Christopher N Anderson

Category: Uncategorized

#2026MMM March 12 R1 Library Legends_Part 1 of 2

TONIGHT! Round 1 of the LIBRARY LEGENDS!!!!Tonight we will explore some amazing taxa that are associated with libraries- through symbolism, through lifestyle, invited guests and pesky pests! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:02:11.994Z

And because we have a LOT OF SCIENCE… and plenty of CARNAGE!!! without further ado… #2026MMMwww.youtube.com/watch?v=MEvH…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:03:20.577Z

First Up: #1-seed Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) vs. #16-seed Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:04:42.259Z

Papyrus is a giant grasslike plant with triangular blades known as a sedge. Papyrus wetlands are important for biodiversity, for water quality, floodwater management, and contribute directly and indirectly to the livelihoods of millions of people. (Van Dam 2014) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:05:31.141Z

Papyrus motifs are prominent in paintings and carvings in Egyptian tombs. Illustrated Papyri records, thousands of years old provide extensive records of ublic and private life of ancient Egyptians (Rusman 1995; Autran 2023) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:05:47.140Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamPapyrus Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:06:06.951Z

Maxombe et al. (2022) used SE African Papyrus DNA (n = >1000) to test the unidirectional dispersal hypothesis (i.e. pops downstream have ⬆️ diversity than pops upstream). Results = no! Looks like Holocene climate & demographic dynamics shaped genetic diversity. http://www.nature.com/articles/s41… #2026MMM
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:06:12.466Z

Nile Crocodile can grow to 18 feet & 2000lbs, sizing in 2nd only to those Big Salties #EstuarineCrocodile among the Crocodylians found in tropical and near tropical waters around the world. ALSO TEEFS! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:07:50.072Z

In the late 1800s & early decades of the 1900s, archaeological excavation in Tebtunis & wider Fayum region of Egypt unearthed thousands of traditionally mummified crocodiles wrapped in 26,000 fragments of papyrus texts. (Mulcho et al. 2014) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:08:15.941Z

This region was known for worship of the crocodile diety Sobek, worshipers would mummify both Crocodylus niloticus & C. suchusmany of these artifacts were dispersed to private and/or museum & library collections. (Hekkala et al. 2022) #2026MMM http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/visit/bancro…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:08:43.641Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamNileCrocodile Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:09:08.164Z

That croc can swim! Meredith et al. (2011) used mtDNA to show that eastern Nile crocs are more closely related to American crocs than to W. Nile crocs (same species?). This suggests some Nile crocs swam across the Atlantic in the late Miocene/early Pliocene! #2026MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.ym…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:09:11.047Z

TODAY'S Battle occurs in mashlands near Lake Victoria, one of Africa's Great Lakes, where BOTH Nile Crocodile and Papyrus NATURALLY OCCUR #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:10:56.057Z

Almost entirely submerged near the bank of the waterway, the semiaquatic ambush predator Nile Crocodile enhances his concealment by lying submerged next to a thicket of tall reeds… PAPYRUS! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:11:30.422Z

Nile Crocodile, his fellow living Crocodylians, & his ancestors have "occupied this ecological role since at least the Early Jurassic" 200 million years ago. (Melstrom et al. 2025) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:11:46.469Z

Lying in the water, Nile Crocodile 'breathes, smells, sees and hears while only his nostrils and the top of its head are visible above the surface" He blends well in the shadows cast by Papyrus over the silty waters with agricultural runoff (Pooley & Gans 1976) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:12:17.452Z

Papyrus, one of the largest sedges to grow in both still or flowing freshwater, is busy photosynthesizing. #PlantScience #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:13:05.051Z

A group of humans has arrived to the Papyrus thicket to sustainably harvest Papyrus. Still used today for weaving mats and thatching house roofs, Papyrus remains an important resource, another reason for protecting Papyrus wetlands. (Emerton 1998 Emerton et al. 1999) #PlantScience #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:14:29.635Z

CHOP CHOP CHOP, humans on the NON-waterway side of combatant Papyrus cut through the adjacent trunks of the shared root system of the large papyrus. #PlantCarnage #PlantScience #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:16:17.864Z

As Papyrus timbers, one harvester grabs it to swing it down into place, opening a gap to the waterway… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:17:06.697Z

JUST AS CROCODILE AMBUSHES FROM THE WATERS!!!! (Pooley et al. 2019) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:17:26.764Z

Crocodile's tail swing gives him accelerated momentum with the simultaneous forward swing of his hind legs launching off the wetland bank, vaulting Nile Crocodile JAWS WIDE AT THE HUMAN!!! (Pooley & Gans 1976) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:18:32.731Z

THWACK!!!! Timbering Papyrus slaps into Nile Crocodile, SLOWING THE PREDATORY ATTACK!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:19:11.847Z

Clamboring jump away, the human JUST MISSES BEING LUNCH, and Crocodile slides back into the waters, claws dragging the hewn Papyrus into the water to eventually float away beyond the field of battle! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:20:08.111Z

NILE CROCODILE OUTLASTS PAPYRUS!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:20:33.445Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamNileCrocodile Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:20:42.326Z

Using PCR of a small piece of chloroplast DNA, Marota et al. (2002) studied DNA preservation in 0–-3,200-year-old papyri! (PCR = the xerox machine of biology) Results: Papyri DNA ‘half-life’ is only ~19-24 yrs suggesting no DNA preservation after ~700 years. #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1002/ajpa…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:21:01.279Z

Up next: 6-seed cat (Felis catus) vs 11-seed common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:22:49.015Z

Common pipistrelles are one of Europe's most widespread bats and also one of the smallest. Weighing only ~5 grams, they pair their fast, erratic flight with sonar scanning behavior, directing their acoustic "gaze' from side to side as they hunt (Siebert et al 2013). #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:23:32.674Z

Voracious predators who can eat up thousands of insects a night (Mathews et al 2023), common pipistrelles are friends to farmers, and…libraries? Common pipistrelles living in libraries eat beetles and moths whose larvae pose serious threats to books and manuscripts. #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:24:04.869Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamCommonPipistrelleBats Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:24:18.284Z

What do a tiny pipistrelle bat and bottlenose dolphin have in common? Exceptional hearing. Independent evolution of echolocation led to similar changes in the hearing gene Prestin. Different mammals. Same genetic solution. #2026MMM http://www.cell.com/current-biol…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:24:29.777Z

Cute and cuddly, sleek or fluffy with a come-and-go attitude, domestic cats have settled in our hearts – and in our libraries. #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:25:39.223Z

Library cats have protected books and manuscripts from mice, rats and cockroaches since at least the Middle Ages (Lotz 2017). As playful and (occasionally) patient pets, library cats also promote libraries and act as ice-breakers for new patrons #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:26:10.458Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamDomesticCat Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:26:22.181Z

