Thread by @chumblebiome

NEXT UP: 7th seeded Tayra (Eira barbara) VS 10th seeded Falanouc (Eupleres goudotii) #2020MMM

Bushdog, irara, gato negro, perro de monte, lepasil, tayra. Our first combatant is a #MustelidofManyNames - every country in its range has their own name. The genus alludes to this: Eira is Guarani [indigenous language spoken by peoples of Bolivia/Paraguay] for tayra. #2020MMM

Found throughout Central and South America, the tayra [common name in Colombia] is one of the most common carnivores in its range since it can live near humans in smaller (or more fragmented) habitats. The IUCN currently lists them as "Of Least Concern". #2020MMM " src="/images/1px.png" data-src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ES37FcVXgAMwQTs.png">

In contrast, the falanouc is only found on [endemic to] the island of Madagascar. These shy, rare Feliform carnivores are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to habitat loss and competition from other invasive carnivores, such as dogs and the Indian civet. #2020MMM " src="/images/1px.png" data-src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ES37MzAXYAIc3Vl.png">

(Check out some of this cool work about how habitat degradation and invasive carnivores affect native Malagasy carnivore activity patterns - our very own Asia @am_anatiala contributed to this research!) #2020MMM bit.ly/2vODYKM

Tonight's battle takes place near La Selva Biological Station in Northern Costa Rica. This protected lowland tropical rainforest is one of the most important tropical research sites in the world. #2020MMM tropicalstudies.org/portfolio/la-s…

It's late afternoon, and we just catch a glimpse of a long, dark, bushy tail disappear into the undergrowth. We're on the home turf of the tayra or, as it's known in Costa Rica, the tolomuco. #2020MMM

This male is 70cm long (2 stoat-lengths) & weighs in at a whopping 7kg (30.7 stoats). This hulky boi is quite the #MightyMustelid. #StoatsAsMeasurement #2020MMM

He's also quite the smart boi - this omnivore has stashed some plantains in a nearby tree and has been waiting for them to ripen before feasting. #2020MMM sciencemag.org/news/2011/08/d…

Right when he's about to climb the tree with his treasure, he hears something rustling nearby. Tayra doesn't have the greatest eyesight, but, like most of its Caniform relatives, it does have a great sense of smell. The tayra stands up on his back legs,sniffing the air. #2020MMM

A very fancy little mongoose-like creature has appeared in the forest! The #FancyFalanouc is about 50cm long (1.5 stoat-lengths), 4 kg (17.5 stoats), but doesn't look like the rest of its Feliform relatives. #2020MMM

The tayra isn't the first to be confused by the falanouc. Madagascar's most specialized carnivore, the falanouc has conical teeth characteristic of an insectivore, leading it to be once classed as one. #2020MMM bit.ly/2vYCQEi

This tooth shape helps crunch through an insect's hard exoskeleton. Instead of sharpened #carnassials, our #FancyFalanouc also has flat, backwards-curving premolars that may help when they're eating things like earthworms, snails, and slugs. #2020MMM

Another specialization at odds with the rest of their Feliform brethren, the falanouc has nonretractile claws that may help when they're digging for their invertebrate prey! #2020MMM bit.ly/39EPdDY

The #FancyFalanouc is only a few feet away from the ornery and plantain-protective tayra, but the falanouc is disoriented and groggy - he's normally asleep at this point in the day. #2020MMM

The tayra lets out a low, threatening growl while moving his body up and down. No one's getting his plantains. #SoundOn #2020MMM

The falanouc freezes for a moment - should he fight or live to fatten his tail another day?? He opts for the latter, leaving the tayra to his plantains in peace. #RetreatIsTheBetterPartOfValor #2020MMM

TAYRA DEFEATS FALANOUC #2020MMM