigger AND #FigFancier #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:43:57.397Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamSunBear Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:44:19.242Z

Sometimes the most dangerous species are tiny.Genetic sleuthing shows humans gave sun bears tuberculosis at a wildlife rescue center.Maybe now future transmission can be prevented? Science saves sun bears! #2025MMM http://www.nature.com/articles/s41…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:45:15.146Z

Aardvarks are fossorial, meaning they are well-adapted for digging, which is one reason they are the only extant member of their Order. Other members of this group were less fit for the digging life, and this maybe part of the reason these populations went extinct (Taylor and Skinner 2004) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:45:40.332Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamAardvark Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:45:53.791Z

Don't let their distinctive looks fool you! Genetic studies revealed that Aardvarks are part of the Afrotheria superorder which contains elephants, manatees, & hyraxes! This unexpected family tree highlights Africa's unique role in mammalian evolution. #2025MMM pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:46:27.709Z

Back in Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, Malaysia Sunbear is approaching one side of a termite mound! While he eats a lot of fruit to build up fat reserves for lean times, his long, narrow tongue and mobile snout allow him to eat a lot of termites (Frederick 2008) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:47:21.227Z

Sunbear's large canine teeth w/ flaring zygomatics, make a big bite force for an omnivore his size. This strong bite is for tearing into trees & termite mounds (Christiansen 2007). #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:48:35.747Z

Combatant Sunbear's canines are intact, males often have broken canines as the result of intraspecific fighting (Meijaard 1998) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:49:14.483Z

Sunbear uses his claws & teeth to break the termite mound into a few pieces & quickly eats the termites from the exposed mound. He then sits straight up, grabs a piece of mound with his front paws, and licks termites from the surface of the mounds. #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:50:07.475Z

Meanwhile, Aardvark is still in Nama-Karoo. Busy with his cute snout to the ground inspecting for ants and other inverts he zags his way into MMM portal to Ulu Segama and to the OTHER SIDE OF THE TERMITE MOUND FROM SUNBEAR! #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:51:13.226Z

Aardvark's nose is flat on the ground, sniffing loudly! The "fleshy tentacles" (Kingdon 1971) of his nose are adapted to chemical stimuli and for sensing termites' reaction to his loud sniff. Aardvarks have the highest number of endoturbinals recorded in mammals (Taylor 2004) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:52:27.379Z

Unaware of the nearby Sunbear, or even what a bear is, Aardvark scratch digs into the soil by the mound, flexing his limbs and using his long forearm to loosen soils & pushing it behind him (Taylor and Skinner 2004) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:53:19.841Z

Sunbear hears Aardvark's digging and leans around the termite mound to see Aardvarks rump sticking up from the hole into the termite mound. While "inoffensive and timid if not bothered"… SUNBEAR IS BOTHERED!!! (Fitzgerald and Krausman 2002)… #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:54:18.060Z

Unaware of the approaching Sunbear, Aardvark's eyes are closed to avoid getting dirt in them (his long eyelashes stop the debris from getting close). As Aardvark digs, his nose hairs interlock to prevent soil getting in. #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:55:25.388Z

Aardvarks tongue flicks into the nest, catching invertebrates to its sticky surface, gobbling them up like a vacuum #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:56:20.703Z

In a 3-point stance, Sunbear swipes his powerful claw-tipped paw across at Aardvark's rump, slashing into the Aardvarks thick skin!. #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:57:00.206Z

Aardvark jump-buck-turns and finds himself trapped between the aggressive Sunbear and the termite mound!! #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:57:51.633Z

Sun Bear also stands on his backlegs, readying for BATTLE, shifting weight between his two legs… #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:59:00.761Z

Aardvark stands full height on his hind legs & tail, nearly as heavy as the Sunbear. Aardvark raises his thick-nailed front feet strong from digging. When faced with danger, Aardvark's "can get very tempestuous and aggressive" (Knöthig 2005) #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:58:24.528Z

Aardvark shifts, steps sideways along the termite mound, and away from the bear. #StepToTheLeft #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T01:59:47.811Z

Aardvark takes one more, side shifting step, dropping down on all four feet backing away from the Sunbear… backing over softer dirt away from the termite mound, & watching the Sunbear… #TakeItBackNow #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T02:01:29.646Z

Aardvark uses his hindlegs to shovel & flick dirt backward while digging. The webbing on his hind feet makes this easier, flicking sandy soil backwards at a very fast pace… #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T02:02:21.095Z

IN 10 minutes Aardvark has a pretty deep escape burrow, getting down to the underground in the soft soil… DIGGING AWAY FROM THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!! #EverybodyClapYourHands #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T02:03:35.707Z

IN 10 minutes Aardvark has a pretty deep escape burrow, getting down to the underground in the soft soil… DIGGING AWAY FROM THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!! #EverybodyClapYourHands #2025MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T02:04:31.543Z

Sun Bear INTIMIDATES Aardvark! #2025MMM youtu.be/wZv62ShoStY?…
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T02:04:43.665Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamSunBear Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T02:04:55.684Z

Aardvarks have enamel-less teeth & genetic data shows that this is due to inactivating mutations in 3 enamel matrix protein genes (AMEL, AMBN and EDAM) #RIP #2025MMM bmcecolevol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10….
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T02:05:17.666Z

See you back here for the SWEET SIXTEEN on Wednesday Night! And grab a Busted Bracketeers Bracket if your champion was out in Round 1 or 2! (thank you @nickleyw.bsky.social!)#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T02:09:30.136Z

#2025MMM RND 2 Same/Different + Tuxedo Style EMOJI BATTLE RESULTS!🦄🆚🦭:🦭🫁🤏🏻/⌛🦭🆙/🏆🦄😳🆚🐍:😳🤜🏻🐵/🐍➰🪂/🏆😳🦝🆚🤱🏻:🦝🤤🌳/🐕🙂‍↔️🤱🏻/🏆🦝🐻‍❄️🆚🌪️:🐻‍❄️🌪️🍽️/🌪️🔎🕳️/🏆🐻‍❄️🐃🆚🦏:🐃😤🦏/🦏🌊🚶🏾‍♀️‍➡️/🏆🐃🦌🆚🐒:🦌👀🐒/🐆🔪🦌/🏆🐒🦬🆚🦓:🦓🥶🌱/🏃‍♂️‍➡️🦬🏠/🏆🦓☀️🆚🐽:☀️🔪🐽/🐽⛏️🕳️/🏆☀️
— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T02:07:18.737Z

WOW WHAT A NIGHT! Narwhal, Coati, Colugo, Gelada, Polar Bear, Mountain Zebra, Cape Buffalo, & Sun Bear ADVANCE! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T02:21:00.905Z

#2025MMM Round 2 S&D WINNERS:Gelada, Coati, Sunda Colugo, Sun BearRound 2 Tuxedo Style WINNERS:Polar Bear, Cape Buffalo, Zebra, Narwhal Join us WEDNESDAY 3/26 at 8PM EST for the battle of the SWEET SIXTEEN!
— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T02:10:12.142Z

March 25, 2025
#2025MMM March 24, Round 2: Same/Different & Tuxedo style_Part 1 of 2

TONIGHT Round 2 with the Same & Different Division and the Tuxedo Style Division! GET READY FOR SOME ACTION-PACKED SCIENCE!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:00:50.335Z

Now, without further ado… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:01:29.845Z

First Up: 7-Seed RIBBON SEAL (Histriophoca fasciata) vs. 2-Seed NARWHAL (Monodon monoceros) #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:02:48.812Z

Ribbon seals have unique movement out of the water. While most seals galumph with forward undulations, Ribbon seals wiggle side-to-side like a snake. This is effective on their preferred icy haul outs, but not rocks or sand. youtu.be/QO8osHlLzh0?… #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:03:53.245Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamRibbonSeal Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:04:05.399Z

Ribbon seal chromosomes are almost identical to other 2n=32 seals. However, they have a particularly large X chromosome and a larger Y chromosome than other Phocids, or true seals #2025MMM doi.org/10.1111/j.16…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:04:15.363Z

Narwhal seasonally migrate >2,000km with changes to sea ice. Heide-Jørgensen (2002) found narwhal move together to the same locations year after year, & populations going to different areas have unique behaviors! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:05:01.147Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamNarwhal Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:05:13.691Z

Westbury et al. (2023) used genome data to look at post-divergence gene flow (i.e. hanky-panky) among toothed whales. They found lots! (including evidence of gene flow between Narwhal’s ancestor & that of all Delphinidae species)! #2025MMM doi.org/10.1111/mec….
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:05:24.252Z

While both marine mammals call the icy waters of the North Arctic home, they actually don’t share habitats! Narwhal are typically found in the Greenland sea and Baffin bay, while Ribbon Seals live in the Bering sea. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:06:19.454Z