Plot twist: “ancient domestic cat” wasn’t a domestic cat after all. Genomics of 5,400-year-old bones from China revealed a leopard cat instead. Domestic cat (Felis catus) likely reached China via Silk Road trade only ~1,400 years ago. #2026MMM http://www.cell.com/cell-genomic…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:26:31.278Z

The sun has just winked out from behind the tiled roof and elegant white walls of the Biblioteca Joanina, Portugal. Inside, soft squeaks interrupt the hush of the closed library as our Bat shuffles its way out from behind an elaborate bookshelf #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:27:39.038Z

Stretching its narrow wings, Bat swoops down, deftly maneuvering past rows of leather bound books and gilded stucco in search of moths and beetles. Turning a corner, Bats is suddenly transported by #MMMMagic to the modern and austere stacks of a British county library #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:28:12.856Z

After a long exhausting day of napping in the sunlight, Library Cat is dozing on the floor among the stacks. Paws twitch slightly as she dreams of chasing mice and receiving back scratches from library patrons #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:28:43.458Z

Caught off guard by the different arrangement of the bookshelves, Bat loses momentum and spirals downward, catching itself on the back of reading chair. Clinging to the fabric, Bat swivels it heads back and forth while echolocating, trying to learn about this new place #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:29:26.768Z

With the flick of her ears, Library Cat snaps awake. While she may enjoy the occasional mouse or two, years of prowling around old English buildings have honed her skills and senses for small, winged mammals. Rising in one fluid motion, she pads towards the sound. #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:30:10.169Z

Now reoriented, Bat angles its body towards the open aisle of books, pushing off its wings to launch back into the air when WHRIIIP! #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:30:57.852Z

Library Cat springs up and forward and a single outstretched claw slices through the trailing edge of Bat's wing #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:31:57.750Z

Bat falls to the ground with a soft thud. Library Cat delivers another quick blow, sending the bat skittering across the floor. Library Cat pounces forward, pinning the Bat with one paw as she delivers the killing bite #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:32:40.855Z

Bat falls to the ground with a soft thud. Library Cat delivers another quick blow, sending the bat skittering across the floor. Library Cat pounces forward, pinning the Bat with one paw as she delivers the killing bite #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:32:40.855Z

LIBRARY CAT DEFEATS BAT! #2026MMM
— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:33:18.161Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamDomesticCat Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:33:35.388Z

Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) may yet outlive its competitors. This tiny bat weighs < two pennies but can live up to 15 years—mice last only ~2. Bat genome comparisons point to changes in DNA repair & immune genes that may slow aging #RIP #2026MMM http://www.nature.com/articles/s41…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:33:44.078Z

NEXT UP: #4 seed Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) vs #12 seed silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum) #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:35:21.959Z

The Eurasian Eagle Owl is the largest owl in the world, their feathers are brown-black to tawny-buff & sport prominent ear tufties. (Cantrell, et al. 2004) #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:35:55.154Z

In ancient Greece, owls were symbolic of wisdom & knowledge, associated with the goddess Athena & the Acropolis of Athens. Today many libraries have owl motifs in architecture & artwork (Bontzorlos et al. 2023) #2026MMM http://www.lapl.org/collections-…
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:36:35.537Z

Body weights of Eurasian eagle owls range widely – from 1.6 kg to 4.2 kg. They tend to be smallest at low latitudes and largest toward the poles #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:37:10.091Z

This latitudinal trend (bigger as you approach the poles) is found across many (but not all) animal species – it's called Bergmann's rule en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergman… #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:37:38.468Z

The 'reason' Bergmann gave for his rule is primarily thermoregulatory, as organisms get bigger the volume increases more than does surface area. Thus, a large endotherm can hold onto heat more easily. And it's more important to stay warm at the poles (Salewski & Watt, 2017) #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:38:05.725Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamEurasianEagleOwl Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:38:32.979Z

Eagle owls in Spain were hunted nearly to extinction in the 20th century. DNA from survivors shows a classic genetic bottleneck: loss of diversity due to low numbers. But populations have bounced back since protections began! Conservation genetics in action #2026MMM journals.plos.org/plosone/arti…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:38:32.377Z

In the other corner is the silverfish! #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:39:26.639Z

Silverfish are literally lightweights – 0.5 to 1 gram in weight and only 7 to 25 mm in length #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:40:23.066Z

Silverfish are voracious feeders on materials high in starches, glue, and cellulose such as paper. Lepisma saccharina is a common pest in libraries and museums where paper books and labels are abundant. #2026MMM journals.flvc.org/edis/article…
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:40:47.309Z

Devries and Appel (2014) found that silverfish add fats and protein to their diet in a narrow temperature range (Figure 1). #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:41:25.957Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamSilverfish Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:41:47.013Z

Favorite snack for Silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum): old library books. Why? RNA sequencing and proteomics of the gut in a close relative found plant cell-wall-degrading enzymes that break down the cellulose in aging paper and turn it into fuel. #2026MMM journals.plos.org/plosone/arti…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:41:52.361Z

Tonight's battle begins outside of the University of Bath library in southwest England #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:42:43.412Z

A library patron rushes out from the library and slips on slick seagull poop on the front steps, windmilling his arms, he accidentally flings the book he just checked out… #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:43:08.936Z

A library patron rushes out from the library and slips on slick seagull poop on the front steps, windmilling his arms, he accidentally flings the book he just checked out… #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:43:08.936Z

Bouncing against the building edifice, the book bursts open, jolting a Silverfish onto the Library steps JUST AS A MASSIVE SHADOW SWOOPS! #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:43:34.609Z

SQUAWK! Seagulls twist-spin-jump to take off from scavenging food on campus… youtu.be/47e3hK3brUU?… #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:44:11.693Z

THE SWOOPING SHADOW IS A TRAINED EURASIAN EAGLE OWL SCATTERING THE SEA GULLS!!! #2026MMM http://www.theguardian.com/education/20…
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:44:51.102Z

A gull flaps away, not even noticing the 1 gram of smooshed Silverfish it smashed with its foot while fleeing the Eagle Owl! #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:45:11.476Z

EURASIAN EAGLE OWL OUTLASTS SILVERFISH! #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:45:35.959Z

A Eurasian eagle owl named Yoda was issued a library card by the University of Bath for it's services to scare gulls away. Yoda passed away from cancer in 2023, but I like to think it provides guidance from the great beyond #2026MMM
— Chris Anderson (@cnanderson.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:46:30.531Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamEurasianEagleOwl Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:46:56.303Z

Is Silverfish really gone? Nope. A global analysis of indoor silverfish species shows they thrive in human buildings and keep spreading by hitchhiking with cargo. The silverfish invasion may be just getting started. #2026MMM #RIP academic.oup.com/jinsectscien…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:47:07.424Z

