Tag: 2025mmm

TONIGHT everyone likes a sharp-dressed AN… imal in the Tuxedo Style Division of species in shades of grey from whitest snow to obsidian sable. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:01:02.848Z

Learn more about the selective pressures that shape these color patterns and the genetics underlying them in the battles and afterwards check out the SPOTLIGHT on Genetics in each issue of the nightly #mmmagazine #2025MMM libguides.asu.edu/MarchMammalM…

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:01:44.242Z

Without further ado… #2025MMM youtu.be/MEvHzx-nal0?…

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:02:07.715Z

First Up: 1-seed Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) vs. 16-seed Eurasian Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:03:08.587Z

Polar Bears have translucent, hollow hair that keeps them warm like a puffy jacket. Their hair appears white because it reflects visible light & provides camoflage against snow & sea ice. Their eyes, nose, lips, and skin are black. (DeMaster & Stirling 1981) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:03:50.443Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamPolarBear Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:04:05.002Z

Polar bears have a suite of adaptations so they can thrive in the Arctic! Their genomes show signatures of positive selection surrounding genes like APOB, TTN, and LYST which might play roles in their high-fat diet (lots of seals!) and white fur. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2014.03.054

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:04:37.342Z

The Eurasian water shrew has dark fur with a white underside & their teeth are RED-TIPPED from iron in the enamel #SoMetal, an adaptation that protects teeth from wear & tear during crushing & grinding (Fahey 1999). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:05:29.459Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamShrew Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:06:01.467Z

"Could Southern Italy be home to a new Eurasian Water Shrew species?A genetic study found deep mtDNA divergence in Neomys fodiens, with Southern Italian populations splitting from others ~1 million years ago. #2025MMMonlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10….

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:06:04.838Z

TONIGHT, our #2025MMM Polar Bear hunts the ice habitat of the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic. 2024 was the hottest year on record, as burning of fossil fuels accelerates earth's atmosphere toward catastrophic global warming, & shrinks the sea ice Polar Bears rely on #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:07:30.092Z

MEANWHILE, in the United Kingdom, our #2025MMM Eurasian Water Shrew dashes from a creek toward his den, red-tipped teeth crushing through a freshwater snail. He squeezes through the small den entrance, pushing water from his coat & drying more quickly (Fahey 1999).

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:08:08.601Z

"Water shrews must eat every two to three hours and consume 50% of their body weight daily in order to sustain their high metabolic rate & avoid starvation" so the Shrew gets a break between hunts… (Champneys 2012) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:08:22.986Z

Polar bear sits motionless next to a gap in the sea ice… when #MMMagic translocates Eurasian Water Shrew INTO THE WATER below the sea ice hole!!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:08:55.548Z

Polar Bear does not move, does not even notice the tiny swimstrokes of the 15 gram Water Shrew. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:09:39.781Z

The fur of the Water Shrew traps air, helping his boyuancy in freshwater, now in the salty sea water, shrew is even more bouyant, and the long hairs on his toes help Water Shrew swim toward the sea ice… but the water is so cold! (Fahey 1999) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:09:57.100Z

BIG EYES APPEAR FROM THE DEPTHS, SWIMMING BELOW SHREW!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:10:37.623Z

POLAR BEAR PLUNGES INTO THE WATER… IT'S A SEAL'S BREATHING HOLE!!! (Stirling et al. 1993; Pagano 2021) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:11:34.129Z

Water Shrew is crushed between marine predator and marine prey! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:11:53.304Z

In Water Shrew's final death throes, seawater flooding his mouth, Water Shrew slashes his tiny, red-tipped teeth… with VENOMOUS SALIVA… into Polar Bear! (Kowalski et al. 2017) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:12:19.226Z

POLAR BEAR PLUNGES EURASIAN WATER SHREW!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:12:33.857Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamPolarBear Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:12:48.110Z

Eurasian Water Shrews were found with unusually large skulls, raising suspicions of a new species! But DNA analysis suggested otherwise—these shrews aren’t genetically distinct. Instead, their extreme skull variation likely results from local adaptation. #2025MMM #RIP http://www.nature.com/articles/s41…

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:13:03.651Z

Next Up: 5-seed Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) vs. 12-seed Southern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat (Phloeomys cumingi) #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:16:18.048Z

Malayan Tapir, largest of the living tapirs w/ females up to 540kg (~1190lbs) & 2.5m (8.2ft) from long snout to short tail. Tapir is black w/ a distinct white band extending from its stout midline to its hind quarters. Baby Tapirs are similarly distinct and look like black&white watermelon. #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:17:12.499Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamTapir Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:17:27.253Z

Initiatives in Malaysia towards increased forest connectivity have contributed to a wide distribution of Malayan tapir genetic clusters and gene flow between tapir populations over the past decade #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.ge…

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:17:39.478Z

Cloud Rat is pretty big… for a rodent, weighing up to 4.6 lb (2.1 kg), measuring up to 30 inches (75 cm) in length, and wearing a sleek dark coat. It also differs from most other rodents in the family Muridae by having one set of mammary glands #YouveSubscribedtoLactationFacts #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:18:48.071Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamGiantCloudRat Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:19:11.518Z

As of 2015, 18 species belong to the cloud rat clade of the Philippines. Cytochrome b sequences suggest that the Southern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat is the earliest diverging lineage of the cloud rat clade that still exists today! #2025MMM doi.org/10.2988/0006-324X-128.1.22

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:19:14.088Z

At dusk in the rainforests of the Taninthayi Nature Reserve in Myanmar, Malayan Tapir zigzags between sub-canopy trees, foraging for fruit, shoots, & leaves to meet her need to feed (up to ~4-5% of her body mass in one day!) #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:19:53.939Z

MEANWHILE, on the island of Luzon, Cloud Rat wakes in a hole of a large tree to begin his active period by looking for new leaves to eat (Maala 2001; Bryk 2004). Cloud Rat surveys the area for humans, its only predator. This species is hunted for culinary and medicinal purposes. #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:20:52.493Z

#MMMagic translocates Cloud Rat to the rainforest floor in Myanmar, right in the path of tromping Malayan Tapir!! #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:21:23.226Z

Cloud Rat immediately lunges toward a tree trunk, climbs a couple feet with his strong claws & forelimbs, making a brief irritated growl (Bryk 2004) at unaware Tapir. #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:22:04.623Z

A tree next to Cloud Rat's tree has some delicious smelling fruit, and Malayan Tapir begins snarfling fruit, turning her rear toward Cloud Rat's who is emitting a brief, irritated growl… #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:22:38.809Z

WHEN SUDDENLY TAPIR IS BACKING UP TO SCENT MARK CLOUD RAT'S TREE TRUNK!!! #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:23:24.582Z

Often solitary as adults, Malayan Tapir rely on scent marking to signal their presence (Gearty 2012; Suwannaphong et al. 2018) and reproductive states to other Tapir in the area, scent-marking in the evening means the scent is fresh for other Tapir active in the night-time #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:24:43.324Z

Before getting squished by Tapir booty or saturated in Tapir urine, Cloud Rat race climbs toward the canopy and beyond the field of battle! #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:26:06.563Z

TAPIR BOOTY DISPLACES CLOUD RAT!!!! #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:26:50.162Z

Southern Luzon Giant Cloud Rats have 22 pairs of chromosomes while other rodents endemic to the Philippines have pairs of chromosomes ranging from 13 pairs in the Isarog Shrew Mouse to 26 pairs in the Luzon Cordillera Hairy-tailed Rat. #2025MMM #RIP tinyurl.com/5n97vhs7

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:27:05.425Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamTapir Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:27:20.835Z

NEXT UP: 3rd-seed Wild Yak (Bos mutus) vs. 14th seed Zorilla (Ictonyx striatus)! #2025MMM This battle is by @chumblebiome.bsky.social!

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:28:58.954Z

Wild yak are on the #TuxedoStyleDivision scene & are not a sight to miss. Not that you could miss the huge fluffy dudes -one of the largest extant bovids, yaks are covered in long, shaggy dark hair. They top off their look w/ a lovely grey or gold accent muzzle (Leslie&Schaller 2009) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:29:42.782Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamYak Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:30:00.564Z

Wild yaks roam the Tibetan Plateau alongside domesticated yaks which provide food and transportation for Tibetan pastoralists. The frequencies of genetic variation in wild and domestic yaks best match a model where domestication of yaks occurred ~7,300 years ago. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1038/ncomms10283

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:30:15.264Z

Not to be outdone, our other #TuxedoStyleDivision combatant, the striped polecat or zorilla, is a mustelid sharing an adaptive style guide like their Mephitid cousin skunk's: they're covered in black fur broken up with white stripes running on their back from head to tail. (Aguilar 2003) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:30:49.979Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamZorilla Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:31:10.813Z

In the past, the zorilla has been grouped with skunks given the striking similarities in both of their striped coats. However, markers from the 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA genes suggest that the zorilla is more closely related to otters than skunks. #2025MMM doi.org/10.2307/1382896

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:31:31.346Z

Tonight's battle takes place in a remote, high-elevation alpine meadow. Surrounding the meadow is the backdrop of the alpine steppes and mountainous terrain of the Tibetan Plateau in Chang Tang Reserve. (Leslie&Schaller 2009) A herd of yak is grazing in the cold sunshine. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:32:26.262Z

MEANWHILE in GAMBIA… Zorilla is on the hunt. This solitary, nocturnal carnivore is on the trail of a small rodent. He stops, hearing the scritch-scratch of small rodents near the edge of his forest-savanna territory. Zorilla silently stalks his prey, ambush leaps… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:33:07.193Z

RIGHT AS #MMMagic Translocation portal opens!!! Zorilla leaps onto the Tibetan plateau field of battle! Zorilla skids to a halt on the icy moss, assessing these new, chilly surroundings. Starting to actually get chilled, he sniffs the… MUSKY air. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:33:52.862Z

Nearby, a huge male Yak at the edge of the herd looks over. The piece of lichen he's nonchalantly chewing dangles from his mouth. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:34:15.532Z

Zorilla goes on RED ALERT and tiny bellows a warning call at Yak – "a low energy sound with suppressed harmonics." (Channing and Rowe-Rowe, 1977). Yak swipes his tongue to bring the dangling lichen into his mouth while watching the Zorilla. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:35:02.041Z

Time to ESCALATE. Zorilla takes a threat stance: He turns around, plants sharp little feet, arches his back, shrieks a high pitched scream, & lifts tail straight up in the air so that his rear end is facing the yak #FullMoon #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:35:57.965Z

YAK steps forward for some more lichen… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:36:46.354Z

Zorilla sprays a foul-smelling fluid from her anal glands towards the yak! That black & white pattern of Zorilla (& skunks) advertise their JUICY defenses to possible predators and that they are not worth attacking or eating (aposematism) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:37:29.316Z

A bitter Himalayan wind blows down from the mountains and Zorilla's spray BLOWS back ONTO HIMSELF! #LiteralBackfire #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:38:12.887Z

Scoring on his own goal, Zorilla runs from the field of battle, screaming an undulating submission scream (Channing and Rowe-Rowe, 1977). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:38:49.818Z

WILD YAK OUTLASTS ZORILLA! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:39:11.813Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamYak Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:39:21.493Z

Zorillas harbor the ancestral mustelid karyotype of 38 chromosomes while other mustelids, such as skunks, the American mink, and many weasels have diverged from this ancestral configuration. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1007/s10577-008-1270-2

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:39:28.971Z

Next Up: 4-seed Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) vs. 13-seed Moonrat (Echinosorex gymnura) #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:42:02.220Z

Cape Buffalo are horned, even-toed ungulates with males weighing ~835kg/1840 lbs w/ shoulders ~1.7m/5.6 ft high. Buffalo is black/dark brown and adult males have large horns that are very close together at the base (called a "boss") and curve upwards at the ends reaching ~1.3m/4.3ft wide. #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:43:06.142Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamBuffalo Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:43:21.815Z

"Did humans shape the fate of the African Buffalo?A genetic study by Talenti et al. reveals a sharp decline in Syncerus caffer populations over the last 10,000 years—mirroring human expansion across Africa. Coincidence? Maybe not. #2025MMMwww.nature.com/articles/s42…

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:43:24.718Z

Moonrats are small (females weigh ~2kg/4.4lbs) & are not rodents but belong to the family Erinaceidae (w/ hedgehogs). Moonrat is mostly black with head&shoulders covered in white/grey fur except for black eye patches; a Bornean subspecies is white w/ black guard hairs (Wilson et al. 2006) #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:44:19.524Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamMoonrat Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:44:34.880Z

The family Erinaceidae encompasses 27 species in 2 subfamilies: Erinaceinae (spiny hedgehogs) & Galericinae (gymnures, incl. the Moonrat). Over 45M yrs. separate these subfamilies, according to a study using DNA obtained from fresh samples & museum specimens. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12909

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:44:47.669Z

TONIGHT we find Cape Buffalo in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, a large delta system that relies on seasonal flood cycles (UNESCO, n.d.). Buffalo here respond to environmental changes by changing their herd size (Bennitt et al. 2017). A large, lone male grazes on the periphery of his herd #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:47:21.834Z

ELSEWHERE in the mangrove forests of Sumatra, Indonesia, Moonrat finds itself nestled in an abandoned burrow after a long night of munching earthworms. Moonrats prefer a solitary lifestyle and rarely will tolerate other moonrats. #ImALonerDotty #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:48:22.895Z

#MMMagic Translocates Moonrat to the sunny, late afternoon grasslands of the Delta. Moonrat is not pleased; it is nocturnal and used to living in moist forests (Brozovic et al. 2018). Scared & unsure where to run for cover, Moonrat freezes into a hunched, open-mouthed position (GBIF, n.d.) #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:49:22.877Z

Moonrat stands frozen, mouth agape… WHEN SUDDENLY… footsteps approach… #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:49:59.233Z

…And a solitary Black-Backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas) appears on the scene!! Without a pack, Jackal cannot hunt the large game in the grasslands and instead hunts for small mammals (Fishman 2000). #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:51:13.903Z

MEANWHILE Buffalo looks up from the tall grass it is grazing on, but only to do its other favorite activity: ruminating. Buffalo dedicates as much as 74% of its active hours to grazing and ruminating (Winterbach and Bothma 1998). #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:52:06.778Z

Jackal catches a unique whiff of an unfamiliar critter and approaches frozen Moonrat…. Moonrat emits a HISS-PUFF followed by a low roar (Fox 1999)… #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:52:51.255Z

…But that's not all Moonrat emits. Moonrat emits a defensive spray characterized by the sweet aromatic notes of "rotten onions, ammonia, and stale sweat" (GBIF, n.d.)…#2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:53:40.958Z