Narwhal has the higher seed, so tonight’s battle takes place in the Northwestern passages. The Narwhal is currently mid-dive. Diving depth for Narwhal depends differs by populations & season (Watt et al. 2015) and our male is currently 300m (or 882 stoats) below the surface! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:06:51.650Z

On the other side of North America, the Ribbon seal just initiated a foraging dive of its own when it is suddenly whisked down alongside the Narwhal. Ribbon seals typically forage at depths of 200m, and the seal’s lungs quickly collapse under the water pressure! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:07:50.656Z

Ribbon seals lungs evolved to squeeze down during deep dives, which have been recorded to go near 500m! Diving mammals rely on high amounts of iron-rich proteins in red blood cells & muscles to store oxygen during dives. Ribbon seals have more red blood cells than any other seals! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:08:54.550Z

While underwater the Narwhal spins around its axis & makes high frequency buzzing clicks. Tervo et al. (2021) hypothesized spinning widens the echolocation range to find prey. This comes with an energetic cost though, limiting dive durations. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:09:35.050Z

Both mammals eventually need to find the surface to breathe. This can be dangerous because both species are incapable of breaking through sea ice! Instead they must find natural openings in the ice. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:10:17.648Z

Narwhal tusks are very sensitive. Small pores filled with nerve endings allow Narwhal to sense changes in ocean salinity, which might allow them to find open channels of sea through melting ice floes. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:10:55.247Z

Both animals are foraging on borrowed time! The balance of searching & capturing prey while conserving oxygen can be really hard, which is why only 8-14% of foraging dives for Narwhal are successful!! (Chambault 2023) But which mammal can hold out longer?!? #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:11:37.556Z

In this case being larger is better, as the greater body volumes gives more capacity for oxygen storage. Narwhal can ultimatly stay on foraging dives for well over 20min! The ribbon seal meanwhile makes its way to the surface to catch its' breath… beyond the field of battle!!! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:12:08.457Z

NARWHAL OUTLASTS Ribbon Seal! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:12:33.047Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamNarwhal Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:12:44.608Z

Seals can also be defeated by viruses! Genetic sequencing of viral DNA from ribbon seal kidney swabs suggests that Aquamavirus A might have spread between different seal species in the Northern Pacific and Arctic oceans. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.3389/fvet…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:13:11.394Z

Next Up: Sunda Colugo (Galeopterus variegatus) vs. 11th seed Paradise Flying Snake (Chrysopelea paradisi) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:14:52.555Z

Female colugos glide to forage, but males travel greater distances to not only feed but to defend territories and search for mates. Moms carry their baby during gliding, and as the baby gets bigger, gliding distances get shorter (Byrnes et al. 2011) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:15:35.493Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamColugo Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:15:49.578Z

Why can that guy fly? Mason et al. (2016) generated genome data & ID-ed 8 genes associated w/ joint/digital deformities in humans showing signs of pos selection in colugos. These could account for anatomical changes in muscles & bones needed for gliding! #2025MMM http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:16:23.512Z

Among Paradise Flying Snakes, multiple males will slither in tandem with a receptive female during the courtship process, a tactic that may reduce risks of predation (Kaiser et al. 2016) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:16:49.000Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamSnake Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #herps #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:17:10.399Z

Ever wonder how snakes lost their legs?Scientists found a tiny DNA switch that controls limb growth. It works in fish, humans—even mice. But in snakes, it’s changed.Put the snake version in mice? Shorter legs. Big change from very small tweak #2025MMM http://www.cell.com/cell/fulltex…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:17:25.594Z

Tonight we return to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the last remnant of primary rainforest in Singapore, where Colugo camouflage clings to to a tree trunk near several branches. When a cacophony of long-tailed macaques climb into the tree canopy above her! #2025MMM#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:18:26.720Z

#MMMagic translocates Paradise Flying Snake & coiled gecko prey to the wide branch below Colugo! The Paradise Flying Snake continues constricting the gecko for 2-3 minutes as the gecko's fighting flails grow weaker and weaker (López & Mora 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:19:22.979Z

MEANWHILE in Bako National Park in Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia Paradise Flying Snake has JUST captured a gecko and is curling his coils twice around the fighting lizard when… (López & Mora 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:19:02.103Z

A pair of juvenile macaques are wrestle chasing in the canopy, leaping down and getting closer to Colugo… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:19:58.820Z

Paradise Flying Snake releases the gecko, and slithers to begin eating the gecko HEAD first… (López & Mora 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:20:20.528Z

The gecko springs up, escaping tonic immobility, and flees down the tree! (López & Mora 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:20:39.237Z

A curious macaque has discovered Colugo, the monkey begins grabbing at the Colugo on the tree trunk… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:21:19.570Z

Colugo makes a distressed call at the juvenile monkey and releases one grasping hand from the tree bark… (Dzulhelmi & Abdullah 2009) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:22:04.445Z

COLUGO PUNCHES THE MONKEY!!! (Dzulhelmi & Abdullah 2009) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:22:56.359Z

The other playing juvenile spots the Paradise Flying Snake and alarm calls as the other monkeys gather making alarm calls!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:23:27.919Z

Paradise Flying Snake, bereft of gecko prey & bothered by screaming monkeys, loops his back end stationary on the tree and propels his front end upward, releasing the tree branch in a jumping leap to launch his glide away from the tree and BEYOND the field of battle (Sorcha 2006) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:24:04.756Z

BACK in the tree, Colugo uses the monkeys' snake distraction to escape unnoticed around the back of the trunk and higher in the tree. After all… macaques can be a lethal danger to Colugos. (Tsuji et al. 2015; Dzulhelmi & Abdullah 2009) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:24:58.706Z

Sunda Colugo OUTLASTS Paradise Flying Snake… BARELY #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:25:19.748Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamColugo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:25:34.417Z

New genome now available for relative of paradise flying snake, the Ornate Flying Snake. Also a glider! How did they get a DNA sample? Road kill. Poor snake. #RIP #2025MMM doi.org/10.56179/001…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:25:48.192Z

Next Up: 4th seed Coati (Nasua narica) vs. 5th seed Paca (Cuniculus paca) #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:28:02.055Z

Time to do the "frisky-hop"! During courtship, male paca jump and twist around the female, all while trying to spray her with urine. Once he succeeds, females will usually submit to mating (Perez 1992) #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:28:36.527Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamPaca Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:28:52.571Z

Pacas are not just fruit lovers. They're also key players in determining which plants grow in their habitat! They disperse the seeds of fruits they eat throughout the forest whether those plants are native or invasive. #2025MMM dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:29:26.674Z

Coatis are a social bunch, with females and juveniles less than 2 years old forming social "bands" with as many as 25 individuals. Males temporarily join these bands during mating season, before going back to the solitary life (Gompper 1995) #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:29:57.753Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamCoati Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:30:18.584Z

New genetic analysis shows white-nosed coatis likely spread northward from South America ~3.8 million years ago. NOT the north-to-south story fossils told us. Maybe Nasua lineage diversification occured in S. America? #2025MMM http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:30:25.726Z

It's another balmy evening in Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. Coati has caught the sweet scent of ripe figs and is slowly winding its ways up through the branches looking for the perfect bite. #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:32:04.124Z

In the Brazilian Pantanal, Paca has left her burrow. Her nearly-independent pup trots behind her as she makes her way along a familiar trail. when she suddenly stops short! #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:32:32.396Z

Paca are creatures of habit and don't like it when their trails change. A new fork has emerged and she goes to move off trail when she finds herself alone among fallen figs in Costa Rica! #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:33:09.260Z

Paca are creatures of habit and don't like it when their trails change. A new fork has emerged and she goes to move off trail when she finds herself alone among fallen figs in Costa Rica! #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:33:09.260Z

Paca snorts with unease at the change in scenery. Above her head, the Coati continues his ambling climb along a thick, strong tree branch #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:33:31.034Z

Quiet footfalls and low panting fill the air. A dark, wet snout emerges through the brush as a dog scents its quarry – the Paca! #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:34:09.502Z

Behind the dog, light from a hunter's flashlight floods the base of the tree. Blinded, the Paca freezes (Emmons 2016). #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:34:43.610Z

The hunting dog lunges, siezing the Paca by her neck and giving a hard shake. CRACK! Poor Paca's neck breaks. #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:35:17.211Z

The hunter gives a short, sharp whistle. The dog retreats, carrying the limp Paca in its jaws and the two continue on their path, leaving the Coati tucked amongst the tree branches. #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:35:31.673Z

COATI OUTLIVES PACA! #2025MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:35:46.381Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamCoati Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:35:57.624Z

de Souza Scramignon-Costa used PCR to detect fungal Paracoccidioides infections in road kill mammals in Brazil for eco-epidemiological surveillance. They found paca had these infections! Oh No! #RIP #2025MMM journals.plos.org/plosone/arti…
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:36:18.292Z

Next Up: 1-Seed Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) vs. 8-seed Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:38:55.606Z