Next Up: 8-seed European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) vs. 9-seed Mouse (Mus musculus) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:49:52.291Z

WILD European Rabbit tips the scales up to 5.5lbs, their soft fur is grayish and can be sprinkled with black, brown, ruddy colors. Their undersides are paler gray to white. Rabbits in general have smaller ears & shorter, less powerful legs than hares, & the European Rabbit is no exception. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:50:31.041Z

Lagomorphs were common doodles & illustrations in the margins of illuminated manuscripts made vibrant with gold silver & other bright pigments. These books were written by hand (and copies made by hand) in the Middle Ages almost exclusively in the libraries of medieval monastaries. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:51:10.590Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamEuropeanRabbit Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:51:34.801Z

300+ rabbit breeds trace back to 1 domestication from the European rabbit that still hops wild in Spain today. DNA shows steps of diversity loss: Iberia → France → breeds. One species, one funnel 🐰 #2026MMM journals.plos.org/plosone/arti…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:51:47.892Z

House mice can be up to 8 inches long from nose to tail (0.6 stoat length), but they are about half tail, and tipping the scales at 0.15 stoatweights (30grams), fur color ranges from light brown to black with white to buffy bellys. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:52:55.138Z

House mice & other rodents damage library collections by chewing paper and leather for access or nesting materials and their urine & feces contaminates & deteriorate library materials. Their activities can also attract or facilitate other library pests and organisms. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:53:21.088Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamMouse Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:53:40.626Z

A mouse in the house? Almost definitely. The house mouse (Mus musculus) moved in with humans 15,000 years ago, but they’re new to the Americas—hitching a ride on European ships in the 1500s. #2026MMM pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:53:53.474Z

Tonight's Battle occurs in Doñana National Park of the Iberian Peninsula 'A key crossroads for migratory bird routes between Africa and Europe, and the last refuge for many endangered species' #2026MMM http://www.donanareservas.com/en/donana/
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:54:51.685Z

Here the first wave of epizootic rabbit hemorrhagic disease began in 1990, wiping out 60% of the population. Despite the idiom "breeding like rabbits" AND being a problematic invasive outside Europe, in their native range, European rabbits are endangered. (Moreno et al. 2007) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:55:11.484Z

Doñana National Park includes marshlands, heathlands, & sand dunes. #MosaicLandscape A burrowing herbivore, European Rabbit prefers the transition zone near low dunes for digging burrows with access to grasslands that emerge from drying seasonal marshlands. European Rabbit is grazing now #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:55:26.968Z

MEANWHILE, nighttime at the Library & Mouse is hard at work, amidst scurrying about for food particles (No Food in the Library!).Mouse has been chewing paper from a book to make her nest more cozy! #BookCarnage! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:56:18.999Z

When #MMMagic translocates Mouse the the grassy meadow aside European Rabbit! Mouse does not typically travel more than 50 feet from home, and the bright sunshine of the great outdoors is a LOT, and so many smells! Whiskers twitching, Mouse approaches the grazing Rabbit #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:57:27.664Z

Side-by-side the Rabbit and the Mouse forage, Rabbit plucks grass blades and Mouse, well fed from human scavenged food, takes a first foray on new shoots of spring grass with delicate nibbles. #PlantCarnage #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:57:56.933Z

WHOMPF! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:58:43.299Z

TALONS EMBED IN THE RABBIT'S TORSO!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:59:00.381Z

Mouse flattens to the sandy soil as a SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE'S flight feathers flap the ground, tickling against the terrified rodent, as the eagle's hooked beak begins tearing into the lagomorph! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T00:59:33.914Z

After all, the European Rabbit is a key food resource for the "endangered specialist rabbit feeder, the Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti)" with Rabbit serving as "one of the most important trophic links for converting plant to animal biomass" (Moreno et al. 2007) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T01:00:01.381Z

Mouse sprints away, 8mph, from the predatory scene, as flecks of blood splatter the grasslands! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T01:00:39.762Z

MOUSE OUTLASTS EUROPEAN RABBIT!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T01:00:54.730Z

#2026MMM #LibraryDivision #TeamMouse Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T01:01:05.314Z

#RIP European rabbit 🐰 When myxoma virus devastated rabbit populations in Australia, UK & France in the 1950s, survivors in all three places independently evolved resistance driven by changes in the same immune genes.Evolution finding the same solution 3X! #2026MMMwww.science.org/doi/10.1126/…
— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T01:01:14.172Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T01:03:17.094Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-13T01:03:58.143Z

March 13, 2026
2026MMM March 11 R1: Money Mammals_Part 2 of 2

Next Up! 3rd seed Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) vs 14th seed Brown-Throated Sloth (Bradypus variegatus). #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:55:52.524Z

Male hippopotamuses reach weights of up to 3200 kg (over 14,500 stoats) & can open their mouths at an angle of 150 degrees to reveal impressive 20-inch (1.5 stoat) tusks. (Mason 2013) #2026MMM #StoatsAsMeasurement #OpenWide
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:58:08.271Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamCommonHippo Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:57:30.100Z

Hippos are the closest relatives to cetaceans (whales, dolphins), but these two groups lost their hair independently. Genetics show that hair-related PADI3 and S100A3 became nonfunctional pseudogenes AFTER these two groups split. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1007/s002…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:57:23.811Z

The much smaller (6 kg, or 27 stoats) Brown-throated Sloth has long forelimbs with three-clawed toes. Though its long, coarse hair is naturally gray, it may have a greenish tint due to the algae that grow in it. (Jung 2011) #2026MMM #StoatsAsMeasurement
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:59:11.104Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamBrownThroatedSloth Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:59:31.125Z

Did you know the 6 species of sloths still around today are classified as either two- or three-toed sloths? The brown-throated sloth is a three-toed sloth and mtDNA suggest that it, along with the other three-toed species, diverged from two-toed sloths ~30 mya! #2026MMM doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msv250
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:59:30.474Z

TONIGHT in Southern Africa, Hippo rests submerged in the rippling water where the trees shade the muddy banks of the Limpopo River. (Mosase & Ahiablame 2018) #HomeHabitatAdvantage #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:00:23.767Z

MEANWHILE in the Brazilian rainforest, Sloth is, um, hanging around. Brown-throated Sloths spend about 85% of their time either sleeping or resting, & often spend multiple days feeding in a single tree. (Cliffe et al 2023) #TheSlowLife #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:01:00.704Z

Sloths do, however, descend to the forest floor to poop once a week, and Brown-throated Sloth had felt nature's call and has been slooooowly moving down the tree trunk to take care of business. Almost to the ground…. #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:01:47.285Z

As dusk approaches, Hippo moves toward the riverbank to climb out for his evening meal. He will remain close to the water to feed, grazing for 4-5 hours & consuming 25-50kg of grass. (Fritsch 2020) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:02:32.369Z

