Thread by @MarcKissel

NEXT UP: #2 Coyote & Badger vs. #7 Wattled Jacana & Capybara #2019MMM (co-narrated w/ @TanisBP)

Badger's can bite with 316 Newtons of pressure! Their lower jaws fully lock into their skulls, preventing dislocation & side-to side movement. #2019MMM

Coyotes have elaborate vocalizations & are commonly heard by people in rural areas. Although people tend to overestimate how many they hear, leading to unnecessary fear in humans (figure from: bit.ly/2YlCqBl) #2019MMM

In many Jacanas, the males do the nest-building. Male keep their eggs dry & warm by covering them with their wings. He also sometimes brings the eggs to a new place by carying them with his wings #birddad #2019MMM

Capybara live in groups of ~10 adults. They are often attacked by large felines & other predators so as they will use "loud barks" as alarm calls, which can send the group running to the water. Oftentimes, they will huddle in a tight circle with the young in the center #2019MMM

Tonight's battle takes place in the xeric desert of Reserva de la Biosfera Mapimí, a UNESCO word heritage site where Coyote & Badger are comfortable loping across the dry plains chihuahua.gob.mx/areas/mapimi #2019MMM

Less comfortable are the Capybara & the Wattled Jacana, resting in the shade of a tree to escape some lingering heat as the sun goes down. #2019MMM

Fossil capybara species are found in Mexico, having migrated north during the Great American Biotic Interchange (when the Isthmus of Panama was formed). Neochoerus pinckneyi was one of the largest rodents ever (40% bigger than extant capybara) #ExtinctROUS #2019MMM

Dust & grit from the dry environment cover the grasses but the Cabybara browses away regardless. Capybara have ever-growing molars in addition to the ever-growing incisors common to all rodents, so it is not worried about the dust grinding their molars down. #2019MMM

Not far away, Coyote picks up an unfamiliar animal scent & lopes over to investigate. Badger smells something too, a small ephemeral pond, & moves away from coyote to take a drink. #BadYote #2019MMM

Capybaras usually rely on the many vigilant eyes in their large social groups to spot predators. Not prepared for CONSTANT VIGILANCE, Capybara is oblivious to the Coyote approaching from behind #2019MMM

Luckily the Jacana sounds the alarm. But feeling out of water on the dry hard ground, Jacana takes flight to avoid the canid predator, abandoning Capybara! #2019MMM

Coyote doesn't recognize this animal & rather than attack, plays to gain knowledge about this unfamiliar animal (bit.ly/2TRWsoi) #2019MMM

Capybara relies on a tried & true defense...run to deep water! This often works against jaguars in South America. Other times, not so much..... #2019MMM

Badger sees the Capybara running towards the water & quickly calculates a path to cut it off, as badger do when above ground hunting squirrels running to cover. (bit.ly/2ToBhoR) #2019MMM

Badger slams into Capybara, slashing with long powerful, digging claws & severs an artery #carnage #2019MMM

Seeing and smelling blood, Coyote realizes the Capybara is food! #2019MMM

Tugging at the capybara from opposite sides, the coyote & badger tear strips of flesh to then slice chew with their carnivora carnassials #BadYote #2019MMM

COYOTE & BADGER SCARE & CONSUME WATTLED JACANA & CAPYBARA, respectively #2019MMM