Female polar bears care for their cubs for over 2 years in the wild & routinely cuddle, hold, or support cubs with their bodies to help cubs stay warm. This reduces the energy cost of thermoregulation & allows cubs to use more milk energy for growth & development (Stirling et al. 2024) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:39:41.832Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamPolarBear Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:39:59.102Z

Polar bears and their lower-latitude cousins—brown bears—have a complicated past! Genomes from a >115,000 year old polar bear and 65 modern bears reveal that although polar bears and brown bears began diverging >1 mya, they hybridized up until ~200 kya. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2200016119
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:40:05.744Z

"As is typical of most dasyurids, Tasmanian devil catches and holds small prey with its forepaws. Dead prey is examined tactilely with nose, lips, and the numerous whiskers (facial vibrissae)." (Rose et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:41:29.974Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamTasmanianDevil Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:42:18.440Z

An insurance population (IP) of captive Tasmanian devils was started in 2006 to help conserve the species which has declined due to an infectious tumor disease. Diversity across the genome and at immune genes suggest the IP is representative of wild pops. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.104474
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:41:59.222Z

In Australia's largest southern island, it's Tasmanian Devil mating season! While hunting prey and scavenging carcasses, Tasmanian Devil is looking for that very special someone to get into an intense face-biting fight that is part of Tasmanian Devil courtship… (Rose et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:43:15.160Z

This courtship behavior makes the Tasmanian Devil vulnerable to an infectious cancer known as Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD)… the behaviors of DTF set the stage for DFTD and have caused a 80%-95% crash of the Tasmanian Devil population in most of Tasmania (Rose et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:43:34.526Z

BUT A TINY NATURAL ISTHMUS & POPULATION QUARANTINE FENCING HAS THUS FAR PROTECTED THE TASMAN PENINSULA TASMANIAN DEVILS FROM FACIAL TUMOR DISEASE!!! Combatant Tasmanian Devil, from Tasman Peninsula, is thriving on his eating and mating mission!#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:44:47.553Z

"A tireless runner" for up to 20km & 8 hours a night, Tasmanian Devil courses a predictable route based on recent food successes! Tonight he searches the cavities & creases of the coastal dunes for little penguin & short-tailed shearwater when… (Rose et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:45:18.845Z

#MMMagic translocates Tasmanian Devil to a DIFFERENT ROCKY SHORE… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:45:33.051Z

The air is rendolent with the aromas of massive rotting flesh and Tasmanian Devil trots unerringly toward… A WHALE CARCASS and THE POLAR BEAR!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:46:11.977Z

When last we saw, Polar Bear had been bitten by the iron-tipped teeth of the Eurasian Water Shrew with venomous saliva that can paralyze frogs from a special delivery BITE!(Kowalski et al. 2017; Pucek 1959)! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:47:26.956Z

But Water Shrew's tiny teeth had only plunged into Polar Bear's puffy fur, delivering venomous saliva only superficially and doing NO DAMAGE! (Even with punctured skin, the blubber layer & large size of the Polar Bear would have made the ursid impervious to Shrew's venom) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:47:59.426Z

Polar Bear has been gluttonously digging into the whale carcass, and is now nibbling when the wierdest squat little… black with white streaks…is that a ribbon seal? But it's TROTTING?! Up to the whale carcass!? #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:48:40.078Z

Through arctic sleet and snow, to the whale carcass Tasmanian Devil will go! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:49:53.440Z

Used to dominating at a carcass, Tasmanian Devil helps himself to this surf on the turf feast, but positions a bit away from the unfamiliar Polar Bear (Rose et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:50:23.263Z

The Polar Bear tolerates the fellow scavenger at the whale carcass too big to cache or defend. Indeed multiple polar bears converge to co-feed on large whale carcasses (Laidre et al. 2018) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:51:07.109Z

Tasmanian Devil ravenously digs into the whale carcass, gorge-feeding on 9lbs of meat, skin, & blubber (40% of his body mass!!) making his gustatory excitement noises as he plumps up with a rotund and full belly! (Rose et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:51:31.017Z

Now full of food, Tasmanian Devil lumbers- running is a bit much this full- to go digest in the peace and safety of his well-hidden den in an abandoned wombat burrow. (Rose et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:52:01.235Z

Polar Bear OUTLASTS Tasmanian Devil! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:52:51.756Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamPolarBear Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:53:13.183Z

Reconstruction of Tasmanian devil evolutionary history from whole genome data suggests they have undergone multiple episodes of decline in the last ~143,000 years due to separation/connection w/the Australian mainland, changing climate, and human presence #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msz191
— Anne Stone (@acstone.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:53:30.859Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:56:05.667Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00:57:02.368Z

March 25, 2025
#2025MMM March 20 R2: The Only Ones & Roots/Relicts_Part 2 of 2

Next Up: 1-seed Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) vs. 8-Seed Spotted-necked Otter (Hydrictis maculicollis, previously Lutra maculicollis) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:56:22.383Z

Addax rely mostly on moisture from grasses, fobs, adn leaves of small bushes for their hydration, rarely encountering free-standing water in their desert habitat. (Krausman & Casey 2007) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:57:22.833Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamAddax Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:57:39.718Z

Addax is at risk of extinction, w/ <300 individuals in the wild. Armstrong et al. (2010) studied a captive Addax population at the Parque Lecocq Zoo & found low genetic diversity & high inbreeding—a risk for conservation! #2025MMM doi.org/10.1002/zoo.20341
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:58:20.723Z

Although routinely catching fish, especially trout, half of Spotted-necked Otter's meals are crabs & frogs. Less frequent culinary delights include beetles, dragonfly larvae, birds, and rodents (Perrin & Carugati 2000) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:58:34.480Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamOtter Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:58:50.658Z

"The Spotted-necked Otter (Hydrictis maculicollis) used to be called ""Lutra maculicollis"" in case you got confused — they are handsome devils and have 2n=40 chromosomes, making them only otter species with >38 chromosomes! #2025MMM doi.org/10.1644/0.71… http://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/100584…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:59:34.339Z

Tonight we once again return to the Tin Toumma desert of north central Niger, a part of the greater Sahara desert region, where the prevalent winds have created epic dune fields and a few remaining addax still roam #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:00:15.775Z

MEANWHILE in his riverine system of KwaZulu-Natal, our combatant Spotted-necked Otter is returning to the water from a trip to the toilet on shore and encounters a familiar otter in his bachelor group and begins chasing him… (Reed‐Smith et al. 2014) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:00:42.086Z

in a chase-tackle-play bout! Spotted-necked otter rolls with his buddy… rolling his face in the silty river bank mud… and comes up WITH A FACE FULL OF DRY SAND! #Translocation(Reed‐Smith et al. 2014) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:01:09.168Z

#MMMagically Translocated, spotted necked otter gazes across the setting sun dune ecosystem, giving an agitated chirp contact call for his play buddy, but the dune is silent. (Reed‐Smith et al. 2014) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:02:04.954Z

DEVASTATED at the lack of water- Spotted-necked Otters rarely go further than 30 feet from water systems- Otter barely notices the Addax standing nearby (Reed‐Smith et al. 2014) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:03:12.719Z

BUT LARGE WINGS PASS OVERHEAD!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:03:52.813Z

Abberrantly off course on her spring migration, as sometimes happens (Strandberg et al. 2010) and circling slowly, a marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) glides closer above the lone mustelid… strength nearly spent, the raptor lands near Spotted-Necked Otter. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:05:03.822Z

Spotted-necked otters are opportunistic feeders of mammals AND BIRDS with an impressively flexible dietary niche, and OTTER ATTACKS THE FEEBLE RAPTOR!!! (Perrin and Carugati 2000) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:06:16.022Z

Addax browses on woody scrub brush common on the desert landscape, digesting very slowly to conserve water. (Seri et al. 2018, Hummel et al. 2008) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:07:00.030Z

The 8x heavier Otter tackles the exhausted raptor, pressing beak and talons into the sand! Mighty Otter bites to the neck of the raptor do rapid damage! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:07:24.281Z

The raptor's talons dig deep furrows in sand… then stillness as mortality in the Sahara ends the spring migration of another Marsh Harrier (Strandberg et al. 2010) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:08:08.416Z

Spotted-necked Otter begins to consume his raptor meal, eating some of the feathers that won't be digested (and show up in poo to reveal that spotted-necked otter consumes birds, though more typically waterfowl) (Perrin and Carugati 2000) #2205MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:08:54.544Z

Addax steps to the next woody scrub brush, disturbing Otter who drags his meal as take-away to go… AND OFF THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:09:40.516Z

ADDAX DISPLACES OTTER! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:09:56.100Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamAddax Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:10:07.302Z

Since you won't be seeing any more of our friend the Spotted-necked Otter, here is a last look at more of his furry family — the Otters of the World! Poster available for the low price of $8.99, can't say that's a bad deal (credit: Roger Hall)#2025MMM #RIP inkart.net/product/otte…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:10:58.263Z

