Dr. Chloe Josefson
@chloejosefson.bsky.social
Assistant Prof/New PI at North Carolina Central. Organismal physiology of lactation 🐭🐁🍼. Female-centered biology. Mom. STEMinist👩🔬. She/her. Views my own.
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
March 27, 2025 at 1:15 AM
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
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
March 27, 2025 at 1:10 AM
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
March 27, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Zebra’s legs “stride powerfully underwater” (Stone 2008) as he attempts to swim to land he assumes would be surely upstream… but where? #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
March 27, 2025 at 1:08 AM
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
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
March 27, 2025 at 1:06 AM
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
March 27, 2025 at 1:05 AM
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
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
March 27, 2025 at 1:01 AM
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
March 27, 2025 at 1:00 AM
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
March 27, 2025 at 12:58 AM
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
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
March 25, 2025 at 1:07 AM
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
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
March 25, 2025 at 1:05 AM
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
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
March 25, 2025 at 1:04 AM
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
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
March 25, 2025 at 1:02 AM
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
The distant yips worry Jackal; these yips belong to a pack of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) who are known to prey on Jackal (Kamler et al. 2007). Jackal trots off the battlefield, stinky Moonrat treat in its jaws. #2025MMM
March 20, 2025 at 12:58 AM
The distant yips worry Jackal; these yips belong to a pack of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) who are known to prey on Jackal (Kamler et al. 2007). Jackal trots off the battlefield, stinky Moonrat treat in its jaws. #2025MMM
...And a solitary Black-Backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas) appears on the scene!! Without a pack, Jackal cannot hunt the large game in the grasslands and instead hunts for small mammals (Fishman 2000). #2025MMM
March 20, 2025 at 12:51 AM
...And a solitary Black-Backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas) appears on the scene!! Without a pack, Jackal cannot hunt the large game in the grasslands and instead hunts for small mammals (Fishman 2000). #2025MMM
TONIGHT we find Cape Buffalo in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, a large delta system that relies on seasonal flood cycles (UNESCO, n.d.). Buffalo here respond to environmental changes by changing their herd size (Bennitt et al. 2017). A large, lone male grazes on the periphery of his herd #2025MMM
March 20, 2025 at 12:47 AM
TONIGHT we find Cape Buffalo in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, a large delta system that relies on seasonal flood cycles (UNESCO, n.d.). Buffalo here respond to environmental changes by changing their herd size (Bennitt et al. 2017). A large, lone male grazes on the periphery of his herd #2025MMM
Moonrats are small (females weigh ~2kg/4.4lbs) & are not rodents but belong to the family Erinaceidae (w/ hedgehogs). Moonrat is mostly black with head&shoulders covered in white/grey fur except for black eye patches; a Bornean subspecies is white w/ black guard hairs (Wilson et al. 2006) #2025MMM
March 20, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Moonrats are small (females weigh ~2kg/4.4lbs) & are not rodents but belong to the family Erinaceidae (w/ hedgehogs). Moonrat is mostly black with head&shoulders covered in white/grey fur except for black eye patches; a Bornean subspecies is white w/ black guard hairs (Wilson et al. 2006) #2025MMM
Cape Buffalo are horned, even-toed ungulates with males weighing ~835kg/1840 lbs w/ shoulders ~1.7m/5.6 ft high. Buffalo is black/dark brown and adult males have large horns that are very close together at the base (called a "boss") and curve upwards at the ends reaching ~1.3m/4.3ft wide. #2025MMM
March 20, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Cape Buffalo are horned, even-toed ungulates with males weighing ~835kg/1840 lbs w/ shoulders ~1.7m/5.6 ft high. Buffalo is black/dark brown and adult males have large horns that are very close together at the base (called a "boss") and curve upwards at the ends reaching ~1.3m/4.3ft wide. #2025MMM
Often solitary as adults, Malayan Tapir rely on scent marking to signal their presence (Gearty 2012; Suwannaphong et al. 2018) and reproductive states to other Tapir in the area, scent-marking in the evening means the scent is fresh for other Tapir active in the night-time #2025MMM
March 20, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Often solitary as adults, Malayan Tapir rely on scent marking to signal their presence (Gearty 2012; Suwannaphong et al. 2018) and reproductive states to other Tapir in the area, scent-marking in the evening means the scent is fresh for other Tapir active in the night-time #2025MMM