Sloth has reached the ground at a base of the tree and doesn't even notice when #MMMagic translocates him onto the banks of the Limpopo. #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:03:18.200Z

FWOOOSH. As Hippo exits the river his massive bulk splashes water onto the muddy bank where Sloth has, ahem, collected himself, sloshing Sloth into the river!!! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:03:53.966Z

But sloths are good swimmers! Though surprised at his suddenly aquatic surroundings, Sloth begins to paddle. (Britton 1941) #2026MMMwww.youtube.com/watch?v=T7HG…
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:04:54.937Z

But sloths are good swimmers! Though surprised at his suddenly aquatic surroundings, Sloth begins to paddle. (Britton 1941) #2026MMMwww.youtube.com/watch?v=T7HG…
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:04:54.937Z

Hippo stands on the shore…..as the current carries Sloth AWAY FROM THE FIELD OF BATTLE! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:05:30.788Z

Hippopotamus displaces Brown-throated Sloth! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:05:57.605Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamCommonHippo Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:06:07.449Z

The brown-throated sloth lost this round and in fact, many males in this species lose when competing for mates! Using 13 microsats, a small study found that 50% of all juveniles were sired by 1 male (and 74% of males did not reproduce at all!). #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0051389
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:06:13.745Z

Next Up: #7-seed Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) vs #10-seed Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:09:32.026Z

Arabian Oryx, a cream & grey antelope and smallest of the oryx species is adapted to the "hyperarid" deserts of the Arabian peninsula, can reach heights of 4.5 ft at the shoulders & tips the scales at over 450lbs (Leu 2001; Davimes et al. 2018) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:10:14.686Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamArabianOryx Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:10:58.784Z

Genetic monitoring is vital for the health of Arabian oryx populations. Seven unique maternal haplotypes have been identified. This data is important because preserving rare lineages is critical for conservation breeding #2026MMM doi.org/10.1266/ggs….
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:10:55.413Z

Eurasian Lynx, a "yellowish gray to grizzled grayish brown" felid sports impressive adaptations like furry feet to snowshoe pad across the snowpack of wintery Northern hemisphere, is the "largest of the bob-tailed cats" – a large male tips the scales at 80lbs (Tumlison 1987). #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:12:24.582Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamEurasianLynx Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:12:52.458Z

Eurasian lynx DNA from 148 museum specimens was analyzed. Researchers found that the ancestral group of lynx inhabited the southern part of their current range. Lynx then colonized the northeast after ice sheets withdrew around 20,000 years ago. doi.org/10.1371/jour… #2026MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:12:42.828Z

TONIGHT Arabian Oryx- Al Maha in Arabic- rests as the shadows grow long in the setting sun of the Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1987 for the reintroduction & breeding of endangered species Arabian Oryx & sand gazelles. (Al-Namazi & Almalki 2020) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:14:29.599Z

Although springtime temperatures do not reach the highest heat of summer daytime, Arabian Oryx has dug down into the sand of a dune to lay down in the cooler sand not reached by sunlight, a behavioral adaptation to create a more pleasant "microclimate" (Davimes 2018) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:14:49.516Z

MEANWHILE, March is mating season for the Eurasian Lynx in Poland's Białowieża Primeval Forest. Our combatant male has been on the lookout for a lovely lady, trekking 9 miles a day in his mate-searching, using calories and working up an appetite… (Jędrzejewski et al. 2002). #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:15:18.423Z

Spotting a roe deer through the burshy forest understory, Lynx stalks closer to ambush his preferred meal… stalking closer… closer… closer… (Okarma et al. 1997, Lone et al. 2014) #2026MMM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhhJ…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:16:27.752Z

BACK on the Arabian Peninsula, the Arabian Oryx, kneels up to tilt his head to self-groom his his back leg, orienting his 4.5 foot horns directly forward… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:16:52.868Z

Eurasian Lynx pounces to attack the roe deer… but leaps through the #MMMagic translocation portal to the Arabian Peninsula!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:17:15.419Z

FWOOSH!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:17:25.869Z

Arabian Oryx's left horn skitters across Eurasian Lynx's hide, perpendicular to lynx's body, along Lynx's rib cage bruising BUT NOT PENETRATING & Lynx twists away!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:19:06.352Z

Spin-Pounce! Eurasian Lynx bank-propels itself against the sand dune to launch-attack at the back of the Arabian Oryx! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:19:58.922Z

FWOOSH! Stabbing air, the Oryx's horns slash in defense against a felid's predatory attack, usually from LIONS, and the Oryx stands to full height! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:21:00.688Z

LYNX EVADES THE HORNS!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:21:27.922Z

BUT Arabian Oryx is 4x larger & much better weaponed than a roe deer, & Lynx is over-heating… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:21:46.606Z

Eurasian Lynx has little hope of effectively wrestling the bovid down with a throat-crushing kill bite. Bruised but savvy, LYNX QUITS THE FIELD OF BATTLE! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:22:14.940Z

ARABIAN ORYX DEFEATS EURASIAN LYNX! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:22:30.706Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamArabianOryx Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:22:48.562Z

Lynx DNA reveals a strong genetic split between populations in different regions. Scandinavian lynx are highly distinct from their Finnish and Baltic neighbors regardless of how close they live to them. #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1023/A:10…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:22:58.793Z

Next up! 6-seed Roan Antelope (Hippotragus equinus) VS 11-seed Borean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:25:59.891Z

Weighing in at 225-330kg (1500 stoats), the Roan Antelope has large horns, long ears, and a thick, sturdy, body. Known for being territorial in its grassland savanna habitat, this browser prefers to eat leaves over stems. (Roe 2002) #2026MMM #StoatsAsMeasurement
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:27:00.810Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamRoanAntelope Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:27:22.355Z

The genome of the roan antelope is 2.56 gigabases long with 42% of it made up of repetitive DNA, similar in size and composition to close relatives like the sable antelope whose genome is 2.60 gigabases in length and composed of 47% repetitive DNA. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkab002
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:27:19.148Z

The Bornean Orangutan – Malay for "person of the forest" – is covered in shaggy red fur & tips the scales at 87kg / 39.5 stoats. His long arms- spanning over 7 feet!- help him move through his treetop (arboreal) forest habitat with ease. (Strobel 2013) #2026MMM #StoatsAsMeasurement
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:28:17.124Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamBorneanOrangutan Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:28:48.193Z

Female orangutans tend to stay near their birthplace while males travel long distances. This is reflected in their genetics: maternal mtDNA shows deep geographic structure while paternal Y chromosome DNA shows a mixing of the gene pool across regions. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1093/molb…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:28:46.641Z