Buffalo remains undisturbed by the Jackal-Moonrat fray and continues alternating between ruminating & grazing and then grazing & ruminating #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:54:42.402Z

Jackal launches forward through the stench, undeterred, mouth aimed at Moonrat's body! HISS-PUFF. HISS-PUFF. yip. HISS-PUFF. HISS-PUFF. yip. CHOMP. yip. #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:55:37.505Z

Jackal stops, teeth clenched around Moonrat. Jackal aims its large ears towards the yips in the distance, which seem to be coming closer. #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:56:37.868Z

The distant yips worry Jackal; these yips belong to a pack of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) who are known to prey on Jackal (Kamler et al. 2007). Jackal trots off the battlefield, stinky Moonrat treat in its jaws. #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:58:00.772Z

Cape Buffalo chews the cud in its mouth and eructates (aka BELCHES), letting out carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide gasses produced during fermentation processes occurring during digestion in ruminant species (Miss. State U Extension, 2024). #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:58:38.815Z

Cape Buffalo OUTLASTS moonrat!!!! #2025MMM

— Dr. Chloe Josefson (@chloejosefson.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:59:38.080Z

#2025MMM #DivisionTuxedoStyle #TeamBuffalo Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:59:53.609Z

A population genetics study along Malaysia’s Kinabatangan River found that while it blocks movement for some species (eg tree shrews & squirrels), others, like the Moonrat, cross w/ ease, maintaining genetic connectivity btw populations on both sides. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1007/s10592-019-01159-3

— Fernando Villanea (@fervillanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T00:59:50.628Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:02:06.094Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T01:02:42.236Z

Next Up: #7 Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) vs. #10 Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus)! #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:08:25.399Z

Aardvarks are notable for their long nose, wider at the far end, their squared-off head, a tapering tail, & very impressive ears. The body is massive with really thick skin & they have very muscular limbs ending in thick-nailed toesies. (Ratzloff 2011) #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:09:08.758Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamAardvark Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:09:32.731Z

The aardvark's genetic structure is influenced by climate! Research shows that arid regions limit gene flow among aardvark pops, leading to genetic differentiation, suggesting that climate-associated adaptations play a key role in aardvark evolution! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/… #2025MMM

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:09:39.832Z

Southern brown bandicoots are a small marsupials are 40% tail… or they would be if they didn't routinely lose chunks of tail (or all of it) from male combat. Their short, coarse fur ranges from black, grey, brown & golden yellow, with extremely small, rounded ears. #Bandicoot #bandiCUTE #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:10:23.978Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamBandicoot Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:10:46.020Z

Genetics shows how fragmenting landscapes puts species at risk. Genetic analysis of 15 microsats shows Bandicoots living in 14 forest fragments tend to stay close to home. Strategically placed habitat corridors could help, though! #2025MMM link.springer.com/article/10.1…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:10:57.797Z

Tonight in the Nama-Karoo in western South Africa, an Aardvark has dug up… an aardvark cucumber! Usually eating insects, this cucumber is the only fruit aardvarks eat & Aardvark cucumbers rely on aardvarks to disperse their seeds (Shoshani et al 1988) #TagTeam #2018MMM #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:12:07.511Z

Meanwhile, in Western Australia, Yalgorup National Park Bandicoot is poking nose into the ground, digging just 1 of 45 foraging pits he makes a day searching for invertebrates, tubers, seeds & fungi. Manipulating soil for food (biopedturbation) helps soil turnover (Valentine et al. 2012) #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:13:52.866Z

Bandicoot hears grunting & squeaking from nearby, indicating another bandicoot is close! He squeaks back, preparing for battle, readying to “strike with its claws & removing patches of hair." Scooting forward… #MMMagic translocates Bandicoot to the Karoo… (Driessen & Rose 2015) #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:14:41.203Z

Bandicoot sees the big rounded mammal nearby. Clouds cover the full moon's light, shadowing the desert landscape, & Bandicoot mistakes Aardvark for a simple wombat doing wombat deeds. Bandicoot begins to forage for termites #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:15:24.112Z

Aardvark slakes his thirst- the cucumber is a key source of water in this landscape- but still seeking some protein… Aardvark's long snoot starts sniffing for termite #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:16:20.592Z

Bandicoot, still certain the nearby stranger is a wombat, seems unconcerned… but the two are about to converge at a termite mound #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:17:11.399Z

The clouds shift, casting moonlight onto the scene… Bandicoot gazes in horror upon the strange Aardvark… and flees from the stranger in the night… beyond the field of battle! #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:18:57.752Z

AARDVARK SURPRISES BANDICOOT!!!!! #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:19:33.190Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamAardvark Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:20:12.305Z

Can Bandicoot be saved? Yes, but optimizing source populations is key! When re-establishing populations following local extinction, including individuals from less related populations boosts genetic diversity, supports long-term success #RIP #2025MMM link.springer.com/article/10.1…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:20:12.879Z

Next Up: 5th seed Paca (Cuniculus paca) vs. 12th seed Mouse-deer (Tragulus napu) #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:22:05.850Z

The mouse-deer is a small, rabbit-sized ungulate weighing between 5 to 8 kg (or ~30 stoats, #StoatsAsMeasurement). A rounded body perched on pencil-thin legs, male mouse-deer have neither horns nor antlers, but small, tusk-like canines #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:22:42.512Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamMouseDeer Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:23:04.506Z

Greater Mouse Deer on Thai mainland today survive only in captivity. Genetics shows inbreeding/reduced ability to adapt. Are they doomed? Nope! Breeding program = more mouse deer in captivity. Now, urgent habitat improvement needed to support reintroduction #2025MMM http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:23:27.480Z

With a rounded body and thick, strong legs, the paca is a large forest rodent (6 -12 kg, or ~50 stoats). They have sleek chocolate-brown fur with several rows of white spots and broad cheekbones (Perez 1992) #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:25:38.124Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamPaca Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:25:55.718Z

The Lowland Paca has a one-of-a-kind genetic blueprint that helps confirm where it fits in the rodent family tree! Li et al. (2023) recently sequenced its full mitochondrial DNA, giving us a clearer picture of its evolution. #2025MMM http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:26:53.329Z

Moonlight shimmers across the waters of the Brazilian Pantanal, and the Paca is at the opening of her den. She emits a low, grunt (Sabatini et al 2001) and waits for her young precocious pup to follow her out for a night of foraging. #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:30:00.277Z

On the edge of a different river in Sumatra, the Mouse-deer is moving through the dense underbrush at the edge of his territory. He stop and rubs his jaw along a nearby tree, marking it using the gland under his chin (Ralls et al 1975). #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:30:29.174Z

Satisfied with his efforts, Mouse-deer turns to continue his patrol of his territory, but instead finds himself staring at a hole and the face of an unfamiliar creature. He freezes, one of his front foot slightly raised. #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:31:10.872Z

Paca stares back at the intruding Mouse-deer. GRROOOANNN. A low grumble as Paca grinds her teeth loudly in agitation as the fur along her spine rises. #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:31:40.721Z

Thump. Thump. Thump. Mouse-deer stamps his front feet in an increasing rhythm. Maybe this slightly mouse-deer shaped animal will just go away? #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:32:10.643Z

Paca emits a series of loud grunts and positions her body to shield her pup. With a lurch, she lunges forward, teeth bared… #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:32:27.333Z

And bites down hard on the nose of the Mouse-deer. Startled, Mouse-deer turns and sprints away, leaving Paca still at the entrance to her burrow. #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:33:04.130Z

PACA DEFEATS MOUSEDEER!!!!! #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:33:20.167Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamPaca Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:33:30.080Z

Just look at the Greater Mouse Deer's lil' tongue there! Practically drooling at the potential for new wild habitat after its reintroduction becomes a reality. But until humans can get out of the way, that drool will mostly be applied to captive breeding. #RIP #2025MMM http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:33:34.981Z

Next Up: 4th seed Coati (Nasua narica) vs 13th seed Fig-eating bat (Phyllops falcatus) #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:37:00.378Z

With an elgonated nose, pale eye and nose 'mask', and long, slender tail that equals their body length, Coatis look a bit like a stretched out raccoon (to whom they are related, Gompper 1995) #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:37:37.734Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamCoati Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:37:57.435Z

Who supports who in Coati social groups? By measuring relatedness using genetic markers, scientists find that coati tend to support close relatives more than unrelated band members. #2025MMM http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:38:18.306Z

The fig-eating bat, also known as the Cuban white-shouldered bat, has broad shoulders a short, square jaw and a short, spear-shaped nose leaf. Unlike most other bats, the membrane between their first and second fingers is transparent #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:39:13.178Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamBat Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:39:28.500Z

The Fig-eating Bat is nocturnal but has a functional OPN1SW color vision gene, unlike many of its close relatives among noctilionoid bats. It's not just gene loss in this lineage—changes in gene expession (usage) play a role as well #2025MMM elifesciences.org/articles/37412

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:39:35.160Z

Moonlight filters through the forest canopy of Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica as our Coati snuffles along, his long nosed buried in the leaf litter searching for one last snack before bedtime. #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:40:43.202Z

Over on the Caribbean island of Cuba, our Bat stretches a wing and scratches at her shoulder, just below the patch of pure white fur. A warm wind rustles across the surface of her green leaf tent when…WHOOSH! #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:41:15.546Z

She's suddenly mid-air in the Costa Rican forest from #MMMagic translocation! She flings out her long wings just in time, the trailing edge of her wing brushes ever so slightly against a long, fluffy…flower? #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:41:28.398Z

That 'flower' is the upright tail of the Coati! Coati doesn't even notice- he is eating FIGS!!! #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:42:00.263Z

Bat's nose leaf twitches rapidly as she echolocates, getting her bearings. Though the forest is not that differnet from home, she does not like moonlight… (Zeppelini et al 2019). #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:42:31.026Z

and despite the name, Fig-Eating Bat doesn't particularly like FIGS. Analyses of fecal samples reveal this bat consumes Cercropia seeds, non-native rose-apple (Syzgium) & insects. (Mancina and Garcia-Rivera 2000) #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:43:05.483Z

CHOMP! CHOMP!! #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:43:14.545Z

Fig-Eating Bat catches an insect RIGHT AS Coati SNAP grabs the bat in his mouth… after all, fecale samples of Coati reveal 10% of their diet can mammal prey! (Alves-Costa et al. 2004; Valenzuela 1998) #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:44:02.469Z

COATI CONSUMES FIGS… AND FIG-EATING BAT!!! #2025MMM

— Alyson Brokaw, PhD (@alybatgirl.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:44:15.576Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamCoati Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:44:26.818Z

Fig-eating Bat is gone. Could rapid departure have repercussions? Species richness reaches natural equilibrium. Rapid extinctions – many caused by humans – disrupt it. But scientists can help protect genetic diversity and restore species #RIP #2025MMM http://www.nature.com/articles/s41…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:44:31.620Z

Last Up: #8-seed Gelada (Theropithecus gelada) vs. #9-seed Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:49:08.308Z

The Gelada is a monkey with a tawny, brown shaggy coat- with males flaunting anespecially impressive mantle, intensely herbivorous, these primates spend their days hard at work in the grass mines using nimble fingers to select the best grass blades for eating. (Hiller 2000) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:49:44.132Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamGelada Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:50:01.130Z

Geladas live in multilevel societies w/core units that can form teams/ bands/ communities (small -> large). Snyder-Mackler et al. (2014) used STRs & mtDNA & found that associations among females persisting across generations drives team & band formation. doi.org/10.1111/mec…. #2025MMM

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:50:06.664Z

Eastern Grey Kangaroos are <brace yourselves for shock> a mostly grey-furred macropod. In terms of convergent evolution, they are the marsupial equivalent of a deer: eating grass, widely distributed, living in many different habitats. (Joo 2004) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:51:04.844Z

BUT there are NO hoofed marsupials because when they are born at a VERY early stage of development… they have to commando crawl to the mom's pouch so they have to have grippy front legs… hooves would never be favored by selection! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:51:46.666Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamKangaroo Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:52:06.875Z

A group of Eastern Gray Kangaroos 🦘in Queensland's Sunshine Coast has a unique genetic signature that suggests this area may have been a safe haven for them during ancient climate shifts. 🌏 journals.plos.org/plosone/arti… #2025MMM

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:52:12.476Z

In the woodland grassland of inland Queensland, a strongly muscled male Eastern Grey Kangaroo rests in the shade in the loosely associated mob when he is MMMagically translocated to… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:53:35.730Z

The grassy downward slope below a hill crest on the Guassa Plateau in the Ethiopian Highlands, scanning the hillside, he can see none of his kangaroo mob anywhere nearby… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:54:14.421Z

ALONE, Kangaroo immediately increases his predator vigilance since there are no others to keep an eye & ear out for danger (Colagross & Cockburn 1993; Hume et al. 2019) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:54:47.128Z

Unaware of the marsupial's arrival below, approaching the hill crest, Gelada grazes grass, grumbling to groupmates, edging closer to the hill crest and the downward, grassy slope. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:55:08.472Z

Seeing no-one below, Kangaroo approaches the hillcrest to look for others… he does his slow, cautious "Two-Move, One Step" Move 1: reach forward and support with front arms, Move 2: Swing back legs forward to replace clawed front paws… getting closer to the hillcrest… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:55:46.034Z

Gelada appears on the edge of the plateau and sees Kangaroo! Gelada gives a quick startled alarm- what the? Is Kangaroo a predator?! This animal looks and moves NOTHING like a leopard! But whatever it is, is 3x bigger than Gelada… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:56:16.438Z

Eastern Grey Kangaroo tries to figure out if Gelada is a predator- that long muzzle is very Dingo-like… and the pimate's mouth begins to open to reveal blade-sharp canines… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:56:57.290Z

<puhft puhft> #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:57:19.802Z

NEARLY-SILENT PAWS PAD IN THE GRASS BEHIND GELADA!!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:58:26.988Z

An Ethiopian Wolf POUNCES INTO THE SCENE!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:59:12.305Z

Immediately perceiving danger from the dingo-like canid, KANGAROO releases the impressive kinetic power of macropod jumping to flee down the hill! (Thornton et al. 2022) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T02:00:05.271Z

Gelada looks over at the Ethiopian Wolf, now ripping into the rodent it just caught… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T02:00:29.516Z

AFTER ALL, March is when solo Ethiopian wolves are most likely to be peacefully hunting rodents amongst grazing Geladas. (Venkataraman et al. 2015) #2025MMM #SCIENCEFTW!!!!!