NEXT UP: #2 ALLIGATOR GAR (Atractosteus spatula) vs. #10 seed ATLANTIC HORSESHOE CRAB (Limulus polyphemus) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:13:40.054Z

HORSESHOE CRABS are commonly observed along beaches of the U.S. Atlantic Coast & Gulf of Mexico in spring when they come on shore to spawn (lay eggs). Spawning aggregations can be very impressive with thousands of animals coming on shore during high tide events. #2025MMM http://www.fws.gov/species/atla…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:14:30.082Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamHorseshoeCrab Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:16:11.190Z

The genome of Limulus polyphemus reveals 18 opsins, shedding light on chelicerate vision & opsin evolution. Phylogenetic analyses highlight key genomic events shaping its visual system, enhancing understanding of horseshoe crab photosensitivity & arthropod evolution #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/gbe/…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:16:17.792Z

Knowledge of the basic biology and life history of gars & bowfins is growing. Species such as the Alligator Gar likely do not spawn every year while others like the Spotted Gar may be capable of spawning more than once per year (David etal 2018) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:16:38.829Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGar Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:17:21.587Z

Gars have a GC-compartmentalized genome, resembling mammals rather than other fish. This challenges the idea that GC heterogeneity arose with amniotes. Their metabolism may have driven DNA thermostability and genome evolution, supporting the metabolic rate hypothesis #2025MMM doi.org/10.1002/jez….
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:18:00.206Z

The sun has set near the mouth of Galveston Bay, where the Trinity River delta delivers freshwater, nutrients & sediments to the marine ecosystem, monitored by US Geological Survey scientists. Here, ALLIGATOR GAR is key to ecosystem stability and function #2025MMM http://www.usgs.gov/publications…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:17:58.111Z

ALLIGATOR GAR is on the river bottom, temporarily free from the pressure of anglers who have to stop fishing 30 mins after sunset. Though her size (350 lbs/159 kg) prevents her from being retained, she is still vulnerable to the stress of catch & release #2025MMM tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:18:37.678Z

MEANWHILE, HORSESHOE CRAB is scuttling on the bottom of the Delaware Bay. She is also temporarily protected from harvest. To ensure ecosystem integrity, only males are allowed to be harvested for bait or extraction of blood for use in biopharmaceuticals #2025MMM http://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environ…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:19:11.328Z

The wind fetch length in March is high, creating large waves and HORSESHOE CRAB is struggling to navigate with the absence of her telson from R1. A massive wave tumbles her through the #MMMPortal… #2025MMM crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/hcr…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:19:55.741Z

…where HORSESHOE slowly lofts to the bottom of the calmer waters of the Trinity River estuary. Her legs wriggling in a flurry #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:20:40.334Z

ALLIGATOR GAR may have the appearance of being sluggish but she is an ambush predator. Lying in wait, the lofting, wriggling HORSESHOE CRAB grabs GAR's attention… is that a turtle? #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:21:06.227Z

WA-BAMMMMMM!!!!! CHOMP-CHOMP!!!!! #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:21:37.966Z

ALLIGATOR GAR lunges forward like a rocket, lashing her head from side to side with HORSESHOE CRAB secure in her double rows of teeth #GARNAGE #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:22:10.281Z

HORSESHOE CRAB's straw-colored blood streams down the Trinity River, the copper-based blood turning blue when exposed to oxygen! #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:22:47.894Z

ALLIGATOR GAR DISINTEGRATES HORSESHOE CRAB! #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:23:12.523Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGar Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:23:51.039Z

Climate change threatens coastal species. Genomic analysis of two horseshoe crabs reveals that the less mobile Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda is losing genetic diversity faster than Tachypleus gigas, making it more vulnerable. Conservation efforts are needed. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1111/eva….
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:24:40.970Z

Climate change threatens coastal species. Genomic analysis of two horseshoe crabs reveals that the less mobile Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda is losing genetic diversity faster than Tachypleus gigas, making it more vulnerable. Conservation efforts are needed. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1111/eva….
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:24:40.970Z

Next Up: #2-Seed Puma (Puma concolor) vs. #10-seed Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:26:47.759Z

As solitary creatures, pumas have unique ways of communication. When they visit the same location as a previous puma, they can exhibit a wide variety of behaviors, including caterwauling (a.k.a. SCREAMING), to try and communicate long-distance. (Allen et al., 2013) #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:27:53.563Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPuma Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:28:09.194Z

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Studies using chromosome painting techniques have shown that all members of the family Felidae (including the puma) have 19 pairs of chromosomes (Wie et al. 2011), despite evolving at least 35 million years ago. #2025MMM http://www.nature.com/articles/hdy…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:28:50.860Z

While marsupials tend to have smaller brains than other mammals, quokkas are *as good* or BETTER than dogs and cats at spatial learning. (Bonney & Wynne, 2004) #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:29:08.388Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamQuokka Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:29:28.575Z

Quokkas (Setonix brachyurus) are cute and all (smiley, etc) — but did you know they have some parasitic friends? Trypanosomes are the unicellular flagellate protozoa that live in their bloodstream and steal nutrients from Quokka. Who's smiling now!? #2025MMM http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:30:12.991Z

Quick note before I continue! This battle was written by @mammalssuck.bsky.social with a little bit of my help! 🎉 #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:29:57.211Z

Puma slowly walks through the forest, approaching last week's the deer carcass site in the Santa Susana Mountains. Puma typically hunt every 1-2 weeks, routinely returning to carcass caches and successful kill sites. (Ironside et al., 2017) #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:30:47.113Z

MEANWHILE, Quokka is grazing amongst the other quokkas and tourists eager for quokka selfies on Rottnest Island in Australia, bending down to snip some foliage… #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:32:23.967Z

Returning to upright, Quokka discovers herself magically translocated to SoCal mountains… sitting at the base of a tree looking out at a pile of leaves, a strong carcass odor, and evidence of many comings and goings of numerous scavengers and predators. #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:33:31.343Z

Predator-naive from Rottnest Island, Quokka can not tell the dangers lurking in the shadows and scans her head to look around. #SweetSummerChild #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:34:43.347Z

PUMA leaps into the scene landing in front of quokka! #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:35:27.828Z

This entrance startles even the Quokka who panic leaps backwards, colliding with with the tree trunk even as her pouch muscles loosen… (Hayward et al., 2005) #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:36:25.549Z

EJECTING THE QUOKKA JOEY FROM QUOKKA'S POUCH!!! (Hayward et al., 2005) #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:37:15.293Z

Quokka's pouch joey "flounders on the ground, hissing loudly"! (Hayward et al., 2005) #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:38:29.035Z

Puma closes in on the pouch joey 'amuse-bouche' as quokka hop-sprints away from the field of battle! #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:40:01.288Z

PUMA POUNCES, QUOKKA BOUNCES! #2025MMM
— gretchen andreasen (@midwesternmouse.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:40:31.119Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPuma Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:40:41.326Z

And if you thought that Quokkas only had trypanosome parasites, think again — a novel gammaherpesvirus (MaHV-6) was detected by PCR in the blood of 13 of 121 individuals (11%) sampled in Western Australia. Check out all that viral diversity! #2025MMM #RIP dx.doi.org/10.1638/2020…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:41:31.348Z

LAST UP: #5-seed MANED WOLF (Chrysocyon brachyurus) VS. #4-seed CHACOAN PECCARY (Parachoerus [Catagonus] wagneri) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:45:13.588Z

MANED WOLF has a dispersed social system that is mostly solitary. To communicate, they rely on signals that carry over long distances to avoid conflicts with each other, eg, barking, visual threat displays & "locus-specific defecation" AKA pooping to define their territory (Klieman 1972) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:46:00.691Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamManedWolf Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:46:26.666Z

The Maned Wolf (C. brachyurus) has the longest legs of any canid! But what genes drive this extreme phenotype? A genomic study of it & its short-limbed cousin, the bush dog, found that B4GALT7 may play a key role in their striking limb length differences. #2025MMM http://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:47:08.823Z

CHACOAN PECCARY "usually lives in groups with an average size of 4.5 individuals, although there are reports of solitary individuals." (Camino etal 2022). Females usually have 1-2 babies per year. Infants are accepted & well tolerated by the entire group, including adult males (Handen 1991) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:47:19.038Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPeccary Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:47:51.479Z

Recent genetic work from Dutra et al. using nuclear and mitochondrial markers has shown that the chacoan peccary should be placed in the distinct genus Parachoerus in 2016. Their former genus 'Catagonus' is just a pig-ment of their imagination! #2025MMM link.springer.com/article/10.1…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:48:33.397Z

It's late afternoon in the Gran Chaco & PECCARY is out searching for fruits. It's unusual for a mammal living in hot areas of South America to forage when temps are high but #PeccaryGonnaPeccary #2025MMM ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factshe…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:49:18.663Z