It is a hot sunny day in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve in Northern Botswana, where Roan Antelope is calmly enjoying his leafy lunch under a Mopane tree. #PlantCarnage (Havemann et al 2022) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:29:40.987Z

Meanwhile, in Gunung Palung National Park in Indonesia, Bornean Orangutan is dining on fruit in an Artocarpus tree. Fruit is an orangutan's preferred food, though they will eat leaves & bark when fruit is not readily available. #PlantCarnage (Widiani et al 2021) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:30:19.171Z

Meanwhile, in Gunung Palung National Park in Indonesia, Bornean Orangutan is dining on fruit in an Artocarpus tree. Fruit is an orangutan's preferred food, though they will eat leaves & bark when fruit is not readily available. #PlantCarnage (Widiani et al 2021) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:30:19.171Z

After finishing his lunch, Orangutan begins to give a "long call." Males produce these vocalizations, which can be heard up to a kilometer away, to defend their territory from other males & attract sexually responsive females. #2026MMM #AfternoonDelightwww.youtube.com/watch?v=-YQb…
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:31:16.239Z

There is a rustling in the nearby tree canopy. Might it be a receptive female? Using all 4 limbs to support himself, Orangutan begins clambering in that direction when… (Thorpe & Crompton 2006)) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:32:23.337Z

#MMMagic translocates Orangutan silently to a branch in the Mopane tree above Roan Antelope! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:33:15.054Z

#MMMagic translocates Orangutan silently to a branch in the Mopane tree above Roan Antelope! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:33:15.054Z

Continuing to forage, Roan Antelope scans the tall grass around him to check for lurking hyenas or leopards. If necessary, Roan Antelope can run as fast as 55km/hr to escape predators, but at the moment all is quiet… (Harrington et al 1999) #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:34:02.071Z

WOOOP WOOOP WOOOOP!!! The tranquility of Roan Antelope's lunch is suddenly shattered. Orangutan, confused about his unexpected relocation away from a potential mate, is again long calling in the tree above Antelope. (Mitani 1985) #2026MMM #WOOOOPThereItIs
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:35:05.487Z

Roan Antelope, startled by the strange and unexpected noise, bolts to a safer grazing spot! In the tree above, Orangutan quiets & looks around, still confused BUT HOLDING THE FIELD OF BATTLE!! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:36:06.686Z

Roan Antelope, startled by the strange and unexpected noise, bolts to a safer grazing spot! In the tree above, Orangutan quiets & looks around, still confused BUT HOLDING THE FIELD OF BATTLE!! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:36:06.686Z

Bornean Orangutan SPOOKS Roan Antelope!! #2026MMM
— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:36:45.953Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamBorneanOrangutan Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:37:06.434Z

Roan antelopes have a wide distribution across the savannas of Africa. Yet, microsatellites + mtDNA for 131 animals sampled from 70 locations across their range reveal there are five distinct genetic groups of roan antelope consistent with five subspecies. #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14241
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:37:13.210Z

LAST BATTLE OF THE NIGHT! Seed #8 Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) vs Seed #9 Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:40:03.746Z

Spectacled Bear have thick black or dark brown fur with pale cream or white markings around their eyes (like spectacles), muzzle, & chest (Peyton et al. 2018) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:41:08.517Z

South America's only living bear species, Spectacled Bear's sharp curved claws & muscular limbs make them skilled climbers in steep Andean forests. (Fenner 2012) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:41:48.617Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamSpectacledBear Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:42:32.961Z

The spectacled bear is the only extant bear in S. America! Autosomal+Y data suggest it diverged from its relatives the ursine bears (American + Asian black bear, sun bear, sloth bear, brown bear, polar bear) 5.9 mya—right before the Miocene➡️Pliocene transition. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msu186
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:42:25.559Z

Eastern Gorillas are divided among several subspecies, but Mountain Gorilla, Gorilla beringei beringei is on the most money! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:43:53.538Z

Mountain gorillas have dense black fur for colder elevations of Equitorial mountain climates, a broad chest, & long muscular arms for knuckle-walking & climbing. A silver-grey saddle marks mature “silverbacks” (Canington 2018) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:44:07.821Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamEasternGorilla Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:44:28.466Z

Analysis of autosomal DNA from wild eastern gorilla feces reveals that the species split into the mountain gorilla and Grauer’s (aka eastern lowland) gorilla subspecies relatively recently at ~10,000 years ago, perhaps due to changes in forest distribution. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0811
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:44:31.489Z

TONIGHT: in Colombia’s Eastern Andes, Chingaza National Natural Park’s páramo blends misty grasslands, mossy boulders, and cloud forest edges. (Buytaert et al. 2006). #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:45:24.523Z

Spectacled Bear has been mowing down on one of his favorite foods- bromeliads! He's a very herbivorous bear, 2nd only to #WorstBear in his ravenous appetite for #PlantCarnage. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:46:06.523Z

Done with dinner, Spectacled Bear digs his claws into tree trunk to confidently decend from the forest canopy to meander to a terrestrial chill zone for restin' & digestin' #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:46:33.270Z

MEANWHILE…. In the Virunga forest, a silverback forages alongside his family. In the early, rainy season, there is extensive vegetation growth and Mountain Gorilla eats shoots and leaves #PlantCarnage
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:47:20.957Z

Every few moments, the Mountain Gorilla lifts his head, scanning the trees for threats to his family before going back to eating. As the elder Silverback, he protects his family from predators, poachers, & other intruders (Potel et al. 2024). #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:47:38.358Z

#MMMagic translocates Mountain Gorilla to the Colombian Andes, amidst tree trunks and tumbled boulders. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:48:08.142Z

Mountain Gorilla is uncertain in the new environmentHe listens then makes some low pitch double grunts- the "close call" that he rountinely makes to his family members. Mountain Gorilla listens for their return grunts, grumbles, & hums.But no close call is returned! (Hedwig et al. 2014) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:48:36.158Z

New environment & missing family, uncertainty turns to a cascading stress response as his adrenal glands surge cortisol into his bloodstream (Eckardt et al. 2019) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:50:09.142Z

Spectacled Bear hears Mountain Gorilla's deep double grunts from around a boulder & hesitant to reveal himself to immediately look, stands to sniff the air to smell what the boulder is concealing. #SmellWhatTheRockNoLooking #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:50:47.258Z

Mountain Gorilla begins knuckle-walking through the foliage around the boulder and comes nearly face to face with Spectacled Bear! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:51:19.160Z

Mountain Gorilla & Spectacled Bear instantly REAR BACK from each other standing on their back legs! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:52:34.094Z

Standing upright about 5–6 ft tall, tipping the scales at 440lbs, Spectacled Bear stares at Mountain Gorilla. The only Great Ape in South America are humans, this creature is entirely bizarre to the bear! (Fenner 2012) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:52:57.695Z