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T02:01:03.764Z

GELADA OUTLASTS EASTERN GREY KANGAROO!!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T02:01:27.281Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamGelada Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T02:01:38.700Z

Eastern Gray Kangaroos have unique genetics influenced by human-made structures! A study by Urbanek et al. shows that elevation & urbanization can impact their gene flow, highlighting the need to consider both factors in conservation planning #2025MMM #RIP link.springer.com/article/10.1…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T02:02:09.070Z

WOW WHAT A NIGHT!!! Thorold's Deer, Sun Bear, Colugo, Coati, Paca, Paradise Flying Snake, Aardvark, AND Gelada! ADVANCE!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T02:05:35.056Z

Wednesday night we complete Round 1 with TUXEDO STYLE! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T02:06:06.528Z

#2025MMM Round 1 Same & Different BATTLE WINNERS: Thorold’s Deer, Gelada, Paca, Coati, Flying Snake, Colugo, Aardvark and Sun BearJoin us on WEDNESDAY, March 19th at 8PM EST for Round 1 of Tuxedo Style!

— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T02:08:37.508Z

You Ready? #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:00:32.002Z

And tonight we have R1: Same & Different Division showcasing some incredible examples of how animals may share some traits not due to being closely related but because natural selection has favored the same adaptations from similar environmental pressures/opportunities! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:01:53.351Z

AND for the first time ever in the history of March Mammal Madness, as we feature SUBDIVISIONS to spotlight 4 different types of adaptations- gliding, digging, grazing, & frugivoring! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:02:58.214Z

Without further ado… #2025MMM youtu.be/MEvHzx-nal0?…

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:03:31.584Z

First Up: 1-seed Thorold's Deer (Cervus albirostris) vs. 16-seed Olympic Marmot (Marmota olympus) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:05:21.113Z

The "large, robust, but short-legged" Thorold's Deer has gray-brown fur with large, pointed ears and a reddish buff rump and fur grows twice a thick during the cold months. (Leslie 2009) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:05:55.226Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamTheroldsDeer Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:06:09.371Z

Thorold’s deer named Cervus albirostris in 1883 for its white muzzle (albus=“white” & rostrum =“snout”). In 1930, it was assigned its own genus: Przewalskium albirostris. In 2004, genetics put it back where it started. Cervus albirostris again! #2025MMM http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti&#8230;

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:07:12.958Z

Olympic marmots are a cat-sized rodent, adults with thick brown and white fur coats for warmth, with young have a greyer fur color. Olympic marmots molt their fur twice a year, once in June and again during hibernation (Edelman 2003) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:08:25.997Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamMarmot Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:08:46.860Z

Is Olympic marmot hoary? Mills et al. (2023) used ultraconserved nuclear DNA & mtDNA to investigate marmot relationships & found Olympic marmots closest to a cryptic species of paraphyletic hoary marmot (FYI its bad form to be a paraphyletic species!) doi.org/10.1016/j.ym… #2025MMM

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:09:13.057Z

Here in the Himalayas of Nepal, spring comes later, & Thorold's deer has scant food. With a summetime range stretching above 16,000 feet, Thorold's Deer is one of the rare deers adapted to elevations higher than the Sierras, Cascades, or Rocky Mountains. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:10:01.860Z

Meanwhile in Olympic National Park on the Washington Peninsula, Olympic Marmot is curled up cozy HIBERNATING! Typically marmots stay in their burrows from September to May. (Murphy-Williams 2020; Edelman 2003) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:10:25.582Z

March is well into the "withering" season, and Thorold's deer has migrated to lower elevations making the most of winter grasses, shrubs, & woody barks. (You et al. 2022) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:10:44.251Z

RUDELY awakened from hibernation by MMMagical translocation, Olympic Marmot arrives near the Deer at the boundary of alpine meadow and alpine shrubland (You et al. 2022). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:11:38.789Z

Marmot looks groggily about the landscape as the Deer strips bark from a shrub, suddenly the Marmot sprints across the snow toward a jumble of rocks and partially exposed earthen mound.. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:12:06.722Z

IT'S A HIMALAYAN MARMOT BURROW!! BUT WHERE'S THE PORCH?! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:12:30.554Z

ANGRY MARMOT AT BEING WOKEN UP #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:13:18.694Z

Olympic Marmots are notable for their burrows that exit to downslope compacted dirt "porches" that have a perimeter of thick grass growth. #BestYardAward (Whitesides 2015; Griffin et al. 2008) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:13:56.424Z

In the distance, a wolf howls- late winter on the Tibetan Plateau is no time to be picky- Olympic Marmot dashes into the burrow & beyond the SCENE OF BATTLE! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:14:18.965Z

THOROLD'S DEER OUTLASTS OLYMPIC MARMOT! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:14:35.027Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamThoroldsDeer Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:14:46.436Z

Go west young marmot! DNA & fossil evidence points to expansion of marmots from North America to Eurasia 3-4 mya (during the Pliocene) across the Bering land bridge following the expansion of C3 grasslands into Beringia. doi.org/10.1016/j.ym… #2025MMM #RIP

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:17:04.836Z

Next Up: 3rd seed Sunda Colugo (Galeopterus variegatus) vs. 14th seed & Wildcard winner Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) #2025MMM (This battle written by @pkconnors.bsky.social)

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:18:42.956Z

You can tell our wildcard winner apart from it's sympatric cousin (Southern Flying Squirrel) because Northern Flying Squirrel is larger, its tail is darker, & its hair is thicker (Wells-Gosling & Heaney, 1984) #MoreFloof #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:19:37.389Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamSquirrel Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:20:12.560Z

Zittlau et al. (2000) id-ed STR loci (short tandem repeats that are highly variable in #) in N. flying squirrel (NFS). If genetic diversity is low in NFS populations, this may => habitat degradation. Data from 32 NFS from N. Alberta showed high levels of variation! #2025MMM doi.org/10.1046/j.13…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:20:25.756Z

Sunda Colugo is much larger than Flying Squirrel (2kg vs 0.14kg, or 9 stoats vs half a stoat) with patchy colored fur for camouflage & forward facing eyes like primates (which is partly why they are also called flying lemurs) #StoatsAsMeasurement #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:21:43.800Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamColugo Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:22:30.988Z

Should Sunda colugo be divided up into multiple species? Janečka et al. (2008) analyzed mitochondrial & nuclear DNA finding unexpectedly deep divisions (3-5 MYA) among the 3 subspecies tested! #2025MMM http://www.cell.com/current-biol&#8230;

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:22:31.171Z

Endemic to Southeast Asia, tonight we find Sunda or Malayan Colugo in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the last remnant of primary rainforest in Singapore. Curled claws & the suction-like soles of her feet help her hang on tree trunks. #HomeHabitatAdvantage #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:23:14.446Z

The city directly abuts the forest (you can walk across a pedestrian bridge from the mall!) & colugos are so common here that the reserve features a Colugo Viewing Deck, shaped like a colugo in full-glide mode! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:24:16.950Z

Over 9,000 miles away, Flying Squirrel forages on the forest floor in the Adirondak Mountains of upstate New York (Wells-Gosling & Heaney, 1984) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:24:44.214Z

Mid-hop, Flying Squirrel is transported via #MMMagic translocation to Bukit Timah. 10 feet up a tree trunk, Flying Squirrel takes a vigilant stance – completely still, head raised, scanning the new environment with caution… #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:25:21.968Z

20 feet above the Flying Squirrel, Colugo clings to the tree trunk & remains completely still, which is her first anti-predatory tactic… #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:26:11.530Z

The rainforest is quiet …. much too quiet …. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:26:39.477Z

Flying Squirrel climbs higher to a better vantage point in a more enclosed canopy at a preferred height for gliding… Nothern Flying Squirrel's curved claws dig into the bark as he works his uniquely squirrelly wrist muscles (Thorington & Darrow 2000)!! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:27:21.578Z

Flying squirrel speed climbs circles around the tree… all the time closing in on the motionless camoflauged Colugo #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:27:54.389Z

Northern Flying squirrel's claws dig into… THAT'S NOT BARK, THAT'S COLUGO!!!! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:28:26.400Z

Colugo flinches and Northern Flying Squirrel is surprise-startled into kicking off from the trunk- GO GO GADGET PATAGIUM DEPLOYS and NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL GLIDES BEYOND THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:29:09.473Z

As the dull noises of the rainforest return, Colugo continues to cling to the tree trunk, remaining completely still… #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:29:56.087Z

COLUGO OUTLASTS NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL!!!!! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:30:11.682Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamColugo Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:30:26.181Z

Arbogast (2007) analyzed mtDNA Cytb & found that Pacific & Continental NF Squirrel pops are distinct (though nuclear DNA analyses don’t show this) suggesting a complex history associated w/Pleistocene forest contractions & expansions (w/subsequent gene flow) #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1644/06-M…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:31:08.266Z

Next Up: 2-Seed Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) vs. 15-Seed Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)!!!! #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:33:30.479Z

The smallest living ursid, male sun bear weigh up to 130lbs (65kg). Their common name comes from the U-shaped, chest patch ranging in color from white to dark orange, that looks somewhat like a sunrise/sunset that most of the bears have. #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:34:34.592Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamSunBear Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:35:04.991Z

Landscape geneticists map patterns of genetic diversity onto geography, and find that for SUN 🌞 BEARS in Cambodia, farms are a barrier to gene flow. Conservation efforts could help promote population connectivity #2025MMM link.springer.com/article/10.1…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:35:46.850Z

The four-toed Hedgehog is found in the savanna & steppe zones of equatorial Africa. They clock in at ~ 600 grams (so you would need ~110 of them to equal one sun bear). Hedgehogs are also freakin' adorable #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:36:28.024Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamHedgehog Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:36:48.052Z

Genome sequencing & tissue specific gene expression analyses of hedgehog by Jiang et al. (2024) revealed networks of genes (including a cluster of keratin genes on chromosome 7) acting to create hedgehog’s spines! doi.org/10.1016/j.jg… #2025MMM

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:37:21.833Z

Sun Bear is wandering his home in the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia. He has been awake since before sunrise, walking with his head pointing the ground, nose sniffing debris on forest floor, as he searches for invertebrates to feed on #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:38:45.398Z

Hedgehog is in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria eating a toad & spreading the toxic secretions on his spines to cause pain to potential predators (Brodie 1977). But before he finishes he is whisked by #MMMagic translocation to the base of some decaying wood in Malaysia #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:39:36.496Z

As Sun Bear approaches the wood, hedgehog lunges towards the approaching predator and curls into a defensive ball, his dorsal spines, the longest of which are 17 mm, sticking out like a land urchin (Santana et al 2010) #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:40:30.871Z

Sunbear doesn't even notice the Hedgehog… and his paw comes down… down… down #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:41:17.342Z

JUST missing the hedgehog, as the other clawed paw breaks into the decayed wood to search for beetle larva (Wong et al 2002)

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:42:07.835Z

Hedgehog, grateful for being overlooked and unnoticed, uncurls and on tiny adorable feet pitter patters into the leaf litter to search for termites away from the digging bear and exiting the field of battle #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:43:18.934Z

SUNBEAR OUTLASTS HEDGEHOG!!!!! #2025MMM

— Marc Kissel (@marckissel.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:43:43.663Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamSunBear Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:43:56.552Z

Phylogenetic analyses of hedgehogs by Bannikova et al. (2014) show Atelerix albiventris as closest to A. algirus (mtDNA) or maybe A. frontalis (data from 5 nuclear genes) & time estimates suggest these 3 species diverged during the early Pleistocene ~2.3 mya! doi.org/10.1111/bij…. #2025MMM #RIP

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:44:53.644Z

Next Up: 6th seed Greater Glider (Petauroides volans) vs. 11th seed Paradise Flying Snake (Chrysopelea paradisi) #2025MMM (This battle written by @pkconnors.bsky.social)

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:46:21.077Z

Greater Glider, an adorably furry, arboreal cat-sized (1.5kg, ~3 lbs, ~7 stoats) marsupial with dexterous digits & a long, luxurious tail, claims the title of largest gliding possum (Harris & Maloney 2010) #StoatsAsMeasurement #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:47:46.968Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamGlider Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:48:06.155Z

Is greater glider just one species … or three? DNA sequencing of gliders from around Australia suggests 3 "operational taxonomic units" that align with morphology. Defining species is crucial first step in protecting them #2025MMM http://www.nature.com/articles/s41&#8230;

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:48:36.866Z

Paradise Flying Snake is a long (1.5m, ~5 ft, 4.5 stoats), slender reptile that is mostly black & displays colorful scales ranging from reds & yellows to brilliant greens #StoatsAsMeasurement #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:50:11.693Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamSnake Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #herps #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:50:40.632Z

Genetics of Paradise flying snake is mostly a mystery. How much DNA in GenBank? Tiny pieces from just 5 snakes. Brand new paper has first mitochondrial genome for related ornate flying snake. 17,252 bases & 37 genes. It's a start! #2025MMM http://www.nature.com/articles/s41&#8230;

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:50:37.782Z

Tonight, Greater Glider slowly emerges from her hollowed-out nest high in trees of the Snowy River National Park (located in eastern Victoria & the southern edge of her home range) & stretches to prepare for a night of foraging on eucalyptus leaves #HomeHabitatAdvantage #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:52:45.570Z

Over 3,000 miles away on the island of Borneo, Flying Snake searches for a safe place high in the forest canopy to rest after spending the day hunting for geckos & skinks (Quah & Grismer, 2024) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:53:50.362Z

Flying Snake slithers carefully among the large leaves of a Shorea tree & suddenly is surrounded by small, slender Eucalyptus leaves! #MMMagicStrikesAgain #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:54:20.251Z

Greater Glider walks out onto a branch & STEPS on the tail of Flying Snake! #WhoaWhatsThat #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:55:06.343Z

Flying Snake quickly retracts its tail, whips its head around, & frantically smells the air with its tongue #WhoaWhatsThat #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:55:27.171Z

Wasting no time with this larger, potential predator, Flying Snake LAUNCHES into the air! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:56:00.125Z

Wasting no time with this slithery, venomous snake, Greater Glider ALSO launches into the air! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:56:27.270Z

Greater Glider folds her arms & tucks her wrists under her chin to open her patagium, looking like a triangular kite, & uses her tail as a rudder, hoping to land far away from the snake (up to 100m, Harris & Maloney 2010) #2025MMMwww.youtube.com/watch?v=A5BB…

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:57:01.756Z

Flying Snake flattens its body by splaying out its ribs to generate lift (Holden et al 2014) & wiggles in a specific way ("aerial undulations" according to Yeaton et al 2020) to maximize its horizontal distance #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:57:41.122Z

Both competitors are now GLIDING AWAY from the Eucalyptus tree, but who will LEAVE the field of battle?? #ConvergentEvolution #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:58:11.630Z