MANED WOLF takes a big yawn that #MMMagics him to a patch of prickly pear cactus, where PECCARY is chowing down on perfect ripe fruits (Arenas & Scarpa 2007) #2025MMM http://www.researchgate.net/publication/…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:50:35.375Z

MEANWHILE, in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, Bolivia MANED WOLF is "rested within hollows under tall, dense clumps of bunchgrasses" during the hottest part of the day (Rocha etal 2017) #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/jmam…
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:49:59.951Z

PECCARY pauses & stares hard at WOLF. She sways her head, grunts loudly at the interloper then turns her head with mouth agape to show her tusks to make it clear these fruits are hers! (Bissonette 1982) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:51:06.709Z

MANED WOLF stands tall to sniff at the delicious scent of the perfectly ripe cactus fruit #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:51:40.588Z

PECCARY pivots toward MANED WOLF escalating the encounter by swaying her head & giving an explosive tooth-clack by bringing her teeth together HARD (Bissonette 1982) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:52:08.182Z

MANED WOLF creeps toward PECCARY, lifting his upper lip to expose his undersized carnassials that are perfect for fruit eating… #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:52:42.920Z

PECCARY, at an advantage because she is in possesion of the food, responds with a RUN-WHIRL-LUNGE… (Bissonette 1982) #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:53:15.318Z

…sending MANED WOLF into a tail-spin, yipping and scurrying with tail between his legs, off the of battle #WeeWeeWeeAllTheWayHome #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:53:45.762Z

PECCARY DEFEATS MANED WOLF! #2025MMM
— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:54:11.751Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPeccary Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:54:41.755Z

The Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) may look like a fox, but it’s neither a fox nor a wolf! A phylogenetic study using 15K bases of DNA shows it belongs to a distinct group of canids endemic to South America. #2025MMM #RIP http://www.nature.com/articles/nature04338
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:55:31.373Z

Alright, I am not saying #2025MMM reactions are predictable… but I also had this video at my hooftips…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:56:56.362Z

WHAT A NIGHT! Peccary, Alligator Gar, Frilled Shark, Ringed Seal, Saiga, Ginkgo & Rhizo, Puma, & Addax ADVANCE to the Sweet Sixteen- we find out who will join them from the Same & Different and Tuxedo Division next MONDAY. Until then GOOD NIGHT & GOOD LUCK! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:58:18.692Z

#2025MMM RND 2 tOO + Roots & RelictsEMOJI BATTLE RESULTS!👃🏻🆚🔲:👃🏻😤🔲/🔲🔊🏃🏻‍♀️‍➡️/🏆👃🏻🌳🍄‍🟫🆚🐢:🐢🥶/🐢👋🏾/🏆🌳🍄‍🟫🦈🆚🦖:🦖🗡️🦈/🦖🆙🏊🏽/🏆🦈🐟🆚🦭:🐟💥🦭/🐟🔎🥡/🏆🦭🦌🆚🦦:🦦🤼🦅/🦦🍽️👋🏻/🏆🦌🐊🆚🦀:🐊🚀🦀/🐊🙂‍↔️🦀/🏆🐊😼🆚🥹:🥹🔙🚼/😼🍽️🚼/🏆😼🐗🆚🐺:🐗😳🐺/🐗🤺🐺/🏆🐗
— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T02:00:54.323Z

#2025MMM Round 2 tOO WINNERS:Addax, Peccary, Puma & SaigaRound 2 Roots & Relicts WINNERS:Gingko/Rhizo, Seal, Gar & SharkJoin us MONDAY 3/24 at 8PM EST for Round 2 of SAME/DIFFERENT and TUXEDO STYLE!
— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T01:59:36.642Z

March 21, 2025
#2025MMM March 20 R2: The Only Ones & Roots/Relicts_Part 1 of 2

WELCOME TO THE SECOND ROUND OF #2025MMM!!!!Combatants from the ROOTS & RELICTS DIVISION & the ONLY ONES DIVISION battle for a berth to the Sweet Sixteen! Who will triumph?Who will perish?Who is stand there doing absolutely nothing at all?FIND OUT…. NOW!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:02:02.886Z

First Up: 3-seed Saiga (Saiga tatarica) vs. 6-seed Indri (Indri indri) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:04:28.426Z

During the mating season (Dec. & Jan.) male saigas produce "nasal roars" to deter rivals & attract females. (Frey et al 2007) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:05:22.545Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamSaiga Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:06:09.512Z

Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) used to be WAY more widespread. Prior to 10,000 years ago, their range spanned from France to the NW Territories of Canada — this lasted until the end of the Soviet Union, after which its populations shrunk by >95% #2025MMM onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:06:51.119Z

Like in most lemur species, female Indris are dominant to males. Males, however, are the ones who scent mark & defend the group's territory. (Pollock 1979) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:06:50.402Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamIndri Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:07:25.308Z

What colors can Indri see? A study of opsin genes found that they have more genetic variation than other lemurs, w/ at least 3 variants influencing color vision. This variation could potentially help Indris distinguish ripe fruits more effectively. #2025MMM royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:07:57.016Z

It remains cold in the Betpak-Dala region of Kazhakhstan. Saiga, covered in winter hair that is >75% thicker than its summer coat, is again grazing. Its plant diet has a high water content, making frequent visits to watering holes unnecessary. (Turlybekova et al 2017) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:07:44.803Z

Back in eastern Madagascar, Indri is also focused on eating, but her snack of choice right now is… soil? This behavior, which scientists call geophagy, is common in indris, helping them maintain their microbiome & manage the toxins of a leafy diet (Borruso et al 2021).#2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:08:22.984Z

Indri is just putting a handful of soil in her mouth when she is, without warning, #MMMagically deposited on the Eurasian steppe. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:09:08.274Z

Looking around, Indri finds herself surrounded by a herd of grazing animals. She sees they resemble goats from a Madagascan village, but extra snouty. #FrontTrunkJunk #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:09:49.538Z

As in Round 1, Saiga skip-startles & snorflewoofs at the unexpected newcomer. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:10:29.668Z

Indri, uneasy in this treeless landscape & eager to find her group, emits a contact call. In addition to songs, Indri vocalizations include hums, wheezes, & grunts. (Maretti et al 2010) #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:11:09.281Z

Saiga shuffles his hooves & snorts. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:11:32.070Z

Receiving no reply to her contact call, Indri kicks up dust puffs as she does a series of vertical leaps off the field of battle in search of forest & friends. #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:12:07.761Z

SAIGA OUTLASTS INDRI! #2025MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:12:41.126Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamSaiga Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:13:25.140Z

Madagascar's giant lemurs may be gone, but their DNA tells a story! An ancient DNA study found that extinct giant lemurs were closely related to Indriidae—the family of living indris. #2025MMM #RIP link.springer.com/article/10.1…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:14:14.432Z

Next Up: #1-Seed Ginkgo & Rhizzo (Ginkgo biloba & Rhizophagus aggregatum) vs. 8-seed Asian Forest Tortoise (Manouria emys) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:15:52.408Z

Within the 3km radius of the Nuclear Bomb attack on Hiroshima are ~160 Hibakujumoku, meaning "Survivor Trees" or "A-bombed Trees", Several of these trees are Ginkgo biloba that continue to produce seeds 80 years later as emblems of remembrance & peace (Suzuki et al. 2000) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:16:44.152Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:16:58.931Z

Species-specific genome databases allow us to better study the evolution and conservation status of Roots and Relicts. Gu et al 2022 created GinkgoDB, the ecological genome database for the world-renowned living fossil, Ginkgo biloba; containing 545 ginkgo genomes doi.org/10.1093/data… #2025MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:17:44.239Z

Female Asian Forest Tortoises "build a nest mound of leaves & other debris, in which they lay their eggs" similar to crocodiles and some birds and very rare for tortoises and turtles who typically dig into the soil or sand to lay their eggs (Høybye-Mortensen 2004) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:18:03.603Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamTortoise Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #herps #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:18:28.124Z

The forest tortoise may be a Root and Relict but it's not alone! Le et al 2006 use mitochondrial and nuclear genes and found the most basal testudinid lineage is a novel sister relationship between the Asian forest tortoises and the North American gopher tortoises doi.org/10.1016/j.ym… #2025MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:19:17.363Z

Ginkgo & Rhizo #BestFriends stand in a temperate broadleaf forest on Mt. Jinfo in SW China as a light rain falls, the temperature hovers a few degrees above freezing. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:20:06.173Z

MEANWHILE, in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Borneo the rains are also falling onto the shell of Asian Forest Tortoise… but the weather is about 50 degrees warmer in the tropics. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:20:35.707Z

Asian Forest Tortoise is braced up on her back legs, stretching her neck to bite down on the delecious taro leaves (Alocasia) she prefers. (Høybye-Mortensen 2004) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:21:16.404Z

#MMMagic Translocation has Asian Forest Tortoise now standing upright propped against the Ginkgo Tree! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:21:44.794Z