Standing upright about 5-6 feet tall, tipping the scales at 440lbs, Mountain Gorilla stares at Spectacled Bear, the last SubSaharan Bear was Agriotherium that went extinct almost 2 million years ago, this creature is entirely bizarre to the Mountain Gorilla! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:53:39.709Z

Spectacled Bear & Mountain Gorilla,Same Height.Same Weight. Both with strong jaws & impressive teeth; Bear has advantage of Claws, but Gorilla has advantage of REACH… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:55:18.547Z

BUT THEY ARE EQUALLY MATCHED IN THE MOST IMPORTANT PARAMETER OF ALL!!!!Exactly zero motivation to tangle! With everything to risk and nothing to win… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:57:01.980Z

Spectacled Bear & Mountain Gorilla back away from each other, drop down to all fours, andwhile frequently looking over their shoulders at the other to make sure they are not about to be attacked… BEAR & GORILLA BOTH BEGIN TO FLEE THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:58:06.358Z

BAM! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T01:59:49.939Z

Gorilla looking over his shoulder, bounces off a tree trunk, accidentally STAYING ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:01:18.407Z

EASTERN GORILLA OUTLASTS SPECTACLED BEAR!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:01:47.492Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamEasternGorilla Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:02:04.117Z

Spectacled bear didn’t win but don’t worry, it will not be forgotten! Spectacled bears are unique in many ways relative to their bear cousins, incl. having 52 chromosomes vs. 74 in the American/Asian black bear, sun bear, sloth bear, brown bear, & polar bear! #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1159/000132455
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:02:11.959Z

HUMPBACK WHALEASIAN ELEPHANTINDIAN RHINOCOMMON HIPPOGIRAFFEMOUNTAIN GORILLABORNEAN ORANGUTANARABIAN ORYX ADVANCE!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:03:01.725Z

DOUBTED OUR PROMISE OF CARNAGE TONIGHT, or do plants not matter to you?! #PlantBlindness #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:03:31.675Z

“Plant blindness” was the term introduced in 1999 by the botanists and educators JH Wandersee (GREAT NAME) & EE Schussler to describe what they saw as a pervasive insensitivity to the green environment & a general neglect of plants on the part of biology education"(Thomas et al. 2022) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:03:49.142Z

But plants, are the primary producers in our ecosystems that allow TANK MAMMAL herbivores to be the meaty meals carnivores CRAVE! Plants "an essential element in sustainability education & practice." (Thomas et al. 2022) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:04:44.642Z

But if you are demanding CARNAGE, just see how those skeets age. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:05:20.475Z

See you tomorrow night for LIBRARY LEGENDS DIVISION! Until then be well.Good night & Good luck#2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:05:49.592Z

💲MAMMALS EMOJI BATTLERound 1 #2026MMM🐋🆚🐿️:🐿️🪄🗑️/🐋🌊🗑️/🏆🐋🦏🆚🦌:🦏🦌🌅/🦌↩️🦏/🏆🦏🦒🆚😛:🦒🦵🏼😛/😛😨🏃🏼‍♂️‍➡️/🏆🦒🐘🆚🦦:🦦👀🐭/🦦🤫🐘/🏆🐘🦛🆚🦥:🦛🌊🦥/🦥🚣🏻‍♂️👋🏻/🏆🦛⚔️🆚😾:⚔️🗡️😾/😾🤕👋🏾/🏆⚔️🐐🆚🦧:🦧⁉️🔊/🐐😱🏃🏾‍♂️‍➡️/🏆🦧🤓🆚🦍:🤓↔️🦍/🦍💥🌳/🏆🦍
— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:03:02.654Z

#2026MMM MONEY MAMMALS ROUND 1 WINNERS:Humpback Whale, Eastern Gorilla, Giraffe, Indian Rhinoceros, Bornean Orangutan, Hippopotamus, Oryx, Asian ElephantPlease join us TOMORROW (Thursday 3/12) at 8PM EST for Library Legends Round 1!
— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T02:06:36.152Z

March 12, 2026
#2026MMM March 11 R1: Money Mammals_Part 1 of 2

You ready #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:00:11.237Z

WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME to the first night of ROUND 1MONEY MAMMALS DIVISION!#2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:01:16.784Z

These are all mammals that are featured on coins and bank notes from around the world! Wildlife is often included on money because it has great cultural significance or great conservations concern OR BOTH! #2026MMM theconversation.com/almost-1-in-…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:02:17.949Z

For our viewers at home, I am compelled to warn you that ALL but 2 of tonight's battles will include descriptions of RAMPANT CARNAGE! TWISTINGRIPPINGSLURPINGTEARINGGRINDINGThe faint of heart should proceed only with caution to the horrors that await you in MONEY MAMMALS DIVISION! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:03:34.600Z

SO WITHOUT FURTHER #2026MMM ADO… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6eQ…
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:04:04.235Z

First Up: #1 seed Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) vs #16 seed Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:05:37.936Z

The humpback whale is a large baleen whale. Females are lheavier & longer at ~13.9m with males ~13.0m. Mostly black with a white, ribboned underside. Their LONG pectoral fins are about 1/3 the length of their entire body! #WavesHello Lurz et al. 2005 #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:06:16.628Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamHumpbackWhale Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:06:40.147Z

Mid-1800s ➡️ early 1900s, humpback whales dramatically ⬇️ due to hunting. The species has showed signs of recovery but their DNA still may harbor the cost of this decline; they have slightly ⬇️ genetic diversity and are slightly ⬆️ inbred than early 1900 whales. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ady7091
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:06:40.540Z

Red squirrels have thick fur in reds (shocker) but also black, browns, & greys with white undersides. These tree rodents stand at about 8-10in tall with curved claws & strong hind limbs for nimble climbing. A bushy tail helps them balance, communicate, & thermoregulate (Clapham et al 1999) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:07:50.797Z

Urban parks & green spaces can be important refuges for threatened Red Squirrels. Without greenspaces though, urban areas can be dangerous. Becoming roadkill or diseased from poor human-sourced foods & squirrel pox transmission are risks from some urban areas. (Finland et al. 2022) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:08:10.845Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamRedSquirrel Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:08:39.104Z

Grill et al. (2009) used mt DNA & microsatellites to study red squirrel population history finding that Calabrian squirrels are distinct & may be from a ‘refuge w/in refugia’ remaining isolated in the Pleistocene after which the rest of the squirrel crowd expanded doi.org/10.1111/j.13… #2026MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:08:33.610Z

Tonight our Lady Humpback Whale swims the channels between the islands of Maui, Lanai, and Kahoolawe in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (Patton & Lawless 2021) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:10:14.311Z