WHOOOOSH #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T00:58:48.790Z

Out of the darkness, a Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) swoops down & SNATCHES the Greater Glider out of the air mid-glide!! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:00:45.248Z

Powerful Owl is largest owl on the contentient of Oz (2ft tall with 4.5ft wingspan), Powerful Owls love a meal of Greater Glider or Ringtail Possums (Bilney 2013) #IncidentalCARNAGE #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:01:52.634Z

Flying Snake lands unharmed 10m / 33ft away (Socha et al 2005), moving frantically through the hard underbrush to find a new tree for safety #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:02:16.425Z

FLYING SNAKE OUTLASTS GREATER GLIDER!!!!! #2025MMM #UPSETCITY

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:02:34.369Z

#2025MMM #DivisionSameandDifferent #TeamSnake Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #herps #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:02:51.311Z

Greater glider is a survivor. When forests were replaced w pines in the '60s no one expected them to persist. Decades later, they're still there (but rarer). Remnant native patches hold more genetic diversity than expected, suggesting immigration #RIP #2025MMM onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1…

— Nate Upham (@n8upham.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:03:09.115Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:05:33.018Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:06:40.885Z

Why do so many branches of the tree of life becomes "crabs"? #Carcinization #ConvergentEvolution #InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM http://www.npr.org/2024/09/18/1&#8230;

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:07:06.934Z

First Up: 1-seed Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) vs. 16-seed Mycorrhizal Fungus (Glomus aggregatum, now Rhizophagus aggregatum) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:08:26.418Z

Ginkgo bark varies from light grey to greyish brown and two lobed, pale green leaves (bi-loba) that are often depicted in artwork. This tree routinely reaches 80-120 feet tall and can live for hundreds of years. (Lin et al. 2022) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:08:59.148Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:09:13.742Z

Zhao et al in 2019 sequenced 545 genomes of ginkgos and found 3 centers of genetic diversity in China. Ginkgos grown outside China trace their ancestry to the East population, and American and European trees carry genetic variation that is rare in wild populations. doi.org/10.1038/s414… #2025MMM

— Nicolas Alexandre (@nicmalexandre.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:09:21.273Z

Rhizophagus aggregatum, previously genus Glomus, is a pear-shaped microscopic fungus, pastel yellow to yellowish brown and typically develops a single projecting "hypha" that releases substances and absorbs nutrients. A single spore is 40-85 micrometers in diameter. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:10:07.863Z

There are 1,000,000 micrometers/meter, so Ginkgo is the height of 38 MILLION spores of this mycorrhinizal fungus we'll call Rhizo #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:10:29.043Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamFungus Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:10:48.115Z

Glomeromycotina is a lineage of early diverging fungi that establish arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis with land plants. Morin et al 2019 find that AM genomes contain a lot more species-specific genes than other fungi, which reflects their unique lifestyle #2025MMM doi.org/10.1111/nph….

— Nicolas Alexandre (@nicmalexandre.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:10:46.240Z

Glomeromycotina is a lineage of early diverging fungi that establish arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis with land plants. Morin et al 2019 find that AM genomes contain a lot more species-specific genes than other fungi, which reflects their unique lifestyle #2025MMM doi.org/10.1111/nph….

— Nicolas Alexandre (@nicmalexandre.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:10:46.240Z

Ginkgo stands in a warm temperate broadleaf forest on Mt. Jinfo in SW China, last descendent of ancestors since the Jurassic, surviving mass extinctions & escaping the glaciers of the Pleistocene (Lin et al. 2022; Chen et al. 2021) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:11:44.189Z

Among the 5 main groups of living seed plants, there are hundreds of Cycads, conifers, & Gnetales speciesand 500,000+ species of angiosperms, only one gymnosperm remains (Crane 2018). Nearly unchanged for 200+ million years, Ginkgo is the sole survivor of gymnosperms (Chen et al 2021) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:13:04.073Z

In the moist, deep, sandy soils – the soil substrate of root secretions and soil microorganisms (the Rhizosphere!) something already lurks in the Ginkgo's typical taproot system… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:14:13.836Z

… already WITHIN THE CELLS of the roots of the Ginkgo… #TheCallIsComingFromInsideTheHouse #2025MMM (Lin et al. 2022; Chen & Han 1999; Sun et al 2024)

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:14:50.952Z

… already WITHIN THE CELLS of the roots of the Ginkgo… #TheCallIsComingFromInsideTheHouse #2025MMM (Lin et al. 2022; Chen & Han 1999; Sun et al 2024)

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:14:50.952Z

… It's RHIZO!the SYMBIOTIC arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi Rhizophagus aggregatum!Mycorrhiza "benefit host plants by enhancing water and nutrient uptake and by increasing host resistance to pathogens and other stressors" while gaining carbon from the host plant!(Fernández et al 2022) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:15:30.143Z

Basking in sunshine.Ginkgo photosynthesizessharing carbon with its littlest fungi friend Rhizo. #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #2025MMM kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10….

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:16:45.365Z

Gingko & Rhizzo TOGETHER ADVANCE TO ROUND 2! #WhoompThereItIs #TagTeam, back again Check it to wreck it, let's beginParty on, party people, let me hear some noiseThis tree's in the house, jump, jump, rejoice!#2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:17:37.755Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:17:53.695Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGinkgo Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:17:53.695Z

The genomes of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi reveal they have lost some metabolic pathways relative to free-living fungi. Kobayashi et al 2018 find that thiamine, vitamin B6, and some glucose-producing polysaccharide hydrolases biosynthesis is absent in AM #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1186/s128…

— Nicolas Alexandre (@nicmalexandre.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:18:07.412Z

Next Up: 8-seed Asian Forest Tortoise (Manouria emys) vs. 9-seed Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:21:47.599Z

I am merely the messenger tonight. This battle was written by @mammalssuck.bsky.social. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:22:32.964Z

The Asian Forest Tortoise, also called the Brown Tortoise, is the largest tortoise inhabiting Asia. With shell shades of brown to black that vary slightly among individuals & more between geographic regions, the Tortoise can live to 150 years. (Virupannavar 2004) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:23:10.991Z

The genus Manouria are "the most ‘basal’ extant tortoises, with a strong association to aquatic environments." (Natchev et al. 2015) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:23:52.621Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamTortoise Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:24:10.026Z

Plastron shape and color suggest three lineages of Forest Tortoise, but Kundu et al 2018 found that mitochondrial lineages are shallow, that is, there is no evidence of deep lineages within the species despite the morphological differences #2025MMM doi.org/10.1080/2380…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:24:14.681Z

A small brown aquatic mammal, "The platypus gives the appearance of several animals combined into one" with a bill like a duck, a body like a groundhog, webbed feet like an otter, and the tail of a beaver. (Pasitschniak-Arts & Marinelli 1998) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:25:02.501Z

Duckbill platypus are one of the few monotremes- these are an ancient lineage of mammals that still lay eggs like the ancestors of marsupials and placental (Eutherian) mammals. Monotremes get their name 'ONE HOLE' bc they lay eggs, pee, & poop all through the same plumbing. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:25:46.258Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamPlatypus Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:26:15.307Z

Zhou et al 2021 sequenced the complete genome of the Platypus and Echidna and find a surprise. Monotremes have 5 pairs of sex chromosomes which have a different origin from the other mammal sex chromosomes, instead being closely related to bird autosomes doi.org/10.1038/s415… #2025MMM

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:26:37.732Z

TODAY the long monsoon season is winding down in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Malaysian Borneo. Forest Tortoise forages close to a nearby stream (Natchev et al. 2015) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:27:28.801Z

MEANWHILE, in a stream flowing into Lake St. Clair, Tasmania, a male Platypus is hunting freshwater shrimp & other invertebrates with his eyes, ears, and nostrils closed… he hunts by detecting the electrical signals & movements of prey! (aka electroreception & mechanoreception) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:28:20.854Z

In March, Platypus has little use for his spurs. His crural gland that makes venom is currently shrunken, but will enlarge for mating season and male-male combat in August & September (Grant & Temple-Smith 1998) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:29:12.325Z

BACK IN BORNEO, the forest canopy is dense with little sunlight reaching the forest floor. Forest Tortoise stands up on her back legs, nearly vertical, to reach the lowest leaves of a flowering plant in the elephant ear genus Alocasia (Høybye-Mortensen 2004) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:29:47.716Z

Forest Tortoise stretches her face forward to grasp the last leaves with her jaw, her bite much like an aquatic turtle, instead of using her tongue to help grasp her food item as more terrestrially-adapted tortoises do. (Natchev et al. 2015) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:30:27.139Z

#MMMagic translocates Platypus to the thick shrubbery beside Forest Tortoise, but on the side furthest from the stream. Still, the water seems less daunting than this new forest! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:30:52.846Z

Forest Tortoise is not interested in eating any of the stems or branches and begins to drop her massive 50lb body back down to all four legs… #ImYellingTimber (Høybye-Mortensen 2004) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:31:34.883Z

Forest Tortoise is not interested in eating any of the stems or branches and begins to drop her massive 50lb body back down to all four legs… #ImYellingTimber (Høybye-Mortensen 2004) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:31:34.883Z

3lb Platypus rushes directly underneath as Forest Tortoise shifts position, preparing to trot on squat legs to the stream… #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:32:28.313Z

3lb Platypus rushes directly underneath as Forest Tortoise shifts position, preparing to trot on squat legs to the stream… #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:32:28.313Z

<SPLASH> <WHOMPF> Platypus dives into the stream just before Tortoise's crushing body hits the debris on the forest floor. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:33:15.489Z

TORTOISE OUTLASTS PLATYPUS!! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:33:45.299Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamTortoise Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #herps #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:33:58.543Z

Martin et al 2018 whole genome data found four distinct and well-structured populations of Platypus. They find population trajectories at their lowest numbers at the most recent time. This is consistent with a decline in platypus numbers across Australia #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1093/molb…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:35:10.157Z

AND NOW INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST #2025MMM NARRATOR!!!! @docrowschaef.bsky.social

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:37:35.753Z

Next Up: 6-seed Starry Sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) vs. 11-seed Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:38:05.257Z

Clocking in at a whopping 180 lbs (364 stoats) and 7.2 feet (6.5 stoats) long, the Starry Sturgeon is a real aquatic heavyweight. Maxing out at 29 years old, these fish are also older and wiser, making for a powerful combatant (Bakhshalizadeh et al., 2012). #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:39:42.929Z

Clocking in at a whopping 180 lbs (364 stoats) and 7.2 feet (6.5 stoats) long, the Starry Sturgeon is a real aquatic heavyweight. Maxing out at 29 years old, these fish are also older and wiser, making for a powerful combatant (Bakhshalizadeh et al., 2012). #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:39:42.929Z

Sturgeons as a group are known for their elongated snoots (formally "rostra"). They contain electroreceptors, which allow them to sense electric fields in the water! Like their cousins the paddlefish, sturgeon use these electroreceptors to tell when dinner is nearby! (Zhang et al. 2012) #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:40:20.080Z

Sturgeons as a group are known for their elongated snoots (formally "rostra"). They contain electroreceptors, which allow them to sense electric fields in the water! Like their cousins the paddlefish, sturgeon use these electroreceptors to tell when dinner is nearby! (Zhang et al. 2012) #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:40:20.080Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamSturgeon Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:40:35.255Z

Sturgeons have undergone multiple whole-genome duplications, making some species octoploid (8x their original genome)! A. stellatus is a “low-ploidy” sturgeon, but its DNA still carries echoes of ancient duplications. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1038/s415…

— Nicolas Alexandre (@nicmalexandre.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:40:34.877Z

Don't be deceived! Even though Tuatara look like lizards, they are in fact the only living member of the order Rhynchocephalia, which means "beak head"! The name Tuatara comes from a Māori word meaning "peaks or spikes on the back." This reptile tips the scales at 2.2 lbs (4.5 stoats) #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:41:32.884Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamTuatara Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #herps #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:41:49.063Z

Gemmel et al sequence the Tuatara genome in 2020 and found the lineage diverged from snakes and lizards 250 Mya. The tuatara genome is 2.4× larger than the anole genome but 64% of it is repetitive sequences and has the highestpercentage of methylation for an amniote #2025MMM doi.org/10.1038/s415…

— Nicolas Alexandre (@nicmalexandre.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:42:10.304Z

Tonight's battle takes place in Eastern Europe. In winter Starry Sturgeon lurked along the bed of the Black Sea, chowing down on fish, worms, & crustaceans detected with her whisker-like sensory organ (barbels). Without teeth, she suctions prey into her large, bottom-facing mouth. #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:42:38.858Z

But tonight, Starry Sturgeon is abandoning the Black Sea, laden with eggs, she swims against the current of the Danube River delta, heading upriver for the spring spawning! (Ceapa et al. 2002). #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:43:09.037Z

But tonight, Starry Sturgeon is abandoning the Black Sea, laden with eggs, she swims against the current of the Danube River delta, heading upriver for the spring spawning! (Ceapa et al. 2002). #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:43:09.037Z

Meanwhile, on Stephens Island in New Zealand, the morning dawn ends Tuatara's nocturnal hunting. After a summer of hunting seabird eggs & nestlings, in the austral autumn Tuatara's meals are primarily bugs & other invertebrates (Fraser, 1993). #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:43:30.381Z

All of a sudden #MMMagic translocates Tuatara to the chilly waters of the Danube River… but Tuatara is cold tolerant & can swim in waters down to 41F! (Thompson & Daugherty 1998) #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:44:00.653Z

The Starry Sturgeon swims closer… closer… closer… to the Tuatara… #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:44:23.439Z

Starry Sturgeon swims right up to Tuatara… #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:44:49.706Z

and then submerges to the riverbed… Starry Sturgeon don't feed during their spring migration! (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 2021) #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:45:11.161Z

OH NO… a drift bottom gillnet has captured the CRITICALLY ENDANGERED Starry Sturgeon as illegal poachers seek a criminal payday for her eggs… aka CAVIAR!!! #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:45:41.001Z

Recently, tests have been developed to tell apart the eggs of different sturgeon species to assist in stopping the illegal trade of endangered sturgeon caviar (Boscari et al. 2013), but that deterrent isn't enough to stop these opportunistic poachers. #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:46:20.720Z

TUATARA OUTLASTS STURGEON!! #2025MMM

— Erin Rowland-Schaefer (@docrowschaef.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:46:35.389Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamTuatara Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #herps #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:46:46.650Z

The starry sturgeon (A. stellatus) carries extra Hox genes, genes that control body plans, but not all are active! After genome duplications, some genes turned off, while others evolved new functions. #2025MMM #RIP

— Nicolas Alexandre (@nicmalexandre.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:47:07.318Z

