UP NEXT: 8-seed Red-crested Tree Rat vs. 9-seed Red & White Giant Flying Squirrel #2021MMM 
This battle was crafted by @PKurnath, but I will be pinch-hitting the tweeting for her tonight #2021MMM
Another battle with two competitors from Rodentia! Another tough decision for @MC_Marmot #TeamRodent #TeamRat #TeamSquirrel #2021MMM
Red-Crested Tree Rat is a rare & endangered rodent about the size of guinea pig that was found in Colombian forests in 1898 and 2011 - and that's it! [Photo by Lizzie Noble] #TeamRat #2021MMM tinyurl.com/f8u6td7d
The Tree Rat's scientific name, Santamartamys rufodorsalis, says a lot about it: where it lives (Santa Marta mountains), that it's related to mice (mys) and has a red back (rufo & dorsalis, Velazco et al. 2017) #WhatsInAName #2021MMM tinyurl.com/4wbcy56p
Tonight's sciurid competitor is the Red & White Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista alborufus), another helpfully descriptive name #TeamSquirrel #2021MMM
This RWG Flying Squirrel calls the montane forests of Taiwan, southern China & parts of Myanmar home, where it glides between trees using its patagium, folds of skin stretching from forelimbs to hind limbs #WordoftheDay #2021MMM iucnredlist.org/species/16718/…
Tonight, we find both rodents in the Andean cloud forests within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park @ParquesColombia, which was designated @UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1979 #AdvantageTeamRat #2021MMM tinyurl.com/4skbvv83
Red & White Giant Flying Squirrel does not feel out of place in this new forest habitat and begins to forage on leaves nearby (Shafique et al 2006) #2021MMM tinyurl.com/vxwpx9e8
The RWG Flying Squirrel abruptly stills, scanning the scene carefully... and squeaks with alarm (Newar and Bowman 2020) #2021MMM tinyurl.com/3kkrvhps
Suddenly, Red-Crested Tree Rat launches from behind RWG Flying Squirrel and begins a boxing-style attack on the squirrel!
(Wilkinson 2002) #2021MMM tinyurl.com/2hr87pes
(Wilkinson 2002) #2021MMM tinyurl.com/2hr87pes
Red-Crested Tree Rat stands upright to punch, grab, & push the RWG Flying Squirrel!
(Behaviors observed in other spiny tree rats defending their nests, Fig. 1 from Wilkinson 2002) #2021MMM
(Behaviors observed in other spiny tree rats defending their nests, Fig. 1 from Wilkinson 2002) #2021MMM
The larger RWG Flying Squirrel clumsily attempts to grapple with the Tree Rat... #2021MMM
BUT NATURAL SELECTION HASN'T FAVORED THE RED & WHITE FLYING SQUIRREL'S PATAGIUM FOR FIGHTING!!!
#FightOrFlight #2021MMM
#FightOrFlight #2021MMM
The RWG Flying Squirrel demonstrates its most magnificent adaption!
Launching away from the Red-Crested Tree Rat off the branch, arms & legs stretched precisely for a gorgeous gliding turn to the left #AmbiTurner (Koli et al 2011) #2021MMM tinyurl.com/yuz2bubf
Launching away from the Red-Crested Tree Rat off the branch, arms & legs stretched precisely for a gorgeous gliding turn to the left #AmbiTurner (Koli et al 2011) #2021MMM tinyurl.com/yuz2bubf
RED-CRESTED TREE RAT BEATBOXES AWAY RED & WHITE GIANT FLYING SQUIRREL!! #2021MMM
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