MEANWHILE, in a British coniferous forest, a male red squirrel darts from his coze nest to forage for food. Scarce in the winter, Red Squirrel relies on his scatter-hoarding tactic of burying seeds, nuts, & other plant matter (Shuttleworth 2001) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:10:52.979Z

Red Squirrel sits nibbling a seed #PlantCarnage, when #MMMagic translocates Red Squirrel to floating marine debris- a mix of driftwood, fishing rope, plastic flip flops- Disoriented by the tropical waters, Red Squirrel grips the debris raft, twitching his tail for balance #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:11:41.112Z

FSHHHHHFT!!! Humpback Whale surfaces aside the squirrel, exhaling through her spout and sending rippling sea water into the debris raft… (Fabietti et al. 2024) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:12:44.909Z

Swimming in a circle, the Humpback Whale dives and then surfaces in a "SPY HOP" rising vertically above the water's surface to bringing her face and eye above water level, spinning to look at the squirrel on the marine debris…. (Patton & Lawless 2021) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:13:12.079Z

Tilting sideways, but NOT onto the marine debris, Humpback Whale's wake pushes the floating marine debris and Red Squirrel… BEYOND THE FIELD OF BATTLE! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:13:55.278Z

HUMPBACK WHALE WAVES AWAY RED SQUIRREL!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:14:25.278Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamHumpbackWhale Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:14:41.348Z

Avanzi et al. (2016) analyzed DNA from wild roadkill red squirrels & discovered some carry Mycobacterium leprae & M. lepromatosis which cause Hansen’s disease (aka leprosy). Also the strains of M. leprae were similar to those found in Medieval England! #2026MMM #RIP http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:14:48.638Z

NEXT UP: No. 4 Indian Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) vs. No. 13 Chital (Axis axis) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:16:13.468Z

The Indian Rhino's charming scientific name (Rhinoceros unicornis) refers to the rhino's distinct single horn. This grassland unicorn is also recognizable by layers of thick, folded skin – which serve as armor, but may also help them release heat during hot summers! (Endo et al. 2009) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:16:57.650Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamIndianRhinoceros Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:17:21.577Z

There are two remaining Indian rhinoceros populations. Genetic sequencing of rhinos from these two sites showed that Assam is the historical source while the Nepal group formed later when individuals moved from Assam #2026MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.bi…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:17:22.943Z

The Chital, or Indian spotted deer, stands 70–90 cm tall and weighs 25–75 kg. A golden brown, white spotted coat and sociable nature mark this herbivore, which grazes in herds across South Asia’s forests and grasslands (Shrivastava et al. 2013) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:18:19.393Z

Native to India and Sri Lanka, Chital have distinct glands near their eyes and on their hind legs, which they use for signaling with smells! #OlfactoryCommunication #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:18:38.977Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamChital Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:18:56.756Z

Field biologists may identify a species from environmental samples, but determining its sex may require genetic tests. A PCR reaction can identify the sex of chital tissue or fecal samples. A 5:1 male to female ratio was found from samples in India doi.org/10.1007/s120… #2026MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:19:02.321Z

TONIGHT'S ENCOUNTER takes place in Chitwan National Park in Nepal, one of the last strongholds of the Indian Rhino. #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:19:39.516Z

There are few places where Chital & Indian Rhinos are both found, despite greater histroical range overlap, but here in Chitwan, there's no need for #MMMagic translocation – both species are already present! (Mukherjee et al. 2020) #Sympatric #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:20:15.835Z

As dusk falls over Chitwan, a lone Indian Rhino rises from the water of the floodplain, where he has been resting in the heat of the day. His folded skin helps hold onto the cool water as he stands, taking a long drink. (Sankar et al. 2004) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:20:53.560Z

Emerging from the safety of the dense forest near the floodplain, Chital walks cautiously towards the water, also seeking a drink. Like the Indian Rhino, Chital spends the heat of the day resting, foraging at dawn and dusk. (Schaller 1967) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:21:21.675Z

Indian Rhino lazily wades towards shore, the setting sun signaling dinner time. The grasses along the shore look delicious. #ImminentPlantCarnage (Dutta 2021) #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:22:35.450Z

Ever alert, Chital notices the movement of the large, ambling herbivore and freezes at the edge of the treeline. Threat assesment is a key for survival as a small deer in an ecosystem with tigers. Nearby, other chital pick up the signal & freeze as well. #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:23:18.781Z

Indian Rhino halts by the riverbank, nostrils flaring at the bouquet of smells in the air. While he has great hearing and smell, his eyesight is poor. #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:23:33.021Z

Indian Rhino lowers his massive head, lipping the grass into his mouth and chewing slowly, shifting his weight a bit #OhThePlantmanity #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:23:51.266Z

Chital gives the rhino a wide berth, foraging well beyond the field of battle #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:24:22.555Z

Indian Rhino INTIMIDATES Chital! #2026MMM
— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:24:45.430Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamIndianRhinoceros Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:24:52.405Z

Wildlife officials combat illegal hunting of chital deer, but their meat is not easy to recognize. Scientists created a fast DNA test that only fluoresces when chital DNA is present, which helps identify meat in the field to prevent illegal trading. #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1007/s126…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:25:14.808Z

NEXT UP: No. 5 Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) vs. No. 12 Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:27:22.516Z

Giraffe, the tallest living animal, reaches heights of 6 m (19 ft) & weights up to 1900 kg (4189 lbs) (Dagg 1971). Male & female giraffes sport a spotted coat (yellow to black in color) & a pair of short, bony horns called ossicones on top of their heads #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:28:26.950Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamGiraffe Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:28:54.180Z

Comparing mutations in the genomes of the giraffe vs. other mammals helps scientists find genes possibly responsible for the giraffe’s uniquely long neck. 7 changes in FGFRL1 (gene involved in skeletal + cardiovascular development) might provide important clues. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11519
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:28:55.297Z

Comparing mutations in the genomes of the giraffe vs. other mammals helps scientists find genes possibly responsible for the giraffe’s uniquely long neck. 7 changes in FGFRL1 (gene involved in skeletal + cardiovascular development) might provide important clues. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11519
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:28:55.297Z

Giant Anteater is the largest of the anteater species, averaging 2200 mm in length (7.2 ft) & 26-33 kg (57-57 lbs), with a triangular black stripe extending from the below ears to mid-back (Gaudin et al. 2018), tubular skull & long rostrum, & formidable claws on their forelegs #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:29:57.786Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamGiantAnteater Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:30:33.965Z

Giant anteater genetics confirm that they are habitat generalists. Haplotypes for both mitochondrial and nuclear markers are shared across biomes like Cerrado, Pantanal, and Amazonia. This suggests high connectivity and movement across diverse landscapes. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1007/s105…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:30:31.538Z

It's sunrise in the Khamab Kalahari Nature Reserve http://www.khamab.co.za. Giraffe stretches his neck to the high canopy of a mokala tree extending his long tongue to grasp leaves while deftly avoiding thorns #PlantCarnage (Deacon et al. 2023) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:32:10.703Z