LAST UP: #7 Seed GREAT WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus onocrotalus) vs. #10 seed ATLANTIC HORSESHOE CRAB (Limulus polyphemus) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:49:04.890Z

In this corner <waves toward Africa & south Asia> we have a 33 lb (15kg) male PELICAN who is buffy white with black flight feathers & a long yellow bill that has a flappy gular pouch on the lower bill (Elliot etal 2020) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:49:57.907Z

Pelicans have massive beaks and fishing techniques that arose over 30 million years ago & were identical to living pelicans in the early Oligocene (Louchart et al. 2011). #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:50:29.311Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamPelican Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #birds #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:50:51.300Z

Fossils show pelicans have existed since at least the early Oligocene; the oldest Pelecanus fossil is ~30 Mya, supporting deep genetic divergences among modern species. Despite spanning Africa, Europe & Asia, their DNA shows little population structure. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.ym…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:51:03.627Z

Fossils show pelicans have existed since at least the early Oligocene; the oldest Pelecanus fossil is ~30 Mya, supporting deep genetic divergences among modern species. Despite spanning Africa, Europe & Asia, their DNA shows little population structure. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.ym…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:51:03.627Z

In this corner <waves toward the North American Atlantic Coast> we have HORSESHOE CRAB #NotReallyACrab, the 11 lb (4.8kg) female is olive in color with a smooth upper shell & undersides that are nightmare fuel #2025MMM http://www.fws.gov/species/atla&#8230;

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:51:43.492Z

Horseshoe crabs "are the closest living relatives of the trilobites, have persisted for 200 million years" and their very similar ancestors are found in the fossil record back to half a billion years ago (Walls et al. 2002). #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:52:20.467Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamHorseshoeCrab Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:52:37.897Z

Horseshoe crabs had 3 whole-genome duplications ~135 Mya, but their ties to arachnids remain unclear. Genomes of C. rotundicauda & T. tridentatus show syntenic Hox links to spiders & scorpions, fueling debate on whether they’re marine arachnids or an old sister taxa #2025MMM doi.org/10.1038/s420…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:53:30.414Z

Tonight's battle location is in Sundarbans National Park in NE India, the world's largest area of mangrove forests, where PELICAN is gathered in a breeding colony. He is signaling to females with a "a-ooogh" advertising display (Elliot etal 2020) #2025MMM whc.unesco.org/en/list/452

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:53:56.981Z

MEANWHILE on the Georgia coast, HORSESHOE CRAB preps for the breeding season in May. She gorges on small invertebrates that crawls & burrow on the seabed, sucking tasty morsels into her mouth which is situated in the middle of her legs when… (Smith et al 2019) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:54:32.620Z

#MMMagic translocates HORSESHOE CRAB to shallowest muddy waters in the inter-tidal zone of PELICAN'S colony. Horseshoe Crab arrives UPSIDE DOWN, her armor in mud & her vulnerable undersides skyward! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:55:01.718Z

Nearby shorebirds surround HORSESHOE CRAB, their beaks dart to claim eggs that may be on her undercarriage as Horseshoe Crab slap-flips her lance-like tail (telson) to try turn herself over… (Smith et al 2019) #2025MMM.

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:55:39.756Z

The shorebird melee attracts PELICAN'S attention. Rather awkwardly Pelican flaps his wings & kicks his short legs with large webbed feet to take off from the water surface & investigate an opportunity for a scavenged meal (Megaze & Melesse 2013) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:56:09.120Z

HORSESHOE CRAB successfully flips herself over with her telson & scrambles into deeper waters, sending scores of fish, ~0.5lbs, scattering in silvery flashes. #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:56:40.464Z

PELICAN, large wings gliding low over the water, spots the darting silver fish exactly his preferred size & dives to scoop fish & water into his expandable, bucket-like throat pouch… (Megaze & Melesse 2013) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:57:11.952Z

PELICAN'S lowers his massive beak… scooping up water, fish… as HORSESHOE CRAB accidentally scuttles into his throat #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:57:43.742Z

INSTANTLY TURN THRASHING, HORSESHOE CRAB'S SHARP, LANCE-LIKE TELSON IMPALES PELICAN'S POUCH!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:58:16.235Z

PELICAN heaves out water and fish from his pouch, violently dislodging HORSESHOE CRAB from his throat!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:58:56.754Z

HORSESHOE CRAB lands in the water, drifting down… BUT HER TELSON WAS RIPPED FROM HER BODY AND IS STILL IMPALED IN PELICAN'S FLESH!!! (Dannemiller et al. 2024). #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:59:25.782Z

IMPALED & AWKWARD, PELICAN LAUNCHES AWAY, departing the field of battle, leaving the injured HORSESHOE CRAB in the coastal shallows #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:59:57.892Z

HORSESHOE CRAB DEFEATS PELICAN!!!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T02:00:27.400Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamHorseshoeCrab Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T02:00:44.629Z

Great White Pelicans have high effective population sizes and gene flow, buffering against genetic erosion. Their high heterozygosity suggests that, at least in Africa, they retain robust genetic variation crucial for adaptability. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1093/jher…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T02:00:53.937Z

THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS!!!!TortoiseRinged SealCoelacanthTuataraFrilled SharkHorseshoe CrabGar GINKGO & RHIZO…ADVANCE!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T02:03:41.400Z

And if you want to know how to score the Ginkgo & Rhizo battle-Scoring by hand: either picg gets the point, if someone called the MERGE of the Tag Team, make them a personalized certificate at the Educator Portal.Online bracket scorers Folks have been prepped for this- ROLL WITH WHAT UNFOLDS…

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T02:06:26.151Z

And until Monday- GOOD NIGHT & GOOD LUCK #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T02:07:06.572Z

#2025 ROOTS AND RELICTS RND 1 EMOJI BATTLE RESULTS!🐟🆚🟤:🟤🥶😵/🐟🍽️🟤/🏆🐟🐊🆚🦠:🐊🐍💦/🌬️💦🦠/🏆🐊🦈🆚🪴:🦈👄🪴/🦈🙂‍↔️🪴/🏆🦈🦭🆚🐉:🦭🤮🐉/🐉🕳️🌊/🏆🦭🌳🆚🍄‍🟫:🌳🍄‍🟫/🌳🤝🍄‍🟫/🏆🌳🍄‍🟫🐢🆚🦆:🐢🧍🏽‍♀️🌱/🦆🏊🏽‍♀️👋🏽/🏆🐢✨🆚🦖:🪄🦖🏞️/✨🥅🆙/🏆🦖🪣🆚🦀:🦀🗡️🪣/🗡️➡️🪣/🏆🦀

— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T02:02:56.793Z

#2025MMM Roots and Relicts Round 1 BATTLE WINNERS: Coelacanth, Gar, Frilled Shark, Ringed Seal, Ginkgo, Asian Forest Tortoise, Tuatara, Horseshoe CrabJoin us on MONDAY, March 17th at 8PM EST for Round 1 of Same & Different!

— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T02:08:44.193Z

While folks are waiting, we made a little video for you. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T23:57:24.372Z

#2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:01:08.827Z

Roots & Relicts are species that have endured mostly unchanged for MILLIONS of years or groups that were once widespread but now survive in small remnant populations. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:01:59.500Z

RELICTS, not to be confused with relics. #2025MMM will not have bejeweled human skulls or other sacred objects in improbable combat.

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:03:34.997Z

RELICTS, not to be confused with relics. #2025MMM will not have bejeweled human skulls or other sacred objects in improbable combat.

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:03:34.997Z

FIRST UP: #4-seed Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) vs #13-seed Mudskipper (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:04:49.031Z

Coelacanth is a BIG FISH, 2 m long & 100 kg with muscular, fleshy, & paired shoulder (pectoral) & hip (pelvic) fins, like our arms & legs (but she doesn't walk). Coelacanth also has a nonfunctional (vestigial) lung that does not breathe air http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jl_&#8230; #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:05:31.138Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamCoelacanth Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:05:52.777Z

Despite being members of the same species, two populations of Coelocanths in eastern Indonesia (Latimeria menadoensis) were 13 million years diverged. Isolation of these two populations is likely biogeographical in response to oceanic currents. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1038/s415…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:06:12.209Z

Mudskipper is a SMALL FISH, < 0.3 m long with large front (pectoral) fins. Mudskippers spend time in the water & on land (amphibious) & they can BREATHE AIR. But Mudskippers don't use lungs to breathe when on land; they absorb oxygen through their skin & mouth lining #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:06:54.609Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamMudskipper Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:07:29.450Z

Mudskippers have evolved visual adaptations for seeing in air. Comparative genomics showed that certain vision-related genes, like aanat1a, LWS1 and LWS2, are lost or altered in P. schlosseri, aligning with its need for aerial vision #2025MMM​ doi.org/10.3390/ani8…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:07:33.709Z

Tonight, our nocturnal (active at night) Coelacanth is exploring the waters near Grande Comore Island off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grande_…. Nighttime is feeding time & Coelacanth is hungry #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:08:22.135Z

MEANWHILE It's low tide in the mangrove forests along the Gigis River in Malaysia. Mudskipper is mending her burrow (Jabing et al. 2024), spitting a wad of mud out into the mudflat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYPb…. She dives down into the shallow pool to retrieve more mud #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:08:55.619Z

But Mudskipper never reaches her burrow! Instead, she's transported to the home field of Coelacanth, 400 m below the water's surface off the coast of Grand Comore. Mudskipper is fully submerged in cold, deep water, with the surface nowhere in sight #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:09:45.973Z

Coelacanth propels herself forward using her fins, then she glides (Fricke & Hissmann 1992; Fricke et al. 1987). She prefers these deep depths where prey can be abundant (Fricke & Hissmann 2000). Coelacanth slowly drifts toward Mudskipper #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:10:17.044Z

Mudskipper's maximum water depth is usually around 2 m fishbase.mnhn.fr/summary/Peri…; she's in much deeper water than normal. Mudskipper frantically flaps her large pectoral fins, trying to find the light of the surface. Coelacanth continues to drift towards Mudskipper #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:10:58.639Z

Mudskipper's frantic fin flapping suddenly slows. Mudskipper is highly adapted to terrestrial life; her gills are not suitable for full-time aquatic respiration. She's not getting enough oxygen! (Kok et al. 1998; Takeda et al. 1999) #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:11:38.956Z

Coelacanth continues slowly drifting closer & closer. Mudskipper is unable to move, watching the big fish approach #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:12:18.949Z

Mudskipper twitches a pectoral fin & Coelacanth strikes with rapid movement of her jaws (Fricke & Hissmann 2000) #blinkandyoumissit, swallowing Mudskipper whole! #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:12:54.899Z

COELACANTH INGESTS MUDSKIPPER!!!! #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:13:16.940Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamCoelacanth Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:13:34.465Z

Mudskippers famously “walk” on land using their front fins. Genome scans identified changes in certain Hox genes and show unique indels in a limb-related transcription factor gene (Tbx2) as well as modifications in genes involved in fin ray formation. #2025MMM #RIP

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:13:52.781Z

NEXT UP: #2 ALLIGATOR GAR (Atractosteus spatula) vs. CYANOBACTERIA (Prochlorococcus spp.) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:16:21.956Z

ALLIGATOR GAR "belong to an ancient lineage of fish dating back over 200 million years" in the Age of Dinosaurs. With a thick armor of grey-green scales & a long toothy snout, Gar looks very prehistoric (David et al. 2018) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:17:45.313Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGar Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:18:03.707Z

Evolutionary stasis occurs when lineages show little phenotypic change. Gars were found to have one of the lowest substitution rates among jawed vertebrates. Two gar species, diverged for over 100 my, were shown to hybridize—the oldest known case in eukaryotes #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/evol…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:19:07.561Z

There are 4 types of CYANOBACTERIA, two of which can synthesize atmospheric nitrogen. Combatant Prochlorococcus is not one of them. It's strength is being so tiny & resourceful that it is the dominant oxygen-producing plankton in nutrient poor areas of the ocean (Partensky et al 1999) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:19:25.949Z

CYANOBACTERIA make their own food, like plants, with light! And a by-product is oxygen. These microorganism masters ruled for at least first 3.0-3.5 billion years of the Earth history and are responsible for our oxygen rich atmosphere (Sergeev etal 2012) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:19:56.488Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamCyanobacteria Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:20:16.988Z

Polar lakes are dominated by Cyanobacteria, yet few polar genomes have been sequenced. Using genome-resolved metagenomics, 37 MAGs were recovered from Arctic, sub-Antarctic, and Antarctic mats, revealing 17 species, including a novel cold-adapted lineage. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1099/mgen…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:20:44.012Z

Tonight's ALLIGATOR GAR combatant is an 68 year old queen weighing 350 lbs (159kg). In springtime, the waters of Trinity River, Texas begin to warm & soon she will migrate from the river estuary toward river areas with off-channel spawning habitat (Smith et al 2019) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:21:15.905Z

CYANOBACTERIA is afloat in the Pacific Gyre when a large shipping container passes, creating a mist that sends Cyanobacteria airborne. #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:22:29.961Z

#MMMagic translocates airborne Cyanobacteria to Texas, settling on the slightly rippling water surface. #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:23:20.855Z

SPLASHHHHHH!!!!!! WHAAM!!!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:23:59.684Z

Ambush attack! ALLIGATOR GAR strikes a swimming snake with lethal accuracy, propelling both Gar & snake to the surface of the water (Marsaly et al. 2023) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:24:34.981Z

Alligator Gar & Snake send water droplets skyward, including CYANOBACTERIA as an aeresol particle… caught in the spring breeze and flown from the field of battle! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:25:11.760Z

GAR LAUNCHES CYANOBACTERIA!!!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:25:31.579Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamGar Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:25:54.447Z

The core proteins of PSII predated the Great Oxygenation Event (~2.3 Ga). Most cyanobacterial lineages, including chloroplast ancestors, diversified later, with planktonic cyanobacteria rising to dominance by the Precambrian’s end, shaping Earth's carbon cycle #2025MMM #RIP 10.1016/j.tim.2021.05.008

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:26:27.677Z

NEXT UP: #3 seed Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) vs. #14 seed Fern (Claytosmunda claytoniana). This match-up was written by @docrowschaef.bsky.social #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:29:46.616Z

Clocking in at 6.6ft (5.92 stoats) in length, the Frilled Shark is an eel-like shark found near the ocean floor in the Atlantic and Pacific, named for its six pairs of wavy gill slits. This shark's most striking feature is its curved, needle-sharp teeth (300 in total!). (Garman, 1884). #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:31:13.562Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamShark Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:31:37.079Z

The frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) has barely changed for 80 million years! 🦈 Its DNA reveals it's one of the most ancient sharks, diverging before most modern species existed. A true relic of deep-sea evolution! 🌊 #2025MMM doi.org/10.1155/2013…

— Nicolas Alexandre (@nicmalexandre.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:31:52.543Z

Behold, the humble fern! In particular, today's combatant is the Interrupted Fern, found in Eastern North America and Eastern Asia. A true relic, some of this species closest relatives were alive in the Triassic, ~237 million years ago! (Bomfleur, 2017) #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:36:52.202Z

The Interrupted Fern gets its name from the structure of their blades. In the middle of each blade is a section of dark-colored leaf structures that are used for reproduction. When they dry up and fall off, they leave an "interrupted" gap behind. #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:37:38.662Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamFern Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:37:53.418Z

Ferns are the second most species-rich lineage of land plants. Fujiwara et al 2023 found that fern genome sizes have grown as fern have diversified, showing large structural complexity between different fern species due to whole genome duplications and polyploidy #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/aob/…

— Nicolas Alexandre (@nicmalexandre.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:37:57.057Z

We begin our battle in Suruga Bay, Japan, where Frilled Shark is rising from the depths toward the surface to follow the daily movements of squid which makes up about 60% of her diet #DielCycle (Kubota, 1991). #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:38:44.992Z

Meanwhile, in the Minnesota forest, Interrupted Fern shifts in the spring breeze. Fern's deep root system holds it steady. Interrupted Ferns grow large rhizomes, a modified stem that expands underground into a system of rootin' and shootin' goodness, allowing fern clones to pop-up nearby. #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:39:20.981Z

Suddenly #MMMagic translocates Interrupted Fern UNDERWATER at the border of the twilight and sunlight realms of Surgura Bay. #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:39:55.395Z

Detecting a change in the movement of the water with sensory cells along her body (her lateral line), Frilled Shark swims in her long, eel-like body, a body plan inherited from ancestors arising 350 million years ago in the Carboniferous & why this species is considered a 'living fossil' #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:40:28.769Z

Frilled Shark, mouth wide to catch prey whole, swims into the Fern's wiry roots… that get thoroughly caught in Frilled sharks multi-row teeth… "each tooth consists of three backwardly directed briar-like fangs." (Gudger 1937) #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:41:02.276Z

Swimming forward, Frilled Shark thrashes her eel-like body & whipping her head against the fern, dragging the fern with force in the ocean water. #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:41:30.253Z

Frilled Sharks violent thrashing creates turbulence, chaotic changes in pressure and flow against the plant until… Frilled Shark RIPS Fern into disintegrating pieces! #FernInterrupted #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:42:17.128Z

With a final thrash of her head, Frilled Shark breaks free, between two fern chunks drifting slowly toward the midnight realm of the ocean… and off the field of battle. #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:42:49.075Z

FRILLED SHARK SHREDS FERN! #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:43:10.767Z

FRILLED SHARK SHREDS FERN! #2025MMM

— Jessica Light (she/her) (@jeclight.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:43:10.767Z

A fern genome contains all the instructions for two independent multi-cellular phases: a gametophyte (prothallus) and a sporophyte (fern). Yet, Marchant et al 2023 find only 273 and 1,397 genes were specifically expressed in the gametophyte and sporophyte #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1038/s414…

— Nicolas Alexandre (@nicmalexandre.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:43:34.563Z

A fern genome contains all the instructions for two independent multi-cellular phases: a gametophyte (prothallus) and a sporophyte (fern). Yet, Marchant et al 2023 find only 273 and 1,397 genes were specifically expressed in the gametophyte and sporophyte #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1038/s414…

— Nicolas Alexandre (@nicmalexandre.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:43:34.563Z

Next Up: 5-Seed Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) vs. 12-Seed Olm (Proteus anguinus) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:47:06.379Z

A medium sized pinniped, the largest ringed seals can be ~5.5 feet long & ~270lbs. They have short heads, cat-like snoots, & their bellies have silver fur, with silver rings on the darker fur of their sides & back. (Spicer 2013; Hammill 2009) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:47:56.604Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamRingedSeal Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:48:21.463Z

Assembling a new genome is difficult, normally we use the genome of a close species as a template, but relicts don't have close species. Olsen et al 2011 find a workaround to get some genetic data for the ringed seal until we have a complete genome #2025MMM doi.org/10.1111/j.17…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:51:41.652Z

The Olm is an amphibian with a long eel-like body, skin covered eyes that can't see but can detect light, with lifespans similar to humans- reaching adulthood around 15 years of age and living 70-100 years. Females are larger than males (Meaton 2011). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:51:37.507Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamOlm Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:51:59.305Z

The Olm genome is of great interest but it remains unsequenced due to its large size. Kostanjšek et al 2021 estimate a size of ~50 Giga base pairs, comparable to the largest sequenced animal genomes so far: lungfishes and axolotl. The human genome is only 3.2 Gpb. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1111/nyas…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:52:11.638Z

Tonight's Battle takes place at Lake Saimaa, Finland, where a population of freshwater ringed seals became landlocked since the last glacial period & isolated for 9500 years. #SealedInALake (Auttila et al. 2014; Kunnasranta et al. 2021). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:52:49.842Z

Ringed Seal is hauled out in his SNOW LAIR. Since the lake began to freeze in December, Ringed Seal has used the sharp claws of his front flipper to carve and maintain a breathing & access hole into the lake water through the ice. (Kunnasranta et al. 2021) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:54:17.713Z

As snow drifts formed, growing deepest in February and March, Ringed Seal dug & excavated his winter lair with snow providing insulation & defense from wind, along with the blubber that is half his winter body mass. (Kunnasranta et al. 2021) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:54:37.030Z

MEANWHILE in Slovenia, an apex predator- THE OLM- hunts bugs and fishes in the "subterranean, freshwater lakes and streams of limestone caves in the Dinaric Alps" (Meaton 2011) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:55:06.048Z

In this Stygian realm, the Olm relies on hearing, scent, & taste to hunt prey and "unidentified receptors to orientate in Earth’s magnetic field" to navigate aquatic and terrestrial cave systems descending hundreds of feet (Zakšek et al. 2023) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:55:41.769Z

Olm is MMMagically translocated to the snow lair, ripped from the aquatic environment where the Olm breathes with gills and skin, the Olm seems to be air gulping for her internal lungs to breathe (Lewarne & Balázs 2020) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:56:21.244Z

Olm smells and hears the nearby lake waters and scramble slithers RIGHT PAST THE SEAL'S FACE… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:56:53.861Z

Olm has no known predators in her home habitat and is unaware of the dangers at the exhale of fishy breath in the darkness of the snow lair. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:57:38.434Z

Ringed Seal's teeth snap onto Olm's torso and tosses Olm back to be swallowed whole!!! (Kunnasranta et al. 2021) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:58:32.352Z

But the writhing Olm is THREE TIMES BIGGER than the smelt and perch fish Ringed Seal normally swallows whole! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:59:11.227Z

Ringed Seal hock-a-loogies the Olm through the hole in the ice INTO THE 42 DEGREES FARENHEIT LAKE WATERS!!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T00:59:33.170Z

Lake Saimaa is within the water temperature of Olm's home cave system!!! Catching her breath, Olm swims away from the field of battle #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:00:53.341Z

RINGED SEAL DEFEATS OLM!!! #2025MMM(& Check out the proposal to list the The Ringed Seal Archipelagos of Lake Saimaa as a World Heritage site! whc.unesco.org/en/tentative…)

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:01:33.333Z

#2025MMM #DivisionRootsandRelicts #TeamRingedSeal Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:01:45.510Z

Vörös et al 2019 find that genetic diversity for 4 cave populations of Olm in Croatia is low, but genetic differentiation between the 4 populations was very high, implying these might be separate species that have not admixed in millions of years #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1093/jher…

— Lucas R Moreira (@lucasrocm.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:02:21.484Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:03:58.789Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-14T01:05:40.583Z

NEXT UP: #7 seed MARSH MONGOOSE (Atilax paludinosus) vs. #10 seed QUOKKA (Setonix brachyurus) #2025MMM (battle by @midwesternmouse.bsky.social)

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:09:28.060Z

Weighing in at 4.1kg (~19 stoats), the MARSH MONGOOSE is a one of the most aquatic members of the family Herpestidae! They have a thick undercoat beneath their blackish-brownish fur to help them stay dry. Aptly, they're often called the "water mongoose". #StoatsAsMeasurement #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:09:47.185Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamMongoose Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:10:00.037Z

A molecular study using nuclear and mitochondrial markers have shown that the Marsh Mongoose is sister species to another African mongoose, the long-nosed mongoose, and both are within the monophyletic non-social mongoose clade (Patou et al. 2009). #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2009.05.038

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:10:08.955Z

The QUOKKA is similarly sized (although rounder!) at 4.2kg (~19 stoats). It has a small, stocky body and large, well-developed hind legs like fellow members of the family Macropodidae (think: very small kangaroo). It's fur is a fluffy buff color. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:11:31.340Z

The QUOKKA is similarly sized (although rounder!) at 4.2kg (~19 stoats). It has a small, stocky body and large, well-developed hind legs like fellow members of the family Macropodidae (think: very small kangaroo). It's fur is a fluffy buff color. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:11:31.340Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamQuokka Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:11:53.782Z

Our smiley friends, the Quokkas (Setonix brachyurus), live in Western Australia near Perth. But DNA data shows that mainland populations fragmented < 6,000 yrs ago, likely due to reduced rainfall and the loss of Quokka's preferred wet forest habitat. #2025MMM link.springer.com/article/10.1…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:12:05.569Z

Tonight, Marsh Mongoose is patrolling his territory along a river bank in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. As he patrols, he uses long, unwebbed fingers to search for crabs, snails, and toads. (Kingdon et al., 2013; Do et al., 2020; Haring et al., 2023) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:12:55.120Z

Meanwhile, on Rottnest Island of SW Australia, Quokka is surrounded by her family group of about 20 members. It's the last month of summer down under, and this nocturnal animal is trying to rest and stay cool under a native skunk tree. (Poole et al., 2014) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:13:14.023Z

#MMMagic translocation delivers quokka into shallow waters next to a branch of the Great Fish River, she drinks deeply of opportunistic water and then Quokka slosh-hops onto dry land. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:13:57.422Z

Marsh Mongoose hears the sloshing & investigates– hoping it could be one of his prey fishies — but encounters… what is that thing? The quokka doesn't seem like a predator, but this mesocarnivore has a side of cautious with his curious. (Ray & Sunquist 2001) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:14:45.628Z

Quokka peers out into the thick, twisty forests of KwaZulu-Natal are different than the pine, wattle and tea tree woodland she calls home, when she spots the Marsh Mongoose watching her… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:15:20.391Z

To Quokka, Marsh Mongoose looks a bit like a quoll, the marsupial carnivore that can hunt Quokka, but long isolated from mainland predators, Rottnest Island Quokka has "prey naivety" & doesn't recognize Marsh Mongoose as a danger!!! (Waaleboer et al. 2024) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:15:50.654Z

Marsh Mongoose stares at Quokka. Quokka "smile" stares at Marsh Mongoose #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:17:11.636Z

<splash splash> Marsh Mongoose sees a favored fish and dashes into the water for the familiar prey, possessively carrying the scaly dinner away to eat nearer one of his many burrows… OFF THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:18:34.837Z

QUOKKA OUTLASTS MARSH MONGOOSE!!!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:18:49.198Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamQuokka Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:19:02.085Z

Two distinct rabies virus strains (one adapted to canids and one adapted to mongoose) have been found in southern Africa. A molecular study from Zyl et al. (2010) showed that the mongoose strain likely arrived prior to the arrival of the canid strain. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1016/j.vi…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:19:08.850Z

NEXT UP: #5 MANED WOLF (Chrysocyon brachyurus) VS. #12 COMMON MUSKRAT (Ondatra zibethicus) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:20:50.689Z

MANED WOLF is related to dogs, foxes & jackals – distinguishable from most other Canidae by its shaggy golden-red pelage & long, looooooong legs. Maned wolf is 36 inches (90cm) at the shoulder & weighs 50 lbs (23kg) (Dietz 1985) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:21:26.162Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamManedWolf Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:21:52.911Z

Patterns of genetic variation in present-day species can shed light on their historical population size extending 1000s of years into the past. This is what González et al. did for the Maned Wolf. DNA data recovered a signal of population expansion ~24K years ago. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/jher…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:22:06.759Z

MUSKRAT is a chunky uniform brown 4 lb (1.8kg) rodent, w/ a large, blunt head, small eyes, & short, rounded ears that barely protrude from the fur. It has partially webbed hind feet. The nearly hairless tail is almost as long as the whole animal. (Willner etal 1980) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:22:25.640Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamMuskrat Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:22:42.716Z

How many subspecies? Genetic analyses using microsatellites have contributed to our understanding of subspecies designations, where Laurence et al. (2011) revealed only 3 distinct clusters across the Muskrat's North American range. #2025MMM academic.oup.com/jhered/artic…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:22:48.454Z

TONIGHT'S BATTLE occurs at dusk in Pampas del Heath, the only tropical humid savanna in Peru, where a small population of MANED WOLF persists (Williams etal 2007) #2025MMM.

