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NEXT UP from the CAT-e-GORY division: Sea Lion (1) vs Tiger Quoll (7)!!! #2019MMM
[this has been a team effort between moi & @chumblebiome]
[this has been a team effort between moi & @chumblebiome]
In one corner we have our 15-stoat lightweight tiger quoll, the Cinderella of #2019MMM! He's snacked on catbirds, sat back & relaxed while nimravids duked it out, & scared off (he thinks) the fig-fascinated bear cat in Malaysia! #StoatsAsMeasurement 
In the other corner we have our 1300-stoat heavyweight California sea lion. He's smooshed the antlion, smooshed the catshark, & smooshed...uh, I mean, dallied while the tiger owl drowned in [REDACTED]. #2019MMM #StoatsAsMeasurement
Tonight's battle takes place in a randomly chosen ecosystem: a lake! #2019MMM
Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra Nevadas & in the heart of Washoe territory, specifically.
Not too much of a change for our sea lion, but definitely a new experience for the tiger quoll! washoetribe.us #2019MMM
Not too much of a change for our sea lion, but definitely a new experience for the tiger quoll! washoetribe.us #2019MMM
We spy a smol spotted thing paddling desperately.
Lake Tahoe is the largest apline lake in North America & is famous for its clarity. Although recently, thanks to pollution, etc. whatever, clarity has been declining, we can still see 90 feet down into its blue depths. #2019MMM
Lake Tahoe is the largest apline lake in North America & is famous for its clarity. Although recently, thanks to pollution, etc. whatever, clarity has been declining, we can still see 90 feet down into its blue depths. #2019MMM
Because we can see so deep, we can quite clearly see...something large & thicc...swimming in the same direction as the quoll, perhaps 30 feet behind it. #2019MMM
The tiger quoll is too busy trying to swim to shore to notice that he's being tailed. He's an animal that was made for rocky ledges, open forests & woodlands ro.uow.edu.au/theses/686/ but he can swim when he needs to, like his cuz the Tazzie Devil parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=4…. #2019MMM
Sea lion status: chillin.
He's used to the Pacific, where temps don't go higher than 65. The lake is around 20 degrees cooler, but he's got a nice layer of blubber to keep him warm.
Right now, he's more concerned with this weird thing paddling ahead of him. #2019MMM
He's used to the Pacific, where temps don't go higher than 65. The lake is around 20 degrees cooler, but he's got a nice layer of blubber to keep him warm.
Right now, he's more concerned with this weird thing paddling ahead of him. #2019MMM
He increases his speed to match the quoll. He can easily swim laps around the quoll thanks to his streamlined body, & he does so.
He's feeling kinda playful. wamu.org/story/18/09/28… #2019MMM
He's feeling kinda playful. wamu.org/story/18/09/28… #2019MMM
The quoll isn't feeling anything close to playful & attempts to bare his teeth as a warning. He swallows a mouthful of the cold water. #2019MMM
The sea lion darts below & grabs the quoll's left hind leg in his mouth, diving down with his new toy. #2019MMM
DRAMATIC REENACTMENT OF SEA LION PLAYING WITH QUOLL #2019MMM
But soon, his toy stops being interesting. The sea lion lets go of the quoll's body & wonders which tributary he can swim down to get back to the Pacific westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/p…. #2019MMM
SEA LION DROWNS TIGER QUOLL! #2019MMM
