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NEXT UP: 9-BANDED ARMADILLO (Dasypus novemcinctus; 10) vs STREAKED TENREC (Hemicentetes semispinosus; 15)! #2019MMM
Last week, the 9-banded armadillo went up against & suffered no injuries due to the sifaka during its nice vacation to Madagascar.
The streaked tenrec also suffered no injuries (other than to its pride) against its battle with the markhor. #2019MMM
The streaked tenrec also suffered no injuries (other than to its pride) against its battle with the markhor. #2019MMM
The tenrec is now transported from the rocky ledge in cold northeast Afghanistan to a patch of scrubland in the much milder state of Texas, where our armadillo is just leaving his burrow & where tonight's battle takes place! #2019MMM
Despite being Texas' state small mammal, the 1st armadillo appeared in the state in the 1800s & became established by 1995. Xiao Feng an #ActualLivingScientist lab.fengxiao.info found that armadillos could feasibly live in Delaware & Jersey! researchgate.net/publication/26… #2019MMM
Like the streaked tenrec (who even now is exploring this new environment) the armadillo is limited by cold temps. But tenrecs can reduce their activity & metabolic rate to outwait unfriendly conditions; one species can remain torpid for 9 months. jeb.biologists.org/content/221/20… #2019MMM 
This ability might've allowed prehistoric small mammals to survive the Cretaceous extinction australiangeographic.com.au/news/2014/10/h….
Two #ActualLivingScientists that study tenrecs are Drs. Soarimalala @vsoarimalala (researchgate.net/profile/Voahan…) & Levesque @dl_levesque. #2019MMM
Two #ActualLivingScientists that study tenrecs are Drs. Soarimalala @vsoarimalala (researchgate.net/profile/Voahan…) & Levesque @dl_levesque. #2019MMM
But right now, the tenrec doesn't have to worry about an asteroid falling from the sky.
He snuffles in the dirt right by the armadillo's burrow entrance. #2019MMM
He snuffles in the dirt right by the armadillo's burrow entrance. #2019MMM
[AND WE'RE BACK]
The armadillo, who is coming out to begin his night of foraging, leaves the burrow & stops at the sight of this smol yellow-black thing at his feet.
Y'all know what's coming. #2019MMM
The armadillo, who is coming out to begin his night of foraging, leaves the burrow & stops at the sight of this smol yellow-black thing at his feet.
Y'all know what's coming. #2019MMM
The streaked tenrec bucks & rushes the armadillo, jumping for maximum impact! #2019MMM
(The tenrec doesn't have many moves in his repetoire: smithsonianmag.com/science-nature… #2019MMM)
The tenrec bounces off the armadillo's armor! #2019MMM
The armadillo promptly turns around & lodges himself into his burrow.
If the streaked tenrec was interested in pulling the armadillo out (& had hands), he would have a hard time, as the armadillo is currently bracing his feet on the burrow's walls for dear life. #2019MMM
If the streaked tenrec was interested in pulling the armadillo out (& had hands), he would have a hard time, as the armadillo is currently bracing his feet on the burrow's walls for dear life. #2019MMM
But the streaked tenrec isn't interested in the armadillo now that it has left his (weak) sight.
He continues on his snuffling way, his spines clicking as he calls for his family. #2019MMM
He continues on his snuffling way, his spines clicking as he calls for his family. #2019MMM
9-BANDED ARMADILLO OUTWAITS STREAKED TENREC #2019MMM