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:23:29.127Z

Combatant MANED WOLF stirs awake from a nap. Feeling a hunger pang, he has a stretch before he trots off through the tall grass toward the edge of a stream (aka riparian) where small mammal prey are more abundant #2025MMM http://www.canids.org/canidnews/15&#8230;

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:24:04.536Z

MEANWHILE… near Chicago in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, MUSKRAT is busy doing chores, pushing ice away from his doorway & re-mudding holes in his walls. Choring is never done when you live along a stream bank during spring melt #2025MMM http://www.fs.usda.gov/midewin

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:24:47.024Z

Upstream, an ice dam breaks, rushing water sweeps MUSKRAT off his feet and into the #MMMagic translocation portal… to the Peruvian grassland among a large patch of pampas grass. #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:25:21.868Z

Muskrat immediately begins searching for a new burrow site, haphazardly dashing about to explore the new habitat. #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:25:57.271Z

MANED WOLF hears rustling in the grass & pauses, staring intently while directing his ears toward the sound. Based on size, it looks like a hairy armadillo. JACKPOT! Armadillos only represent 4.5% of occurrence in their diet but 28% of biomass. (de Arruda Bueno&MottaJunior 2009) #NOMNOMNOM #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:26:40.234Z

MANED WOLF crouches down in the grass then quietly belly crawls toward the scurrying sound. Maned Wolf pauses. As ears triangulate the Musk Rat's movements, a stream of drool drips from the corners of his mouth… #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:27:19.403Z

MANED WOLF taps his front foot to scare MUSKRAT into moving to a spot in the open and POUNCES!! #2025MMM nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/mane…

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:28:06.556Z

MUSKRAT, pinned under MANED WOLF'S front paws, struggles!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:28:34.900Z

"A cornered muskrat is a notoriously desperate fighter" (Errington 1939). MUSKRAT's sharp front claws tear out & the rodent chomps his strong jaw sinking his teeth… #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:29:08.978Z

INTO GRASS AND DIRT- SMOOSHED FACE DOWN IN THE PAMPAS- THE MUSKRAT CAN NOT FULLY DEPLOY ANTI-PREDATOR DEFENSES!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:29:53.107Z

MANED WOLF expertly snap-grasps MUSKRAT by the neck, swings the now chittering rodent upward… MANED WOLF'S quick head shakes snap the spine of his prey. #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:30:24.605Z

Tonight, the old 1939 description of MUSKRAT hits differently… "doubtless true that their wandering may be so haphazard & their routes beset by so many dangers that they may never again encounter their own kind" (Errington 1939) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:30:46.879Z

MANED WOLF EATS COMMON MUSKRAT!!!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:31:13.523Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamManedWolf Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:31:32.300Z

Genetic data from mitochondrial & microsatellite loci showed that Muskrats were introduced to the Isles of Shoals, off the coast of Maine, in the early 1900s (Mychajliw and Harrison 2014). The Muskrats were likely introduced from New Hampshire for the fur trade. doi.org/10.1371/jour… #2025MMM #RIP

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:31:52.454Z

NEXT UP!! #4 seed CHACOAN PECCARY (Parachoerus [Catagonus] wagneri) VS. #13 seed MOUNTAIN BEAVER (Aplodontia rufa) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:33:02.959Z

CHACOAN PECCARY may look like a pig but it's not! Peccary (Tayassuidae) tusks grow straight up and down, while pig (Suidae) tusks curve backward. (Mayer & Wetzel 1986) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:34:05.907Z

Tonight's adult female CHACOAN PECCARY combatant weighs 40kg (88lbs). She has a grizzled gray-brown coat, a black stripe down her back & a white collar across her shoulders (Mayer & Wetzel 1986) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:34:43.344Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPeccary Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:34:59.538Z

The 3 species of peccary (Chacoan, white-lipped, and collared) have different numbers of chromosomes (10, 13, and 15 pairs). Recent work has found that the Chacoan peccary has a more similar chromosome arrangement to the white-lipped peccary. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1007/s133…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:35:11.356Z

The 3 species of peccary (Chacoan, white-lipped, and collared) have different numbers of chromosomes (10, 13, and 15 pairs). Recent work has found that the Chacoan peccary has a more similar chromosome arrangement to the white-lipped peccary. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1007/s133…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:35:11.356Z

Similarly, MOUNTAIN BEAVER is not a beaver but rather an ancient mammal that occurs in moist forests of the Pacific Coast USA & British Columbia, Canada. It belongs to it's own family (Aplodontiadae) & resembles an 800g (1.8lbs) oblong loaf of bread w/ stout legs (Carraway & Verts 1993) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:35:55.271Z

Tonight's battle takes place in the Paraguayan chaco thorn forest, home habitat for CHACOAN PECCARY (aka Tagua or Pecarí chaqueño). It's warm & sunny, the delightful aroma after a heavy rain is in the air (petrichor). Roadside potholes are full of water #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:37:10.574Z

MEANWHILE the Gifford Pinchot National Forest of WA State, MOUNTAIN BEAVER is tidying up its extensive burrow system. For camoflauge, it snips sword fern fronds, climbs into a hole & pulls fronds over the hole… #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:37:47.343Z

MOUNTAIN BEAVER pauses for a big scratch… of the world's largest flea, Hystrichopsylla schefferi! While scratching #MMMagic translocates Mountain Beaver into a roadside puddle PECCARY is bathing in! (Carraway & Verts 1993, Hubbard, 1947) #2025MMM #CollectionsAreEssential @burkemuseum.bsky.social

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:39:41.272Z

MOUNTAIN BEAVER pauses for a big scratch… of the world's largest flea, Hystrichopsylla schefferi! While scratching #MMMagic translocates Mountain Beaver into a roadside puddle PECCARY is bathing in! (Carraway & Verts 1993, Hubbard, 1947) #2025MMM #CollectionsAreEssential @burkemuseum.bsky.social

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:39:41.272Z

Bathing PECCARY reclines in the muddy puddle, hair standing on end, & "moving the body rapidly in a squirming motion to cover itself with mud and water" completely unaware of the MOUNTAIN BEAVER's arrival (Smith 2019) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:40:26.721Z

"Drops of water could be seen being cast up into the air by the motion" of the PECCARY, giving a lovely rainbow effect in the air (Smith 2019) #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:41:00.784Z

MOUNTAIN BEAVER is rolled under in the muddy waves created by the PECCARY!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:41:31.278Z

Surfacing, MOUNTAIN BEAVER lets out a high pitched squeal in frustration, but is pushed under and away by the PECCARY'S next wave… (Carraway & Verts 1993)` #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:42:02.927Z

… to the edge of the puddle!!! With long, strong & sharp claws, MOUNTAIN BEAVER grasps the muddy soil on edge of the puddle, hoists itself out of the water and scurries to a nearby culvert, abandoning the field of battle!!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:42:33.311Z

CHACOAN PECCARY takes MOUNTAIN BEAVER to the cleaners!!!!! #2025MMM

— Tara Chestnut, PhD (@tcastanea.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:43:02.099Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPeccary Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:43:27.603Z

Mountain Beavers have weird skulls! They are "protrogomorphous" which means that their jaw muscle (superficial masseter) originates on the upper palate (maxilla) and inserts along the back of the jaw (angular process) as compared to other rodents #2025MMM #RIP animaldiversity.org/collections/…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:43:33.961Z

Last Up: 8-Seed Spotted-necked Otter (Hydrictis maculicollis, previously Lutra maculicollis) vs. 9-Seed Tayra (Eira barbara) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:45:04.501Z

Sleek & slender, the Spotted-necked Otter has brown & white splotching on their throat & upper chest, with the rest of their coat various browns from reddish to chocolate (Soderman 2000). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:45:51.667Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamOtter Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:46:09.384Z

The Spotted-necked Otter (Hydrictis maculicollis) of Africa is sister to the Sea Otter (Enhydra), with a relatively short (530,000-year) interval separating them, which has led to discordance in genome-wide analyses of their history– let's get along sisters!! #2025MMM http://www.cell.com/current-biol&#8230;

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:46:13.055Z

About the size of a medium-small dog, the Tayra is a long-legged, long-necked weasel with a robust head and bushy tail. Tayra has a brown body, with a lighter color on its head, and a diamond-shaped patch on its throat (Presley 2000; Schreffler 2003). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:46:44.740Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamTayra Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:47:10.100Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamTayra Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:47:10.100Z

The Tayra belongs to a clade that also contains fishers, martens, and wolverines. Nuclear genetic analyses have shown that this group diverged from other mustelids between 10 and 15 million years ago. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.ym…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:47:23.249Z

In KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Spotted-necked Otter naps, curled into an adorable ball, resting peacefully in a hole between two large tree roots at the base of a tree alongside the river home of his social group. Four other otters snooze elsewhere along the tangled bank. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:48:27.796Z

MEANWHILE in Brazil, Tayra, most active in daytime, prowls the forest canopy for fruit & prey in Lauraceas State Park in this Atlantic forest biodiversity hotspot. Tayra will readily attack vulnerable sloths or monkeys to slake his hunger (Grotta‐Neto et al. 2021). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:49:05.889Z

BACK IN South Africa, Otter's grumbly tumbly awakens him for another round of fishing. Otter emerges from the hole, spin-twist-stretching. (Larivière 2002) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:50:03.025Z

BACK IN South Africa, Otter's grumbly tumbly awakens him for another round of fishing. Otter emerges from the hole, spin-twist-stretching. (Larivière 2002) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:50:03.025Z

At the base of the tree, Otter rolls onto his back, in the dappled sunshine below the branched tree canopy, reaching his toes above him, splaying out his fully webbed feet, tipped with sharp, half-inch claws…(Larivière 2002) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:50:32.307Z

MEANWHILE in Brazil, a twig snaps on the forest floor beneath the hoof of a young, grey brocket deer directly below Tayra's branch on the tree… (Grotta‐Neto et al. 2021) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:51:10.579Z

Tayra stealthily positions to startle attack the brocket deer… and DROPS… right through the #MMMagic transportal!!!!#2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:52:24.868Z

…TAYRA LANDS DIRECTLY ONTO SPOTTED-NECKED OTTER!!#2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:52:54.112Z

BOTH MUSTELIDS ARE NOW UNINTENTIONALLY IN A DEADLY BATTLE, AS OTTER & TAYRA IMMEDIATELY ATTACK EACH OTHER!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:53:22.371Z

Normally such near-evenly matched mustelids would avoid a battle- too much risk of serious injury! Indeed, otters are adapted *to avoid competition* by fishing waterways not typically used by other mustelids in their environments… (Bonesi et al. 2004; Powell & Zielinski 1983) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:54:36.654Z

<breaks the 4th wall> BUT I AM TIRED OF COMPLAINT EMAILS THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CARNAGE AND TOO MUCH *SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE* RUNNING AWAY NIGHT ONE #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:55:55.128Z

Spotted-necked Otter has 3lbs in body weight & 2 inches in body length on the Tayra! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:56:29.546Z

Spotted-necked Otter bites down on Tayra's shoulder thickly muscled from climbing trees! Tayra bites down on Spotted-necked Otter's shoulder, made strong from holding down big fish for bite & rip eating! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:57:16.701Z

LOCKED IN, TOOTH AND CLAW, TORSO-TWISTING OTTER ROLLS WITH TAYRA INTO THE RIVER!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:58:12.160Z

LOCKED IN, TOOTH AND CLAW, TORSO-TWISTING OTTER ROLLS WITH TAYRA INTO THE RIVER!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:58:12.160Z

TAYRA SLAPS OUT WITH ONLY PARTIALLY WEBBED TOES SO MUCH BETTER ADAPTED TO LAND & TREE!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:58:31.503Z

Panicked, Tayra's relatively long legs reach, reach, reach, slipping in the silty, slippery mud at river's edge! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:58:52.408Z

Underwater, Otter attack-bites Tayra's back feet! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:59:24.749Z

TAYRA'S FRONT CLAWS CONNECT WITH A TREE ROOT OF THE TANGLED BANK… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:00:27.059Z

TAYRA hauls out of the river & flees into the forest, far from his mustelid foe so well-adapted for an aquatic encounter!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:01:36.744Z

SPOTTED-NECKED OTTER DEFEATS TAYRA!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:02:12.994Z

<breaks the 4th wall> HAHAHAHAHAHA RUNNING AWAY ANYWAY!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:02:50.251Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamOtter Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:03:23.017Z

A genome assembly for the Tayra by Derežanin et al. (2022) revealed that the Tayra split from other mustelids in the late miocene, and comparative analyses revealed genes putatively under selection for seasonal breeding. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1111/mec….

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:03:47.354Z

Addax, Puma, Peccary, Maned Wolf, Saiga, Indri Otter, and Quokka ADVANCE!!!!!!Tomorrow Night- Round 1 of Roots & Relicts!!!!#2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:07:29.321Z

#2025MMM The Only Ones Round 1 Battle WINNERS:Addax, Saiga, Indri, Puma, Quokka, Maned Wolf, Peccary, and Otter!Join us TOMORROW at 8PM EST for Round 1 of ROOTS AND RELICTS!

— March Mammal Madness (@mmmletsgo.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:08:15.721Z

#2025MMM THE ONLY ONES ROUND 1 BATTLE RESULTS🦌🆚🐹:🐹🏊🏼‍♀️🪲/🦌🦶🏼🐹/🏆🦌👃🏼🆚🐀:🐀🚫⛏️/🐀😰🏃🏽‍♂️/🏆👃🏼🔲🆚🐰:🔲🌳🔊/🐰😱💨/🏆🔲😼🆚⭐:💀➡️😼/🐾🍂⭐/🏆😼🪿🆚🥹:🪿👀🥹/🪿👂🏽🐟/🏆🥹🐺🆚🦫:🐺📍🦫/🐺🙂‍↔️🩻/🏆🐺🐗🆚🍞:🐗🛀🏽🌊/🍞🪜🆓/🏆🐗🦦🆚🦡:🦦🦷🦡/🦡↪️🌳/🏆🦦

— Jess Popescu (@jesspopescu.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T02:13:14.314Z

#2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:00:53.091Z

TONIGHT we begin the real action of 2025 March Mammal Madness with THE ONLY ONES! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:02:09.949Z

In biology, organisms are typically organized systematically Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. To keep track you can use this memory trick (mnemonic) Do Keep Pond Clean Or Frog Gets Sick. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:02:49.077Z

Tonight’s Division features mammal “combatants” that are the only living species of their genus. The mammals in this division are “lonely” branches of the evolutionary tree showing notable differences from other living species in their family. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:03:30.932Z

So without further ado… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6eQ&#8230; #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:04:43.665Z

First Up: 1-seed Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) vs. 16-seed Grant's Golden Mole (Eremitalpa granti) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:06:15.897Z

The largest male Addax tips the scales at 275lbs with 3 spiral twists of his 3.5 foot horns. Females are a bit smaller than the males and also wield spiral horns. (Altan 2000, Krausman & Casey 2007) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:07:00.815Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamAddax Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:08:06.214Z

The rumen is a hub for microbial fermentation in ruminants (eg Addax).Why doesn’t the host’s immune system attack these microbes?A study on Addax found high diversity in immune genes, which is likely associated w Addax's tolerance to beneficial microbes. #2025MMM doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.00260

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:07:32.350Z

Although the smallest of the golden moles, Grant's Golden Mole does have the longest, softest fur of pale grayish-yellow with a silvery sheen. (Roth 2004) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:09:27.942Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamGoldenMole Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:09:47.348Z

Golden moles are a group of burrowing mammals from Africa. The study of their karyotype (the complete set of chromosomes in a cell) revealed that it evolves slower than that of other mammals, w/ Grant's Golden Mole being the most different among them. #2025MMM link.springer.com/article/10.1…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:09:54.849Z

Tonight, the Addax, the "most desert loving large ungulate" stands in the Tin Toumma desert of north central Niger where the prevalent winds have created epic dune fields youtu.be/CoxWHRHG-2U?… (IUCN 2016; Stabach et al. 2017). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:10:58.764Z

