Dr. Chloe Josefson

NARWHAL OUTLASTS ZEBRA!!! #2025MMM

Narwhal follows another Arctic char, flushing it to the surface only to be snatched by a glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) (O'Corry-Crowe et al. 2025). #2025MMM

a dalmatian dog is sitting in the snow with a quote from the movie 101 dalmatians . ALT: a dalmatian dog is sitting in the snow with a quote from the movie 101 dalmatians .

Cold-water drowning can happen in minutes in the Arctic Sea: "Thermal conductivity of water is 20 to 25 times that of air, so a body will lose heat approximately three times faster in water than in air." (Rolf & Gallagher 2018) #2025MMM

Narwhal's large, hollow horn is aimed at Zebra, who is treading water with greater and greater difficulty... until... Zebra sinks below the icy water's surface... forever #2025MMM

...Zebra grows sluggish as the blood vessels in his legs constrict to redirect blood towards core organs. Zebra's legs become tired as his muscles run out of available energy after shivering in hopes of producing body heat (thermogenesis) #2025MMM

Though many mammals exhibit some degree of the mammalian diving reflex (or response), it is much stronger in aquatic mammals like Narwhal than terrestrial species. This physiological reflex is triggered by submersion in cold water & likely helps preserve oxygen stores (Godek & Freeman 2022) #2025MMM

As Narwhal returns from the depths, he spots something strange moving at the surface above. Narwhal’s laterally-oriented, smaller optic nerve canals mean that he likely has reduced depth perception but a wider field of view (monocular vision) (Racicot et al. 2018) #2025MMM

Zebra’s legs “stride powerfully underwater” (Stone 2008) as he attempts to swim to land he assumes would be surely upstream… but where? #2025MMM

But the water is much colder than Zebra was expecting. MMMagic has transported this odd-toed ungulate to the open waters of Baffin Bay, where sea ice is reaching its maximum coverage this time of year (Harning et al. 2021). #2025MMM

In the grasslands of the Mountain Zebra National Park in S. Africa, Zebra has just finished grazing for grasses and is at a watering hole for his daily drink of water (Penzhorn 1988). He takes a few steps into the water. #2025MMM

Narwhal's fishy playmate makes a quick escape by rapidly swimming in the opposite direction (O'Corry-Crowe et al. 2025). Narwhal plunges deeper into the Bay. #2025MMM

The function of Narwhal’s tusk (actually, a long, spiraled tooth!) is unclear, but very recent work shows that they are used in prey capture and in “exploration and likely play” (O’Corry-Crowe et al. 2025). #2025MMM

TONIGHT, we find Narwhal in the North Water Polynya in the northern Baffin Bay region of the Arctic. Narwhal swims near the surface, his tusk closely pursuing a single Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). #2025MMM

Mountain Zebra are increasing though still listed as vulnerable by IUCN due to habitat loss/encroachment, hunting & trapping, and drought (Gosling et al. 2019). Zebra have long been threatened w/ the 1st hunting ban in 1742 and populations nearing extinction in early 1900’s (Penzhorn 1988). #2025MMM

Narwal’s adaptations leaves them w/ little physiological flexibility to adjust swimming & diving behavior in response to rising ocean temperatures and restricts them to specific ecological niches vulnerable to the effects of climate change (Williams et al. 2011). #2025MMM

Narwal are physiologically adapted for icy waters w/ key diving muscles having high amounts of slow-twitch oxidative fibers that allow for endurance & myoglobin that allows for prolonged diving (Williams et al. 2011). #2025MMM

Last Up: 2-Seed NARWHAL (Monodon monoceros) vs. 6-Seed MOUNTAIN ZEBRA (Equus zebra). This battle is co-narrated by @tanisbp.bsky.social #2025MMM

Narwhal are physiologically adapted for icy waters with key diving muscles having high amounts of slow-twitch oxidative fibers that allow for endurance & myoglobin that allows for prolonged diving (Williams et al. 2011). #2025MMM

CAPE BUFFALO INTIMIDATES TAPIR! #2025MMM

TAPIR SURFACES ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE RIVER, and trots FURTHER FROM THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!! #2025MMM

Tapir holds her breath, fully submerged, and walks along the river bottom... (Gilmore 2007; Gearty 2012). #2025MMM

Cape Buffalo, standing carefully back from water's edge, watches the river for Tapir's emergence... #2025MMM

Cape Buffalo, 4x more massive, starts lumbering towards Malayan Tapir (Ng 2015) #2025MMM

Buffalo looks up from a patch of tall grasses to survey the strange black-and-white creature. Cape Buffalo gives a warning snort and then... #2025MMM

Unsure of her surroundings, Tapir lets out a squeal followed by a "hiccup" indicating her fear and agitation (Gilmore 2007; Gearty 2012; Tawa 2021) #2025MMM

Tapir places her snout into the mud.. and is transported by MMMagic to the banks along the Endabash River, where Buffalo is grazing on the periphery of his herd #2025MMM

MEANWHILE, in the Temengor Forest Reserve of northern Malaysia, solitary Tapir approaches the Tersau salt lick, a naturally-occurring deposit of minerals frequented by wild animals (like Tapir) to get essential nutrients to supplement her herbivorous diet (Tawa et al. 2021). #2025MMM

A juvenile and an adult male lion pick at the carcass of a dead Cape buffalo in a scene that is occurring outdoors in short grasslands. Most of the buffalo's body is gone, but this image shows a ribcage with blood and gore, but little muscle, and the head of the buffalo with two large horns.

Five adult lions feast on a buffalo carcass. The skull and teeth of the buffalo is facing upwards in the image ans a lion is tearing flesh from the skeleton.

This includes lions (Panthera leo), Buffalo's primary predator (Owen-Smith and Mills 2008), accounting for almost 90% of adult and sub-adult deaths (excluding disease and drought) in the park (Prins and Iason 1989). #2025MMM

Photograph of the Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania. this image shows a blue sky and green grasses and vegetation in a marsh-like area with a shallow amount of water on the ground.

TONIGHT'S BATTLE takes place in Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania, which has "possibly the greatest biomass density (weight per area) of mammals in the world" (UNESCO, nd). #2025MMM

Little is known about Malayan Tapir behavior, especially in the wild (Tawa et al. 2021). They are generally solitary but may form pairs (Gilmore 2007) or groups when there is a food shortage (Gearty 2012). #2025MMM