IN THE FRIGID WEATHER, WELL BELOW TORTOISE'S PREFERENCES!!! Indeed 40 below her Farenheit preferences! (Høybye-Mortensen 2004) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:22:32.162Z

In her nearly vertical standing position, cold rain is pouring down Tortoise's shell onto her neck and she drops down to the ground! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:23:07.476Z

Looking around the base of the massively tall and strong Ginkgo tree, it has no clumps of leaf debris and rotten logs at for Tortoise to dig into as her short term burrow or "hide" (Høybye-Mortensen 2004) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:23:25.770Z

Slow and steady, Tortoise crawls away to a better hidey hole in the forest, BEYOND THE FIELD OF BATTLE! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:23:55.820Z

Ginkgo shares carbon with Rhizzo, Rhizzo helps Ginkgo's rainwater and soil nutrient uptake. #BestFriends #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:24:17.983Z

Gingko (& Rhizo) OUTLAST Asian Forest Tortoise!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:24:28.567Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:24:38.956Z

Forest tortoises determine whether they are born male of female based on the temperature of egg instead of relying on a genetic mechanism. Emer 2007 hatched male tortoises at low temperatures (24.99°C, 27.18°C) and female tortoises at high temperatures (30.79°C) doi.org/10.57709/105… #2025MMM #RIP
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:25:30.981Z

Next Up: 3-Seed Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) vs. 11-Seed Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:26:38.756Z

The Frilled Shark, fresh off the fern-y carnage of round one, is hungry for battle (and squid)! While these sharks spend a lot of time in the ocean depths, especially in warmer summer months (Tanaka et. al 1990), they spend time higher up in the water during cooler months looking for a meal #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:29:07.852Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamShark Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:27:32.258Z

🦈 Unlike most live-bearing animals, frilled sharks still keep egg yolk genes (VTG). A 2023 study found their genome actively retains these genes, helping sustain embryos for 3.5 years before birth (!!!). Evolution repurposes, rather than erases! #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/gbe/…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:28:18.765Z

The Tuatara is one cold-blooded competitor – literally! Because they can't regulate their own body temperature, they use behavior to beat the heat or survive the cold. They're sensitive enough to change the temperatures they prefer based on humidity! (Corkery et al. 2013) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:30:11.453Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamTuatara Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #herps #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:30:23.396Z

Roots and Relicts can help us understand the evolution of the skin. In vertebrates, this is controlled by the epidermal differentiation complex (EDC). Holthaus, et al 2020 identified EDC genes the tuatara and found them to be close to the snakes and lizards doi.org/10.1038/s415… #2025MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:31:10.565Z

We're back in Suruga Bay, Japan, where Frilled Shark lies in wait in the midwaters. Their eel-like form and fins positioned near the back of their bodies suggest that they may wait for food to come to them, then strike with snake-like precision! (Ebert and Compagno, 2009) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:31:06.548Z

Mid-March marks the end of the courtship season for Tuatara, so our competitor is looking for a last chance at romance on Stephens Island in New Zealand. He proudly puffs up & displays his spines, strutting around in a "proud walk" (Gans et al, 1984) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:31:45.250Z

But Tuatara's handsome display is cut short as a burst of #MMMagic deposits him into the waters of Suruga Bay! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:32:06.849Z

Now swimming, Tuatara's thrashing & splashing attract the attention of the hungry Frilled Shark… #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:32:43.249Z

Frilled Shark stealth approaches Tuatara, assessing the potential meal… as frilled shark stomachs hold prey between 1/3 and 1/2 their body length! (Ebert and Compagno, 2009) #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:33:03.955Z

With a whip-like strike, Frilled Shark launches forward towards the unsuspecting Tuatara! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:33:34.355Z

Frilled Shark's needle-sharp, barbed teeth close around Tuatara's torso… #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:34:04.855Z

But FRILLED SHARK'S TEETH ARE DEFLECTED by Tuatara's PLATED SCALES! Tuatara's own scales and spines scratch at Frilled Shark's mouth!! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:34:28.350Z

Frilled Shark RELEASES TUATARA!!!!! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:34:42.958Z

TUATARA swims toward the surface of the bay, fleeing the field of battle and a now even HUNGRIER Frilled Shark!! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:35:08.151Z

Frilled Shark TERRIFIES Tuatara! #2025MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:35:20.547Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamShark Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:35:32.627Z

The most complex and rearranged vertebrate mitochondrial genome is found in the tuatara! Macey et al 2021 find all 37 common vertebrate genes with an extra three control region blocks, and duplicate tRNAs. The tuatara mt-genome shows drastic gene rearrangements #RIP #2025MMM doi.org/10.1038/s420…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:36:24.684Z

Next Up: #4-seed Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) vs #5-seed Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:38:51.463Z

Latimeria chalumnae is Critcally Endangered http://www.iucnredlist.org/species/1137… & is 1 of 2 Coelacanth species. Coelacanths are an extremely old fish group, more closely related to lungfish & tetrapods (4-limbed animals) than other fish ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/f… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:39:47.222Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamCoelacanth Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:40:17.894Z

The "living fossil" coelacanth has a 2.74 Gbp genome w 60% repetitive elements and low gen. diversity. It shares tetrapod-like olfactory genes and limb enhancers, hinting at early adaptations in Sarcopterygii and giving insights into fish-tetrapod transition. #2025MMM http://www.genome.org/cgi/doi/10.1…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:41:07.832Z

Ringed Seals have spent 9500+ years isolated in Lake Saimaa, Finland's largest lake. They are listed as Endangered due to a small population (~400 individuals) & threats of hunting & fishing bycatch combined with impending climate change (Kunnasranta et al. 2021) http://www.sll.fi/en/saimaa-ri… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:41:51.570Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamRingedSeal Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:42:06.671Z

Ringed seals populations disperse all across the Arctic and may migrate long distances during the summer months. Martinez-Bakker et al 2014 found that the Lake Saimaa seals do not exchange many seals with other arctic populations and are genetically differentiated doi.org/10.1371/jour… #2025MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:42:47.873Z

Coelacanth is drift-hunting off the west coast of Grande Comoro Island between Africa & Madagascar. She hunts the extremely steep lava-formed underwater slopes using her limblike fins to steer (Fricke & Plante 1988, Hissman et al. 2000) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jl_… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:43:18.112Z

Ringed Seal is in the water of Lake Saimaa near his snow lair (Liukkonen et al. 2018; Niemi et al. 2019). He pops his head out of his breathing hole, inhales, & dives below the ice encrusted surface to hunt for his favorite fish: perch, smelt & ruff (Auttila et al. 2015) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:43:37.351Z

Ringed Seal is transported via #MMMagic 150m deep in the Indian Ocean! Our 1.5m long, 100kg Ringed Seal is swimming deeper than he ever has in his freshwater lake, pushing his forelimb flippers hard against the water (Kunnasranta et al. 2002) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:44:17.725Z

BUT Ringed Seal is within the dive depth of his ocean-going fellow ringed seals! (Harwood et al. 2015) what I'm saying is, HE CAN HANDLE THE PRESSURE. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:44:42.521Z

Coelacanth uses passive drifting to hunt the underwater slope. Little light reaches these depths, but Coelacanth eyes have adapted to detect light & color.Our 2m long, 100kg Coelacanth notices a dark, large object above her (Yokoyama et al. 1999; Yokoyama & Takashi 2000). #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:45:23.094Z

The deep water is dark & Ringed Seal is not able to rely on VISION… but his sensitive whiskers (vibbrissae) will identify anything *familiar* he comes into contact with… (HYVÄRINEN 1989) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:45:58.091Z

Coelacanth neutrally buoyant uses very little fin action to maintain her drift course, almost effortlessly keeping her position & movement in the water column… (Lauridsen et al. 2022). #DunDun #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:46:57.703Z

Coelacanth drifts closer to the large, dark object. Is it another Coelacanth? Adjusting her forelimb fins to directly approach the unknown object #DunDun #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:46:26.913Z

Ringed Seal does a swimming spin-flip… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:47:49.136Z

Gently drifting, neutrally buoyant Coelacanth COLLIDES with powerfully Spin-Turning Ringed Seal!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:48:15.283Z

WHAM!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:48:00.492Z

Richocheting from the collision, Ringed Seal's whiskers (vibbrissae) had no opportunity to assess a fish bigger than the pike of Lake Saimaa… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:49:03.875Z

BUT Coelacanth has caught a new ocean drift and continues hunting for the smaller prey she is adapted to eat… BEYOND THE FIELD OF BATTLE! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:49:30.574Z

RINGED SEAL OUTLASTS COELECANTH!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:50:02.357Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamRingedSeal Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:50:18.401Z