Over the winter, Addax's sandy white coat darkened to gray, with a heavy mass of long brown hair on neck, shoulders, and forehead. Now springtime, he is shedding clumps of his winter coat. (Altan 2000, Krausman & Casey 2007) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:11:45.039Z

MEANWHILE… in the Namib Desert a beast glides beneath the surface, hunting for its prey… the 35 gram (0.07lbs) GRANT'S GOLDEN MOLE. youtu.be/CoxWHRHG-2U?… #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:12:06.741Z

The Addax stands in perfect stillness on wide, flat hooves, shaped like a half moon, adapted for traveling over the desert sands. (Altan 2000, Krausman & Casey 2007). #2025MMM http://www.naturefootage.com/video-clips/&#8230;

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:13:13.458Z

Beneath the Addax, a desert beetle skitters along in the shifting sands, tiny insect feet (tarsi) causing minor seismic vibrations. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:13:33.043Z

Unaware of MMMagical transportation into new sands, without eyes and unable to see, Grant's Golden Mole can hunt by detecting vibrations. He continues sand-swimming toward his next meal (Perrin & Fielden 1999; Mason and Narins 2002). #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:14:58.790Z

The Golden Mole leaves no tunnel, the sand collapses behind him as he sand swims to the surface right below the beetle… (Mason and Narins 2002). #2025MMM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5eU&#8230;

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:15:55.095Z

AMBUSH SURFACING, GOLDEN MOLE GRASPS THE BEETLE JUST AS ADDAX BEGINS TO WALK ACROSS THE DUNE!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:16:18.688Z

With a brief death shriek, Golden Mole is crushed between sand and hoof #CaughtBetweenTinyRocksAndAHoofPlace (Roth 2004) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:17:53.439Z

ADDAX DEFEATS GRANT'S GOLDEN MOLE!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:18:29.491Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamAddax Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:19:03.741Z

Environmental DNA (eDNA*) is an approach to characterizing & monitoring biodiversity. An eDNA study along the west coast of South Africa revealed a potentially novel Grant's Golden Mole subspecies.*DNA shed by organisms into their surroundings.#2025MMM #RIP link.springer.com/article/10.1…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:18:58.148Z

Next up: #3 seed Saiga (Saiga tatarica) vs. #14 seed Woolly Giant Rat (Kunsia tomentosus) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:21:48.489Z

Saiga are a small antelope: 31.5in (~3.2 stoats) tall at the shoulder & 99lb (~200 stoats). Although small in body, they have a lot of face! The fictional Toydarians from Star Wars share this nosable, I mean NOTEABLE, feature. Males have horns up to 16in long. #StoatsAsMeasurement #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:22:44.691Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamSaiga Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:23:08.963Z

Populations of Saiga antelope in W Asia have varied in size dramatically since the 1990s, including cycles of collapse due to hunting, rebound, & collapse again due to infectious diseases– but DNA data also show a genetic bottleneck ~10,000 yrs ago! #2025MMM onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:23:14.049Z

Native to South America, the Woolly Giant Rat has coarse, dense, dark gray fur, short limbs, & long, powerful claws. "Giant" in this case is a relative term, as the Woolly Giant Rat has a top weight of approx. 1.3lb (2.75 stoats). #StoatsAsMeasurement #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:24:23.292Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamWoollyGiantRat Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:24:53.012Z

Our furry friend the Woolly Giant Rat (Kunsia tomentosus) has the largest body size (up to 630 grams!) of any living member of the rodent subfamily Sigmodontinae– but has a fairly normal mammalian karyotype, with a diploid number of 2n=44, belying it's chonky belly #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/mspe…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:24:57.653Z

Tonight, in the Betpak-Dala region of Kazakhstan, Saiga is grazing on some lichen & wormwood, preferred wintertime nutrition when many of the other 80 species in his diet are less available. (Bekenov et al 1998) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:25:57.258Z

Between mouthfuls, Saiga looks out at his herd of 40. A couple generations ago, in 2015, 60% of the world's saiga died from a bacterial infection in only 3 weeks, but population sizes have rebounded in recent years. #2025MMMwww.cms.int/en/news/scie…

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:26:43.190Z

MEANWHILE… 8,000 miles away in the Parque Nacional das Emas in central Brazil, the omnivorous Woolly Giant Rat is hunting for insects in its open grassland. Woolly Giant Rat is often active at twilight (scientific term "crepuscular") & nighttime (Bezerra et al 2007) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:27:22.172Z

As he dashes at a beetle, #MMMagic translocates Woolly Giant Rat to Kazakhstan, where he finds himself surrounded by a forest… of thin Saiga limbs. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:28:11.275Z

Used to easily spotting the approach of predators or other animals by scanning the open landscape, Saiga skip-startles a step at the rodent in its midst. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:29:05.320Z

Woolly Giant Rat is more surprised by the cold, dry air! The average March temperature in Betpak-Dala is 28F, a far cry from Woolly Giant Rat's native tropical habitat. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:30:25.724Z

SNOOFLING air through his cavernous nostrils, Saiga investigates the newcomer. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:31:22.414Z

Exposed & chilled, Woolly Giant Rat tries to tunnel into the soil of the steppe. His strong claws are well adapted for digging, as he has what scientists call a "semifossorial" lifestyle. (Bezerra & Pardiñas 2016). #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:31:52.602Z

Exposed & chilled, Woolly Giant Rat tries to tunnel into the soil of the steppe. His strong claws are well adapted for digging, as he has what scientists call a "semifossorial" lifestyle. (Bezerra & Pardiñas 2016). #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:31:52.602Z

But the clay-based Kazakhstan soil is 'slower going' to burrow into than the dirt of his Brazilian home! Woolly Giant Rat's claws are getting nowhere fast as Saiga continues to watch and wooflesnort. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:32:38.267Z

Woolly Giant Rat, unable to quickly escape underground & uninterested in joining the Saiga herd, dashes away from Saiga's shuffling hooves and sniffing snoot, fleeing across the open country and off the field of battle. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:33:19.406Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamSaiga Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:35:27.838Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamSaiga Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:35:27.838Z

The geographic range of the Woolly Giant Rat extends from the Brazilian states of Amazonas, Rondônia, and Mato Grosso through parts of Bolivia — inhabiting open areas and savannas where it digs extensively with "gopher-like" front paws! #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1093/mspe…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:34:07.458Z

Next up: 6-seed Indri (Indri indri) vs. 11-seed Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus) #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:37:55.798Z

At 21lb (~43 stoats) & 35in long (with a *purrfect* 2in tail) the Indri, or Babakota in the native Malagasy language, is the largest living lemur species. Fur colors can vary (white/black/gray/brown), but all Indris have tufted black ears & long legs. #StoatsAsMeasurement #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:38:43.213Z

At 21lb (~43 stoats) & 35in long (with a *purrfect* 2in tail) the Indri, or Babakota in the native Malagasy language, is the largest living lemur species. Fur colors can vary (white/black/gray/brown), but all Indris have tufted black ears & long legs. #StoatsAsMeasurement #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:38:43.213Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamIndri Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:39:11.504Z

Phenotypic variation btw Indri indri populations suggested the existence multiple indri subspecies. A DNA study showed these differences aren't significant at the DNA level, highlighting the importance of using multiple lines of evidence when defining (sub)species. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1007/s107…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:39:19.452Z

The rare & elusive Hispid Hare, also known as a "bristly rabbit", is 20in long & weighs 5.5lb (~11 stoats). It has brown fur, short & stout hind legs, & relatively short ears. #StoatsAsMeasurement #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:40:17.850Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamHare Art by Mary C Freisner @maryfreisner.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:41:16.321Z

A study using both nuclear and mitochondrial markers revealed the Hispid Hare to be most closely related to the European rabbit. #2025MMM academic.oup.com/sysbio/artic…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:40:55.949Z

Today's battle takes place in the Maromizaha Forest in eastern Madagascar, in the low to mid-altitude coastal rainforest habitats Indri calls home. Indri is currently foraging for young leaves, a preferred food source (Britt et al 2003). #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:41:57.465Z

MEANWHILE, in the tall grasslands of the southern Himalayan foothills, the nocturnal Hispid Hare is crouched among the thatch, sleeping. Unlike many rabbits, Hispid Hares are not known to construct burrows. Asleep, Hispid Hare is unaware of #MMMagic translocation to Madagascar. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:42:53.706Z

Upon arrival, the forest cacophony of… bird calls? disturbs the snoozing lagomorph. Hispid Hare stays still in the new, unfamiliar habitat. This is a strange land, the forest very different than the 10-foot tall elephant grass he uses for both food & shelter. #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:43:29.764Z

A SHADOW PASSES ABOVE! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:44:05.749Z

THUNK! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:44:36.579Z

Indri JUMPS from a tree 30 feet away, landing in a single leap on the tree nearest Hispid Hare. Indri uses her strong webbed toes & a large opposable big toe to cling to the trunk. (Demes et al 1996) #VerticalLeapingAndClingingBoyee #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:45:17.603Z

<AWOOOOOOOO> <SCREEEEEEECH> <HOOOONNNNNK> #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:45:42.340Z

Indri and her pairmate sing the song of their species. One of the few singing primates, their songs echo up to a mile and tell neighboring Indris to stay off their lawn! (Pollock 1986) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h0Z&#8230; #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:46:18.151Z

<puhf> All that lingers is a tiny cloud of forest dust as Hispid Hare dashes away from the scene of battle. #NotAMusicLover #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:47:07.597Z

INDRI SPOOKS HISPID HARE!!!!! #2025MMM

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:47:42.184Z

Post-Battle fun fact: The very first recordings of Indri songs were made by none other than David Attenborough! pbswisconsin.org/watch/nature…

— Lara Durgavich (@ldurgavich.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:49:11.839Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamIndri Art by Charon Henning @oddangel.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:48:06.073Z

Chromosome painting (a method that identifies the number and structure of chromosomes) of rabbits and hares found a variable number of chromosome pairs (21-24), suggesting some genomic rearrangements across the clade (Robinson et al. 2002). #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1159/0000…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:48:26.450Z

NEXT UP: #2 Cougar (Puma concolor) vs. Star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:51:26.375Z

The COUGAR (puma/mountain lion/catamount) weighs in at 265 lbs (545 stoats), 7'10" long (~7 stoats), and almost 3 ft tall (~3.5 stoats)! Spanning the Americas, these cats reflect Bergmann's rule & tend to be smaller near the equator. (Gay & Best 1996) #TheMoreYouGrow #StoatsAreStandard #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:52:01.272Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPuma Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:52:17.059Z

Sometimes considered a member of the so-called 'big cats', genetic studies have revealed that Pumas are only distantly related to other big cats (found mostly in the genus Panthera). Their closer genetic relatives include the smaller Jaguarundi & the African cheetah. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1101/gr.1…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:52:23.953Z

Sometimes considered a member of the so-called 'big cats', genetic studies have revealed that Pumas are only distantly related to other big cats (found mostly in the genus Panthera). Their closer genetic relatives include the smaller Jaguarundi & the African cheetah. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1101/gr.1…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:52:23.953Z

The STAR-NOSED MOLE is 2.65 oz (1/3rd stoat) and 8" long (3/5th stoat) with a strikingly unique face! Their name comes from the sensory organ surrounding their nose that uses TWENTY-TWO finger-like tendrils to feel their environment & find prey. #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:53:00.799Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamStarnosedMole Art by Valeria Pellicer @veppart.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:53:21.047Z

As the most beautiful of all mammals, the Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) has a dark secret. Very dark: it cannot see well! Their vision is impaired due to 6 genes coding for retinal proteins having stop codons in them: see the STARS in the diagram below. #2025MMM doi.org/10.1016/j.ym…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:53:45.357Z

I should mention, this battle is a collaboration with @midwesternmouse.bsky.social & myself! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:54:40.987Z

Star-nosed Mole is searching for grubs near the Pinawa Channel & Winnipeg River in southern Manitoba, CA. As her star-nose tendrils touch a delicious worm, she moves at THE SPEED OF NERVES (120 milliseconds) to grab it… (Catania & Remple 2005) #2025MM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:55:16.349Z

Star-nosed Mole is searching for grubs near the Pinawa Channel & Winnipeg River in southern Manitoba, CA. As her star-nose tendrils touch a delicious worm, she moves at THE SPEED OF NERVES (120 milliseconds) to grab it… (Catania & Remple 2005) #2025MM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:55:16.349Z

BUT #MMMagic translocation IS FASTER, and Star-nosed Mole arrives amongst the moonshadows cast on the forest floor of a woodland-grassland of the Santa Susana Mountains of Southern California! (Riley et al., 2021) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:55:39.438Z

The quiet night is broken by a <schweffffft> pause <schwefffffft> pause <schweffffft> #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:56:00.123Z

What the poorly developed eyes of the Star-nosed Mole can not see that is Puma pulling a recently-killed carcass toward a hiding spot. Having initially gorged, the puma will now conceal the kill from competitors & scavengers. (Allen et al., 2023) #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:57:49.094Z

With a violent pivot & pull, Puma rolls Star-Nosed Mole under the dragging deer carcass! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:59:16.782Z

With a violent pivot & pull, Puma rolls Star-Nosed Mole under the dragging deer carcass! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T00:59:16.782Z

Trapped under the deer carcass, star-nosed mole is dragged… gets caught against the jagged edge of a rock jutting from the dirt!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:00:14.342Z

Trapped under the deer carcass, star-nosed mole is dragged… gets caught against the jagged edge of a rock jutting from the dirt!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:00:14.342Z

<SCHWEFT> the deer carcass is pulled away as Puma moves further to cache the deer carcass! Star-Nosed Mole gasps for air in the leaf litter!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:01:10.556Z

ALL OF A SUDDEN, Puma paw, while pulling together leaf litter to cover the deer, bycatches Star-nosed Mole!!! In a final crush, mole carcass becomes part of the forest debris hiding the deer carcass. #SoMetaMetal #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:02:09.066Z

COUGAR CRUSHES STAR-NOSED MOLE!!! #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:02:22.886Z

#2025MMM #DivisionOnlyOnes #TeamPuma Art by Olivia Pellicer @opellisms.bsky.social #mammals #sciart

— V Pellicer- art commissions open! (@veppart.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:03:11.989Z

Here's an example of what those stop codons and insertions/ deletions look like in the retinal protein genes of the Star-nosed Mole's cousins in the Afrotheria — indeed evolution has a way of enforcing that "if you don't use it you lose it" mentality. #2025MMM #RIP doi.org/10.1016/j.ym…

— Eduardo Amorim (@cegamorim.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:03:30.656Z

Time for an #InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:05:02.332Z

#InspirationalIntermission #2025MMM

— Katie Hinde (@mammalssuck.bsky.social) 2025-03-13T01:06:25.816Z