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NEXT UP: 6th seed Crab-Eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) vs. 11th seed Greater Moonrat (Echinosorex gymnura) #2019MMM 
The dawn is rising on the Brazilian Cerrado, or tropical woodland savanna of central Brazil. The Cerrado is the most biodiverse savannah in the world: 5% of the world's plants & animals are native to this biome. #2019MMM kids.frontiersin.org/article/10.338…
The Cerrado is the "cradle of waters" since provides headwaters for S.America's most important rivers+3 large aquifers. However, the region's biodiversity is threatened by the growth of cattle ranching & soybeans. #2019MMM news.mongabay.com/2018/03/cerrad… PC: sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
The habitat generalist crab-eating fox (IUCN status: Least Concern) prefers the forest, but can still make use of the deforested area surrounding a livestock pasture. #2019MMM sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
We find our omnivorous fox making her way back to a burrow after a less-than-successful night of hunting. While obviously known for her love of crab, our 7.7 kg fox will take what she can get. #2019MMM scielo.br/pdf/rbzool/v23…
She notices a curious white rat-like creature near her burrow. Perhaps there's some rodent on the menu after all? #2019MMM
The 1.5kg moonrat is scurrying a bit frantically in the open savanna. She prefers the heavy canopy coverage offered by the lowland tropical jungles of Borneo that she calls home. (IUCN status: Least Concern) #2019MMM researchgate.net/publication/32…
Despite the name, these curious creatures are more closely related to the hedgehog than any rat. One of the largest of the family Erinaceidae, these "hairy hedgehogs" are primarily carnivorous & prefer foraging alone for worms or frogs at night. #2019MMM Photo by Oliver Wearn
As the moonrat sees dawn breaking, Moonrat decides to call this seemingly abandoned den home until nightfall. Moonrat starts marking the territory around the fox's den. #MINE #2019MMM books.google.com/books?id=T37sF…
The fox approaches stealthily. If Fox pulls this hunt off, she'll have nice dinner right at her own front door! Moonrat is putting her final (and most...powerful) touches around the den, when she hears something behind her. #2019MMM
Just as the fox is about to pounce, the wind shifts! Fox is hit with the strong scent of rotting onions/ammonia. #MoonratPower #2019MMM
The moonrat flips around & starts hiss-puffing! Moonrat stands her ground, in turn hissing & emitting a low roar. #2019MMM
Between the powerful smell & the Moonrat defensive aggression, Fox doesn't find this a fight worth having. Fox runs off (upwind) towards a riparian shrubland nearby. #2019MMM
MOONRAT DISGUSTS CRAB-EATING FOX #2019MMM
