Thread by @je_light

UP FIRST TONIGHT: everyone's favorite river horse, the 1-seeded PYGMY HIPPO Hexaprotodon (formally Choeropsis) liberiensis, vs. the scrappy 4-seeded brush wolf, COYOTE Canis latrans! #2018MMM

Many minds came together to bring you tonight's first battle, so a quick hat-tip to @AnneWHilborn, @PKurnath, @TCastanea, & @tinkeringprim8. Seriously, the #teamwork has been amazing #Monstars #2018MMM

To reach the #FinalRoar, Hippo crushed star-nosed mole, intimidated both maned rat & Tasmanian devil, & STOMPED the cheetah out of competition #hangryhippo #2018MMM

Coyote chased off opossum, chomped on sewer rat, got an unexpected 'vengeful driver' assist to outlast Harar hyena, & made a meal out the bracket-breaking porcupine #winning #2018MMM

Both competitors thus enter the arena well-fed & in fine fighting shape #2018MMM

And what an arena it is! Today's match-up takes place within the 843 acres of land that make up the most visited urban parkland in America: New York City's Central Park #2018MMM

Central Park is no stranger to wildlife. It is home to animals as varied as bats, turtles, owls, raccoons, squirrels, & occasional COYOTES. Over 130 species (though not Hippos) also reside in the Central Park Zoo @centralparkzoo #2018MMM me.me/i/skeptical-hi…

In 2002, an entirely new genus of centipede was also discovered in Central Park's leaf litter! @amnh nytimes.com/2002/07/24/nyr… #AtlMammal #2018MMM

Although Hippos aren't typically found in Central Park, it's an environment with plenty of an important Hippo resource: water. The park has streams, ponds, & a ~20-acre lake, in addition to the billion-gallon reservoir that was built in the 1860s #wholelottawater #2018MMM

Hippos spend most of their days in water to avoid sun damage & to keep cool. Hippos lack sweat glands so have GREAT ADAPTATIONS to thermoregulate besides evaporative water loss #bloodsweat #METAL #2018MMM

After a battle in the dry grasslands vs the cheetah, our Hippo needs water & submerges itself for a bit in the Central Park Lake (#FunFact: this lake was once a swamp but now is a favorite place for humans & wildlife alike; centralpark.com/things-to-do/a…) #2018MMM

Oooh, that water is...COLD #2018MMM

But that's not a problem for Hippo at the moment. Its sub-cutaneous layer of fat is providing just enough insulation to keep it from entering hypothermia (thermal image from Tattersall & Cadena 2010) #BooYah #2018MMM

Coyote is our last mammal standing from the URBAN JUNGLE Division. Have you all seen @BBCEarth's Blue Planet episode on cities? It's fabulous & features several of our competitors in the #urbanjungle division #blueplanet bbcamerica.com/shows/planet-e… #2018MMM

.@GothamCoyote is a consortium of researchers, educators, & students working to study the ecology of the northeastern Coyote in New York City & the region. Check out their website to see how you can get involved gothamcoyote.com/projects.html #citizenscience #AskACoyote #2018MMM

One way @GothamCoyote studies wildlife is with remote cameras to understand how different species are impacted by different levels of urbanization, the size of the park they live in, & the presence of Coyotes #cameratrap #WhoDat #mammalwatching #2018MMM

#ActualLivingScientist @weispygmyhippos knows how exciting it is when you finally get a Pygmy Hippo on camera! Go ahead and watch, we'll wait @BBCTwo #2018MMM

Coyote is heading towards the zoo (centralparkzoo.com), attracted by the unusal scents. But a large, dark shape in the lake catches its eye ... #2018MMM

Coyotes show varying degrees of fear when presented with something new (scientists call it neophobia). When Coyotes are in familiar environments, visual cues are more likely to elicit neophobic responses researchgate.net/publication/23… #WhoDat #2018MMM

Dominant (or alpha) Coyotes are less neophobic than subordinates, which is often interpreted as the dominant individuals being more likely to take risks digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewconten…. Our Coyote is a dominant male #NoFear #2018MMM

The lake isn't completely thawed from the winter, &, with caution, Coyote steps out onto the ice to investigate the unusual shape in the water #RiskyBusiness #2018MMM

Coyote walks to the edge of the ice, but Hippo doesn't like how close Coyote gets & gives him a warning yawn #2018MMM

The ice is thin & Hippo's movement dislodges a chunk of ice, sending Coyote into the water! #Splash #2018MMM

Ooh that cold water stings! Coyote has fur to help keep him warm, but wet fur is a poor insulator. Falling into frozen water can be deadly for foxes...& coyotes??
nytimes.com/2017/01/13/sci…
pic by Johannes Stehle #Pupsicle #bestcarcass #2018MMM

Before becoming a furry ice cube crunched up in Hippo's jaws, Coyote scrambles out of the water. Its shakes the excess water out of its fur, but Coyote is now cold & disturbed by the aquatic-monster attack. Coyote starts acting erratically... #2018MMM

Meanwhile, several Manhattanites out on an evening stroll through Central Park spot the Coyote shivering and become worried #2018MMM

Coyotes have been considered nuisance animals in Central Park, NYC, & surrounding areas, with rabid animals being of particular concern narrative.ly/tracking-the-g… #2018MMM

Given its erratic behavior, the Manhattanites call local Urban Park Rangers while keeping a close eye on the Coyote, following it at a safe & recommended distance of 150 ft nycgovparks.org/programs/range… #2018MMM

Although rabies is fairly rare in coyotes, it is a fatal disease to mammals (including humans) & people are concerned. Recently, a rabid coyote bit 8 people in Yonkers cbsnews.com/news/coyote-th… #2018MMM

To test an animal for rabies requires collecting brain tissue, & the euthanasia of the animal #Cliffhanger #2018MMM

The Urban Park Rangers arrive with Animal Control & assess the animal's behavior #2018MMM

This animal didn't bite anyone, so there is no rush or reason to treat a human patient. The Rangers & Animal Control assess: it is clear that Coyote is hypothermic. They safely dart & capture the Coyote (avoiding a city-wide chase; nytimes.com/2006/03/23/nyr…) #2018MMM

Working with several rehabilitators & conservation groups, the Coyote is taken to a facility for treatment & released back into the wild #2018MMM

Meanwhile, the Hippo..... #2018MMM

.....goes completely unnoticed #SneakyHippo #nothingtoseehere #stillhangry #2018MMM gettyimages.com/detail/photo/s…

PYGMY HIPPO DEFEATS COYOTE!!! #2018MMM