Coelacanths have a unique adaptive immune system, w distinctive IgW loci, no IgM, & tetrapod-like immune genes. Their T-cell receptor organization mirrors tetrapods, raising questions about immune evolution and expanding our understanding of vertebrate immunity. #RIP #2025MMM doi.org/10.1002/jez….
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T23:51:07.350Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:52:45.533Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T00:53:21.293Z

March 21, 2025
#2025 March 19 R1: Tuxedo Style_Part 2 of 2

Next up: 2 seed Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) vs 15 seed Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius) #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:03:48.898Z

Narwhal coloration changes with age. Juveniles start out uniform bluish-black & increased white mottling appears as they get older. Most adults appear speckled while very old individuals can be almost fully white #SilverFoxes #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:04:40.119Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamNarwhal Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:04:54.899Z

Narwhal has a big tooth but no enamel! Randall et al. (2024) analyzed 7 enamel-specific genes in narwhal & other whales and found that 2 enamel matrix genes (AMELX & AMBN) & 2 genes regulating & degrading enamel proteins (ACP4 & KLK4) have been inactivated. doi.org/10.3390/gene… #2025MMM
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:05:29.035Z

Eastern spotted skunks have short legs supported an elongated bodies & large fluffy tail. Their fur is black with interrupted bands of white striped and spots. Like many skunks these colors serve as a warning to predators of their chemical defenses (Hunter 2009). #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:07:00.391Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamSkunk Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:07:23.153Z

DNA analysis revealed that the Eastern Spotted Skunk displays strong patterns of genetic differentiation among subspecies. Future management strategies should take this into account, as these differences may reflect behavioral or physiological differences. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyy098
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:08:30.827Z

Narwhal has the home habitat advantage. We find an older male swimming with its pod along the edge of sea ice in the Davis Strait. Narwhal spend winters here, until late May when the ice breaks up enough to start migrating further North. (Koski, 1994) #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:11:30.122Z

In the midwest, a lone Spotted Skunk is out hunting. Spotted skunks are rare in this area, Actual Living Scientist @amandacheeseman.bsky.social & colleagues showed historical skunk populations crashed following diet changes from shifting agricultural practices. (Cheeseman, 2020) #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:12:09.771Z

Suddenly #MMMagic translocates Spotted Skunk far north to the edge of an ice sheet! Immediately halting his hunt, Spotted Skunk assesses this icy environment. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:12:50.379Z

Next to the ice shelf, the Narwhal begins surfacing. His single tusk, a spiraling canine tooth almost exclusively developed in males, protrudes out of its face, extending nearly 9 feet. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:13:44.929Z

Spotted Skunk seeing the Narwhal tusk wonders IS THIS A SNAKE!? or some other predator?! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:14:22.763Z

Spotted Skunk stamps his feet to warn this possible enemy! Skunk begins the escalation countdown: ONE! #GetAngry #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:15:04.965Z

THE NARWHAL TUSK RISES HIGHER!!!!! Spotted skunk does his next move in aggressive escalation… A HANDSTAND! Countdown: TWO (Johnson, 1921) #GetLow #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:15:53.246Z

SPOTTED SKUNK WAVES HIS TWITCHING TAIL! Countdown: TWO AND A HALF! #GetBig #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:16:32.991Z

NARWHAL'S FACE AND BODY SURFACE RIGHT NEXT TO SPOTTED SKUNK ON THE ICE SHELF, NARWHAL SWIRLS TO GET AN EYE-LEVEL VIEW ON SKUNK… #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:17:01.209Z

SWIRLING Narwhal sloshes water onto the ice shelf, unbalancing Spotted Skunk's handstand… #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:17:53.042Z

Spotted Skunk drops down to all four feet & seeing the massive Narwhal, scampers quickly away from the edge of the ice shelf… and off the field of battle! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:18:07.090Z

NARWHAL SLOSHES EASTERN SPOTTED SKUNK!! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:18:22.373Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamNarwhal Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:18:40.755Z

A karyotype study by Perelman et al. found that skunks (family Mephitidae), like wolves & bears, have high rates of chromosomal evolution. This rapid evolution occurs even within some species, such as Spilogale putorius (as shown in previous studies). #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1007/s10577-008-1270-2
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:19:01.764Z

NEXT UP: 6th-seed Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra) vs. 11th seed White-Faced Capuchin (Cebus capucinus)! #2025MMM This battle is by @chumblebiome.bsky.social!
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:21:30.785Z

Mountain zebra wears their classic #TuxedoStyleDivision colors in some tasteful black and white stripes. While the whole herd is dressed to the nines, each individual has their own unique stripe pattern that can help identify who they are and who their family is. (Caro 2016) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:22:03.219Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamZebra Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:22:22.905Z

South Africa’s Mountain Zebra National Park was formed in 1937 to protect declining mountain zebra populations. Plains zebras were introduced in ’99 and now animals w/mountain + plains zebra striping exist. Microsatellites confirm hybrids btwn the two species. #2025MMM doi.org/10.3957/056.047.0059
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:22:30.528Z

As one may guess from the name, the white-faced capuchin does indeed have white fur covering their face and shoulders. This striking #TuxedoStyleDivision competitor completes its ensemble by covering the rest of its body in dark fur. #oooh #ahhh (Long 2009) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:23:22.437Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamCapuchin Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:23:43.922Z

Analysis of two mitochondrial genes from capuchin species in Central and South America suggests that white-faced capuchin ancestors originated in the Amazon but dispersed into Central America ~1.9 MYA after the closure of the Isthmus of Panama. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02609.x
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:23:52.696Z

Tonight's battle takes place in Etosha National Park, Namibia. It's mid-morning and a small group of Mountain Zebra are gathered near the Okaukuejo waterhole (#HomeHabitatAdvantage). [Interested in zebra watercooler talk? You can livestream this waterhole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ6m… #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:25:24.439Z

Meanwhile, it's about 5AM in Panama and our white-faced capuchin is nestled alongside his groupmates high up in the rainforest canopy. The early morning light hasn't reached this crew just quite yet, so he's sleeeeeeeping. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:25:59.027Z

SUDDENLY, #MMMagic translocates White-faced Capuchin into the dust surrounding the watering hole. Bleary-eyed, Capuchin takes in the arid surroundings he finds himself in. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:26:40.989Z

Mountain Zebra uses his hard, pointed hooves to create a small depression in the dirt. It's one of many he's made in the area (Wagner, Uiseb, and Fischer 2021). The flies are quite the nuisance today. His ears swivel to avoid fly bites & he whips his tail in a defensive attempt. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:27:01.457Z

Capuchin looks around for his conspecifics, where'd the group go??? Where are the luscious trees they were just foraging in??? Looking up for trees, Capuchin gets his eyes full of falling sand! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:28:17.077Z

ZEBRA IS DUST-BATHING!!! Without a loofa in sight, the Zebra elaborately lowers himself down to the dusty ground and lies flat on his side in a favored dust "rolling pit" (Joubert 1972; Wagner, Uiseb, & Fischer 2021) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:28:54.410Z

Capuchin is distraught. He has dusty eyes. Luckily, he's got some transferable skills: he's very adept at careful 'eye-poking', or inserting a conspecific's finger under his own eyelid up to the first knuckle (Perry 2011) & guides his own finger to sweep the dust from his eyes#2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:30:17.951Z

Zebra continues his dust bath. He swishes his tail, sending dust flying onto his legs, and starts to ROLL DIRECTLY TOWARD CAPUCHIN!!! (Joubert 1972). #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:31:31.296Z

Capuchin blinks the last dust from his eyes as a shadow falls… ROLLING ZEBRA IS CLOSING IN!!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:32:03.309Z

Like Indiana Jones fleeing a rolling boulder, White-faced Capuchin scampers away from the herd of hoofed, dust-dousing mammals, fleeing the dusty field of battle! #205MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:32:44.037Z

Mountain Zebra DUSTS White-faced Capuchin!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:33:19.252Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamZebra Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:33:27.895Z

White-faced capuchins could not avoid defeat but they do avoid inbreeding! By determining parentage of wild capuchins w/microsatellites, it seems like fathers–especially alphas who sire most offspring–and daughters avoid mating when they live together. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2006.02.055
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:33:31.465Z

Up Next: 7 seed Ribbon Seal (Histriophoca fasciata) vs 10 seed Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla)! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:36:05.636Z

Ribbon seals have dark fur with four very distinct wide bands of white encircling their neck, hips, and each front flipper. Differences in "ribbons" can be used to identify individuals & are thought to help hide the shape of the seal from a distance. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:36:53.732Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamRibbonSeal Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:37:06.641Z

Analysis of cytochrome B found that the Phoca complex separated into two lineages around 6 million years ago. One of them led to harp and ribbon seals, and the other one later diverged into all other extant species of the Phoca complex #2025MMM doi.org/10.1007/bf00…
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:37:09.621Z

Southern Tamandua are small arboreal anteaters with a long, thin nose. They are covered in pale cream fur with variable amounts of black patches around the shoulders, typically looking like they are wearing a vest or collar. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:38:00.581Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamTamandua Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:38:19.938Z

