Thread by @chumblebiome

LAST UP: from the Myths & Monsters Division: 1st seed Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) vs 6th seed Sphinx Monkey (Mandrillus sphinx) #2021MMM

This battle brought to you with a little extra spice from @Mammals_Suck! #2021MMM

Our last combatants of the night are the last of the titans from our Of Myths and Monsters division! Despite the #CARNAGE that has befallen the rest of the division, Harpy Eagle and Sphinx Monkey have each had their own charmed version of the Hero's Journey #2021MMM

On her journey to the #EliteTrait, Harpy eagle unwittingly dispatched Goliath beetle, snatched an #IncidentalMustelid feeding on Ghost Bat, and disemboweled the Devil Frog. #2021MMM

Meanwhile, Sphinx Monkey devoured Black and Red Bush Squirrel, watched Chimpanzee get smacked around by Harpy Eagle's cousin, and crunch-spat out the Ifrit. #2021MMM

Now, the largest, most powerful rainforest raptor faces off against the largest and heaviest living monkey... #2021MMM

In a teeny tiny forest!!

Tonights random #EliteTrait battle location is a dwarf/elfin forest! #2021MMM

Specifically, we're in one of the largest known dwarf forests - the dwarf forests of Mount Hamiguitan in Silangang Davao [Tagalog name; English: Davao Oriental] on the island of Mindanao in the Phillippines. #2021MMM [Pic: Remo Aguilar hikersitch.com/mountains/mt-h…]

This mountain range is protected as a Pambansang Liwasan ng Pilipinas [National Park of the Philippines] & @UNESCO World Heritage Site. This #BiodiversityHotspot is home to cousins of BOTH combatants: the Philippine tarsier & the Philippine eagle. #2021MMM kids.frontiersin.org/article/10.338…

However, in stark contrast to the lush rainforests both combatants are from, dwarf forests are much harsher environments. Dwarf forests are found at high elevations, where trees become stunted due to high wind & poor soil. #2021MMM [Pic: Sarah Jane Elizar journeyingsarah.blogspot.com/2011/06/mt-ham…]

Our confused Harpy Eagle arrives on the scene via #MMMMagic and gingerly lands on an mini almasiga tree. At 9kg (41 stoats), she's a lot of bird for this 4.5 ft tall tree. The tree creaks under her. #StoatsAsMeasurement #2021MMM eazytraveler.net/2017/07/mount-…

Harpy eagles, unlike many other raptors, aren't built for soaring - they're built for moving from tree to tree in a dense rainforest and watching from prey from some of the tallest trees in the world. These itty bitty trees aren't great substitutes and she's agitated. #2021MMM

On cue, our massive male Mandrill wanders onto the scene. Where's all the food?? Half his normal diet is fruit, but all the colorful stuff he's finding are weird pitcher plants. (Tutin et al 1999) #2021MMM pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9108968/

Mandrill barely has to look up to the top of the tiny tree canopy to see... THE BIGGEST CROWNED HAWK-EAGLE EVER!!! At least Mandrill would THINK it's a Crowned Hawk-Eagle... #HarpyEagle #2021MMM

Typically, when it comes to predatory raptors a Fully Operational Battle Station... I mean a Fully Adult Male Mandrill...only needs to be vigilant on behalf of the small kin of their group... #2021MMM

The dominant male lets out a loud alarm bark at Harpy Eagle, warning it to back off. (Yorzinski and Vehrencamp 2008) #DontMakeHimAngry #2021MMM yumpu.com/en/document/re…

Harpy Eagle glowers down at the Mandrill. She hunts howler monkeys, she's heard worse. #2021MMM

She considers the angry mandrill. Yes, he's twice as big as her usual prey, but she's feeling peckish and this mandrill would easily feed her for a WEEK. (Aguiar-Silva 2014) #2021MMM doi.org/10.3356/JRR-13…

As Mandrill advances on Harpy Eagle's tree, she takes flight! #WingSpan Mandrill shows he means business by slapping both hands on the ground in a fast movement while staring directly at the Harpy Eagle. #AngryTapDance (Setchell and Wickings 2005) #2021MMM doi.org/10.1111/j.1439…

Mandrill charge-jumps in response, mouth agape and big canines exposed. Mandrill's trying to take a chunk out of Harpy Eagle's leg! #2021MMM [Pic: HeatherW on Flickr flickr.com/photos/heather…]

Harpy Eagle PIVOTS IN THE AIR by using her rudder like tail to avoid his attack and slashes at his back with her grizzly-bear-esque TALONS! #2021MMM

Mandrill stumbles, but he didn't earn Alpha picking daisies. His nose flames BRIGHT RED, signaling both his status & his current emboldened emotional level. (Setchell and Wickings 2005) #2021MMM doi.org/10.1111/j.1439…

This ain't Fight or Flight... THIS IS FIGHT vs. FLIGHT FIGHT! #2021MMM

Mandrill springs up, shaking his fluffed up hair, sending splatters of blood flying. #2021MMM

Nostrils flared and canines bared, Mandrill lunges AGAIN... #2021MMM

AS HARPY EAGLE IS DIVE STREAKING AT MANDRILL WITH TALONS OUT!!! #2021MMM

MANDRILL's leap was angled away from Harpy Eagle so he could get into the dense cover of the short trees!! From above Harpy Eagle can't access Mandrill through the squat branches!!!! #2021MMM

SNAP!!!!! #2021MMM

The fragile branches are cracking as Harpy Eagle finds a weakness in the canopy... #CleverGirl #2021MMM

Mandrill accesses a tiny dry streambed caused by a last rain season downpour in the thicket that allows him to commando crawl... OUT OF THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!! #DiscretionIsTheBetterPartOfValor #TheOtherMMMSlogan #2021MMM

HARPY EAGLE TERRIFIES SPHINX MONKEY! #2021MMM