Thread by @MarcKissel

Next up: No. 2 ranked Amebelodon fricki vs. no. 7 ranked Homo floresiensis!!! #2018MMM

In the first round Amebelodon sent Deinogalerix koenigswald flying through the air, while Homo floresiensis outwitted the tiny Palaeoloxodon #2018MMM

Amebelodon is a member of the Gomphotheriidae family, a group of extinct elephant-like mammals. Whether all the species currently placed in the amebelodon genus are descended from a common ancestor (e.g., are monophyletic) or not is a topic of some debate #2018MMM

Some Amebelodon were huge, with a mass of over 20,000 lbs (9071 kgs, or ~41 kilostoats ). A. fricki was probably larger than a modern elephant, but its exact size seems uncertain. #2018MMM

As we learned before, Amebelodon are distinguished by having both upper and lower tusks, with the lower ones flattened & narrow, leading to the name"shovel-tusked" #2018MMM

Homo floresensis, also known as "Hobbits", is a 1.1 meter tall hominin. Its phylogenetic status is also up to debate. This paper by Karen Baab is a great overview of what is known about this species: goo.gl/Re3obM #2018MMM

"As mentioned 2 weeks ago, the cause of Flo's short stature could be due to pathology or due to island dwarfism, though recent work suggests the island dwarfism hypothesis best fits the current data #2018MMM
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Amebelodon fossils are found throughout North America, including the Moss Acres Racetrack site in north Florida and the Ash Hollow Formation of Nebraska. goo.gl/rvQXGy #2018MMM

Our battle takes place in what is present day Nebraska 7 million years ago (the late Miocene). Flo is not really accustomed to this environment (see "Komodo Dragon vs. Eurasian Eagle Owl" from earlier tonight for more on island of Flores) & is getting cold #2018MMM

Flo sets off for some shelter from the weather. There is <some> evidence that they used fire but few archaeologists are convinced by this. When human ancestors controlled fire is a hot topic #NotGoingToFanFlamesOfDebateHere #2018MMM

"Homo floresiensis sees a massive animal approaching in the distance. As it get closer, she notes it is 400 times bigger than she is! But Flo is tired, hungry, and still jazzed about her victory over the mini elephant #2018MMM
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Humans have interacted with elephants for hundreds of thousands of years. The field of Ethnoelephantology studies "human and elephant relationships" goo.gl/oqwoQs #2018MMM

Prehistoric hunters in what is now North America may have killed mammoth and cached the meat for later...but these were modern humans and not a 1.1 meter tall hominin goo.gl/nLxYEc #2018MMM

Amebelodon is startled by the hominin. Startled elephants often stampede and Ambelodon charges right towards Flo! #2018MMM

Stampeding elephants are very dangerous. According to the Worst Case Survival Handbook you should take cover rather than try to outrun them. goo.gl/iY9Z8u #2018MMM

Description of surviving a stampede from "Elephant Gold" by P.D. Stracey:"[the elephant] suddenly whipped round & charged him; he tripped...& sat down at the base of a tree &perhaps this may have made the elephant lose sight of him & charge on.." goo.gl/Tk9DZN #2018MMM

Flo tumbles out of the way before Amebeoldon reaches her & she runs to hide in a neaby tree #smart #2018MMM

AMEBELODON SCARES OFF HOMO FLORESIENSIS #2018MMM