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Next up: 6th-seeded Diana Monkey (Cercopithecus diana) & Red Colobus Monkey (Procolobus badius) #SimianSquad vs. 11th-seeded Bornean Bat (Kerivoula hardwickii) & Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes hemsleyana) #TeamBatToilet. #2019MMM 
Our setting this afternoon is the Taï National Park, Ivory Coast. This tropical evergreen forest is home to almost a dozen different primate species, including both of these monkeys... #2019MMM
AND home to Western chimpanzees! #2019MMM
Chimpanzees may be the primary reason that Diana & Colobus monkeys associate with each other. Red colobus are a favorite prey species of chimpanzees & often experience GRAVE DANGER #2019MMM
Joining forces as multi-species groups (aka 'polyspecific associations') allows Diana & Colobus monkeys greater vigilance against predators. (Bshary & Noe 1997) #SimianSquad #2019MMM goo.gl/TpbSWy
As discussed by #ActualLivingScientist @Diana_monkey in her recent "scouting report" for #TagTeam Red Colobus/Diana: twitter.com/i/moments/1103…) #2019MMM
#TeamBatToilet is an odd partnership. How can a bat and a pitcher plant be adaptive "friends?" #2019MMM
Carnivorous plants are typically found where soil doesn't have many nutrients. Natural selection favored PLANT CARNIVORY as a way to convert insects into needed nutrients like nitrogen. Meat-eating in plants has evolved numerous times! #ConvergentEvolution. #2019MM
Our pitcher plant represents a slightly different adaptive approach. Bats provide the majority of the nutrients for these "Mutualistic Carnivorous Plants" BY POOPING IN THEM! #GuanaGetMeAMeal #2019MMM
Bat poop provides nutrients for the pitcher (covering 95% of their nitrogen demand), while the plant provides protection from parasites and a nice climate. #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #BatToilet #2019MMM
Check out this video (S1) of a bat finding a plant: sciencedirect.com/science/articl… #ReverseBatSignal #2019MMM
In the Tai forest, some Red Colobus hear the sound of approaching chimps & move closer to a nearby group of Diana Monkeys. (Noe & Bshary 1997) #2019MMM royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.109…
#TeamBatToilet has found itself in the Tai Forest nearby the foraging #SimianSquad . This isn't their normal habitat & pitcher plant is hopeful their bat friend can find its way home & avoid the persistent primates #2019MMM
Chimpanzee use coordinated attacks to capture prey and often wreak havoc while doing so. #2019MMM
#SimianSquad hear the chimps getting closer & decide it is best to get out of the way in order to feed another day #2019MMM
in their dash to safety a Colobus runs over the Pitcher Plant that was waiting for its #TeamBatToilet companion to come home #squish #2019MMM
DIANA MONKEY & RED COLOBUS TRAMPLE BORNEAN BAT & PITCHER PLANT #2019MMM
