,
23 tweets,
10 min read
Read on Twitter
Before I start, I want to acknowledge the work @TCastanea and @c_n_anderson put in on this. It was a team effort #2019MMM
First up tonight we have the winner of the CAT-e-GORY division: the Sea Lion against the terrible TAG TEAM twosome. Individually they are the Mongoose and the Warthog, but you know them as theeee WARRRRRGOOSE #2019MMM
Tonight's battle again features a randomly selected habitat. Let's check the machine.. and it comes up with.... Oh folks this is interesting, tonight's battle takes place in the Thorn Forests of the Deccan Plateau in the Southwest of India #2019MMM (Img wikimedia) 
Wargoose battled in this same thorn forest for the Elite Trait battle, and while the outcome was a "W" for team Wargoose it was not without...complications #everyrosehasitsthorn #2019MMM
In the last battle, warthog sustained a zebra kick to its skull...got knocked down, but got up again. Can anyone keep WARGOOSE down? Who's in for a thumping tonight? Let's find out! #2019MMM
Typically, California Sea Lions set up territories in June & the peak-breeding season is in July (Riedman 1990). They communicate with neighbors with barks (Peterson & Bartholomew 1969) #2019MMM
“Airborne vocalizations play an important role in the communication system involved in the establishment & maintenance of social organization of breeding California Sea Lions” (Peterson & Bartholomew 1969) #2019MMM
“The vocalizations of adult males relate primarily to territorial behavior & social status. They have only a single major type of vocalization, the bark, but vary its rhythm, repetition, loudness, and direction according to social context” (Peterson & Bartholomew 1969) #2019MMM
Shade & water are important resources for territorial male sea lions. It keeps them cool (Young & Gerber 2008) #2019MMM
Our large male sea lion is in peak shape & has left every battle unscathed without any wounds or injuries. He’s READY for battle #2019MMM
The sea lion monitors his territory by resting, patrolling, and sitting upright (Young & Gerber 2008) when he notices two interlopers lounging in the shade. It's the mongoose grooming it's warthog companion #2019MMM
As Wargoose move through the thorn forest, the hardened Herpestid & the strapping Suid hear a loud bark. Having traveled through ice & fire the pair has gotta be bad, they gotta be bold, they gotta be wiser, They gotta be hard, they gotta be tough, they gotta be stronger #2019MMM
Approaching using a combination of deft movements (mongoose) and thick hide (warthog), they stare down at the Sea Lion #2019MMM
Defending a territory uses a lot of energy & Sea lion is HOT. His body has a low surface area to volume ratio and has thick fur to help insulate. Here, in the forest, without the cooling balm of the Pacific, your boy's feeling the heat #2019MMM
Filled with testosterone (and omelet) the Sea Lion will absolutely allow no competitors to enter his newfound territory and will let no usurper’s challenges go unanswered #2019MMM
The Sea Lion charges..sort of. See despite being more adept at terrestrial movement than seals, sea lions are definitely built for aquatic movement. His lunging, undulations through the underbrush take him crashing through the thorn trees #2019MMM
The thorns find purchase upon the fur and skin of the sea lion, each one a stiletto to the charging behemoth. For 100 yards the Sea Lion defends its territory, and for 100 yards it is raked and stabbed by the thorns #2019MMM
By the time it arrives at the interloping duo, the sea lion is weakened by blood loss. Its vision grows dark. The sea lion snaps knowing that the challengers are out there, but despite all the rage, it is trapped in the fragile cage (of its body) #2019MMM
Team Wargoose strikes at the weakened foe. With terrible tusks and carnage inducing CARNASSIALS the two ravage the exsanguinated Sea Lion #2019MMM
WARTHOG & MONGOOSE savage SEA LION #2019MMM