Watch what you eat! Sequencing of fecal samples from tamanduas at different locations showed that those that were fed a zoo-made diet had a much different microbiome dominated by the Lactobacillaceae family than those that were fed a commercial diet. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1186/s425…
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:38:20.524Z

Far away in a dense, Bolivian rain forest, a female Tamandua is using her long sticky tounge to slurp up ants from a nest in a tree. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=11pU…) Suddenly, #MMMagic translocates the Taumandu to the sea ice! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:39:43.399Z

Our battle takes place in the home habitat of the Ribbon Seal, on a thick ice floe in the Bearing Sea. Here a large male has hauled out of the water to allow for its annual molting of fur & skin. #2024MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:39:13.878Z

Tamandua spend very little time on the ground & this one clumsily walks around searching for trees, a stranger in a strange land….or lack of land. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:40:36.228Z

The cold air rapidly pulls the warmth from the Tamandua. The underside of its long prehensile tail lacks fur, to aid in holding tree branches. Now Tamandua curls that tail around her body to retain some warmth. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:40:59.002Z

Ribbon Seals are typically less wary on ice than most seals, possibly due to poor vision in air (Boveng 2013). Craning his neck the seal tries to see if Tamandua is a seal pup. Pups are born white with a woolly coat of fur & only show markings when they molt at 3-5 weeks old. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:41:35.711Z

Males seals typically are absent for birth & weaning, not showing up until May for mating season. Females often leave pups unattended on the ice (Burns 1981). Maybe there's an early mating chance if the seal waits by the fuzzy thing? The seal gets closer to investigate! #BadDads #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:42:10.977Z

Males seals typically are absent for birth & weaning, not showing up until May for mating season. Females often leave pups unattended on the ice (Burns 1981). Maybe there's an early mating chance if the seal waits by the fuzzy thing? The seal gets closer to investigate! #BadDads #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:42:10.977Z

Threatened by the approaching seal, the Tamandua rears up on its hind legs to better defend itself with long curved claws that can easily tear away at termite nests when foraging (Hayssen 2011). #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:42:58.184Z

Under continued duress the Taumandu backs up. In the forest it will back into a tree or rock to protect itself while facing an attacker. Unfortunately here there is only the edge of the ice, & with a small splash the Tamandua tumbles into the freezing ocean. #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:44:09.014Z

Ribbon Seal defeats Southern Tamandua!!!!! #2025MMM
— Brian Tanis (@tanisbp.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:44:22.750Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamRibbonSeal Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:44:32.573Z

The MHC locus, key to immune response, was sequenced in Tamanduas across South America. Tamanduas from rainforests like the Amazon showed higher MHC allele diversity, likely as a result of exposure to more pathogens in that ecosystem. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1002/ece3…
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:44:39.989Z

Last Up: 8-Seed Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) vs. 9-Seed Delacour's Langur (Trachypithecus delacouri) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:49:26.746Z

Once living in much of Australia but now only found in Tasmania, the Tasmanian Devil is a stocky marsupial carnivore- their black coat has a slash of white across the chest & some white spots on the torso. The biggest males can be >26lbs. ( #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:50:09.423Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamTasmanianDevil Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:50:28.253Z

The Tasmanian devil has been devasted by cancers that cause facial tumors. While animals have 14 chromosomes, their tumors only have 13 abnormal chromosomes and these abnormalities are consistent across individuals, suggesting the cancer is transmitted btwn animals. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1038/439549a
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:50:28.885Z

Delacour's Langur is a black and white leaf monkey. Most all of it is black fur, but the monkey's white fur makes it look like it's rocking some white bicyle shorts. The biggest males can tip the scales at 23lbs. (Harding 2011) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:51:26.548Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamLangur Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:51:46.457Z

Delacour’s Langurs–1 of 7 species of “limestone langurs” –thrive in karst formations, regions w/steep cliffs + little nutrients except metals due to limestone erosion. SNP data suggest limestone langurs diverged from their forest-dwelling langur cousins 2.9 mya #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msz301
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:51:48.357Z

TONIGHT'S Battle takes place late at night along the Arthur Highway of Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula approximately 75 miles, as the car drives, outside Hobart, Tasmania (Hobday 2010) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:52:58.922Z

Here, Tasmanian Devil lumbers briskly in the nighttime.He has become the apex terrestrial predator. On mainland Australia, dingoes outcompeted Thylacines thousands of years ago. More recently European settlers hunted Thylacines to extinction by the early 1900s. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:53:41.810Z

MEANWHILE, amongst the limestone cliffs & broadleaf evergreen forests of northern Viet Nam, a social group of Delacour's Langurs ascended the rocky cliffs at nightbreak to reach a sleeping site and are snoozing safely in the karst. (Nadler et al. 2020) #2024MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:54:33.604Z

#MMMagic translocates a large male Delacour's Langur to Tasmania, he arrives on the ground amongst the shrubberies along the Arthur Highway. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:54:52.742Z

#MMMagic translocates a large male Delacour's Langur to Tasmania, he arrives on the ground amongst the shrubberies along the Arthur Highway. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:54:52.742Z

From the depths of darkness, Delacour's Langur hears a squishy CRAAAACK!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:55:23.547Z

The bones of a juvenile wallaby crack open, & the Tasmanian Devil snuffles as he ravenously gorges on the scavenged roadkill. (Jones et al. 2014; Rose et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:56:29.027Z

Fear rushes over Delacour's Langur. Alone on the ground, away from his social group & far from the limestone cliff where he watches as sentry for predators, these unfamiliar sounds are terrifying. (Hardy 2011; Workman 2010) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:56:57.956Z

Through distant Eucalyptus trees, headlights twinkle. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:57:11.834Z

Delacour's Langur shifts position assessing the situation… sensing an intruder, Tasmanian Devil loud snorts then barks in ownership of his scavenged carcass! (Rose et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:58:08.900Z

Headlights come closer, as the driver switches radio stations, searching for a sweet song, eyes darting away from the road. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:58:52.500Z

The cracking bones and eating snuffles scare the Langur, but are as a siren song, calling forth ANOTHER Tasmanian Devil sprinting in to fight for carcass meat… (Rose et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:59:20.722Z

Our #2025MMM Tasmanian Devil explodes into "growls, grunts, hisses, moans, foot-stamping, whines, and shrieks" (Rose et al. 2017) #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T02:01:06.447Z

Now TERRIFIED by the unearthly screams and demon shrieks (that gave the Tasmanian DEVIL its English name), Delacour's Langur bolts to the Eucalyptus grove BEYOND the field of battle… as the car turns off the highway down a side road to the ocean. #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T02:02:08.526Z

TASMANIAN DEVIL TERRIFIES DELACOUR'S LANGUR!!!!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T02:02:50.231Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamTasmanianDevil Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart
— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T02:03:11.065Z

Delacour’s langurs are one of the world’s 25 most endangered primates, w/less than 200 animals in the wild. Given their critically endangered status, unsurprisingly, variation in the mitochondrial D-loop suggest low levels of nucleotide and haplotype diversity #2025MMM #RIP shorturl.at/Vh30c
— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T02:03:17.790Z

WHAT A NIGHT of SCIENCY ACTION! Polar Bear, Cape Buffalo, Wild Yak, Tapir, Mountain Zebra, Ribbon Seal, Narwhal, and Tasmanian Devil… ADVANCE to Round 2! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T02:04:31.442Z

& Tomorrow NIGHT is ROUND 2 of The Roots & Relicts & the Only Ones Divisions!! #2025MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T02:05:35.581Z

#2025MMM TUXEDO STYLE ROUND 1 EMOJI BATTLE RESULTS!🐻‍❄️🆚🐀:🐻‍❄️🐀👀/🐀🦷🐻‍❄️/🏆🐻‍❄️🦏🆚☁️:🦏🔙☁️/☁️🪜🌳/🏆🦏🦬🆚🦡:🦡💨🦬/💨🦡🔊/🏆🦬🐃🆚🌕:🐺🍽️🌕/🐃🤷🏻‍♂️🌬️/🏆🐃🦄🆚🦨:🦄🌊🦨/🦨😱🏃🏻‍♂️‍➡️/🏆🦄🦓🆚🐵:🦓⛱️🙈/🦓🔄🐵/🏆🦓🦭🆚🤥:🦭❓🤥/🤥🌊🥶/🏆🦭🌪️🆚🐒:🐒🌪️🚘/🌪️🌪️😱/🏆🌪️
— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T02:04:34.876Z

#2025MMM Tuxedo Style Round 1 Battle WINNERS:Polar Bear, Tasmanian Devil, Tapir, Cape Buffalo, Zebra, Yak, Ribbon Seal, NarwhalJoin us TOMORROW at 8PM EST for Round 2 of THE ONLY ONES and ROOTS AND RELICTS
— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T02:06:54.059Z

March 20, 2025