In the Brazilian Pantanal, Giant Anteater is, like his name implies, EATING ANTS. He extends his long, sticky tongue & quickly snags an ant, slurping it into his toothless mouth #AntCarnage Anteater extends his tongue again…. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:33:23.204Z

…and is is magically transported to the Kalahari! Anteater is unfazed by the new surroundings; all that matters is that there are ants to eat. Anteater snags an ant with his tongue as it walks by, then lifts his head & uses his strong sense of smell to find more ant morsels #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:33:57.771Z

Anteater detects the delectable scent of A LOT OF ANTS & knuckle-walks towards a patch of trees. An ant nest at the base of the largest tree, a mokala tree, is teaming with ants. Anteater dives in with powerful forelimbs & long claws releasing a frenzy of ants #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:34:23.671Z

A shadow descends #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:34:48.221Z

Giraffe is at the SAME MOKALA TREE & has shifted his position to reach the tastiest leaves. Giraffe's body casts a shadow over Anteater. Anteater detects the lower light level, but assumes clouds have moved in; he continues to gorge. Giraffe shifts position again and… #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:35:03.755Z

Bumps into Anteater! Giraffe's legs sweep into Anteater's long, extended tail & brush against the coarse fur. The contact is strong & abrupt, shifting Anteater from the ant nest #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:35:48.289Z

Long, but not tall, Anteater turns in a circle trying to detect what has hit his tail. He rises off his knuckles, rears back on his hind legs, & extends his enlarged forelimbs & claws at his unseen assailant (Borges et al. 2017) #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:36:31.522Z

All Anteater sees are sapling trunks surrounding him! SKINNY MOVING SAPLINGS! Super tall Giraffe shifts position again to better reach the best mokala leaves closer to Anteater's forelimbs & CLAWS #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:37:21.521Z

Anteater turns to avoid the moving "sapling" but bumps INTO ANOTHER SAPLING! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:38:18.337Z

Giraffe continues to forage, oblivious to the coarse-haired Giant Anteater. Anteater rears back….. #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:38:37.700Z

….And exits the field of battle in search of more ants & trees that don't move #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:38:53.550Z

GIRAFFE OUTLASTS GIANT ANTEATER!!! #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:39:05.266Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamGiraffe Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:39:19.156Z

Giant anteater's loss mirrors its real-world decline. Genetic simulations predict a 15% drop in allelic richness over the next 100 years even if current numbers are held. Stopping threats like roadkill and hunting is urgent to ensure this species's viability. #2026MMM #RIP doi.org/10.3389/fgen…
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:39:23.820Z

NEXT UP: 2-seed Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) vs. 15-seed Beech Marten (Martes foina) #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:41:16.047Z

The Beech Marten adorns the back of the Croatia 1 euro coin. Males are ~50 cm long (with a ~30 cm long floof tail) and weight in at ~2 kg, making them small but mighty with their short round ears, a white throat patch & peach-colored nose. #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:42:00.635Z

But judge them not by their size! A Beech Marten took down the ~9 billion dollar Large Hadron Collider when it chewed through wire connected to a transformer, bringing a, ahem, paws to the workday (Aron 2016) #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:42:43.196Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamBeechMarten Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:43:06.279Z

Tomarovsky et al. used cytogenetics and DNA sequencing to reveal that the stone marten has a karyotype (# and arrangement of chromosomes) similar to the ancestral carnivoran karyotype. Low heterozygosity suggests that its conservation status should be re-evaluated. doi.org/10.1093/jher… #2026MMM
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:43:07.828Z

Male Asian elephant stands at 3 meters tall w/ two 1.8 meter tusks, thick grey skin & giant feet (Comstock & Rafferty 2025). This megaherbivore is the second largest land mammal, clocking in at over 5400 kg, and only outsized on land by the African savanna elephant! #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:43:54.595Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamAsianElephant Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:44:22.520Z

Asian, African savanna, and African forest elephants are the only 3 species of elephantids left today.>300 sites in the genome suggest that the Asian elephant is most closely related to their famous extinct elephantid relative, the iconic woolly mammoth. #2026MMM doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1000564
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:44:18.061Z

It is spring time at Udawalawe National Park in Northern Sri Lanka, home to our Asian elephant. He spends most of his day feeding on shrubs and grasses among the deer, cats, boar, hornbills and other animals in the grasslands, marshes, and forests (Sampson 2013). #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:45:11.899Z

Asian Elephant calmly browses #PlantCarnage when #MMMagic translocates Marten into the grasslands. Though unfamiliar w/ this habitat, mustelid's might is only eclipsed by his adaptability & Beech Marten begins to scope area for tasty treats of the small mammal kind (Goszczyński et al 2013) #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:45:46.336Z

Elephant begins striding to a new browsing patch with his nearly silent step from his padded feet, but Beech Marten quickly alerts to the massive mammal's movement. #ThatsNoMoose #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:46:30.607Z

Elephant barely notices the Beech Marten, so similar to the ruddy mongooses (Urva smithii) that scamper about this ecosystem. #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:47:13.232Z

Elephant barely notices the Beech Marten, so similar to the ruddy mongooses (Urva smithii) that scamper about this ecosystem. #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:47:13.232Z

Elephant barely notices the Beech Marten, so similar to the ruddy mongooses (Urva smithii) that scamper about this ecosystem. #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:47:13.232Z

Just beyond the elephant in the brush, Beech Marten spots an Indian brush rat in the brush! Mustelid twitches in opportunistic predatory mode! #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:47:58.687Z

The Brush rat's peripheral vision spots the Beech Marten and the rodent bolts into the foliage… Asian Elephant continues to graze, unaware of happenings down below (Hemamali. & Boyagoda 2019) #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:48:34.129Z

Beech Marten creeps past the pachyderm on shorter legs that keep it from galloping like a pine marten… into the brush rat track in the grasslands… AND BEYOND THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!! (Heptner et al 1988) #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:49:42.807Z

Asian Elephant OUTLASTS Beech Marten!!! #2026MMM
— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:50:03.557Z

#2026MMM #MoneyDivision #TeamAsianElephant Art by Mary C. Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social
— V Pellicer- looking for work! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:50:39.332Z

Using mitochondrial and microsatellite data, Vergara et al. (2015) found that there is weak genetic structure of beech martens across the Iberian Peninsula, possibly driven by the rivers Ebro, Tagus, and Guadiana, which create semi-permeable geographic barriers. doi.org/10.1371/jour… #2026MMM #RIP
— Carlos Chavez Ramirez (@carloschalicothere.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:50:47.025Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:53:17.004Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2026MMM
— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T00:54:15.243Z

March 12, 2026
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