NEXT UP: 3-seed Wolf's Mona Monkey/Guenon (Cercopithecus wolfi) vs. 6th-seed Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) #2024MMM

When we last met the Mona Monkey, he was stuffing his cheek pouches full of FIGS. While figs are a favorite food of this frugivore, they've also been known to indulge in other plant materials like leaves, seeds, and flowers. (Chapman et al. 2002) #2024MMM

Tonight's battle takes place in the buffer zone just outside of Lomami National Park, one of the Democratic Republic of Congo's newest national parks. #2024MMM news.mongabay.com/2016/07/drc-de…

This region of the DRC is known for industrial-scale cobalt and copper mines, which are key components of the lithium-ion batteries that power modern technology ranging from smart phones to electric cars. #2024MMM amnesty.org/en/latest/news…

Smaller scale, community-based artisanal mining operations, some of which are led by Congolese women like Annie Sinanduku Mwange, may help alleviate human rights abuses by improving working conditions, women's livelihoods, & reducing child labor. #2024MMM theguardian.com/global-develop…

Up in the forest canopy, we have a mixed group of Mona Monkey (C. wolfi) & Red-Tailed Monkey (C. ascanius) foraging for their favorite respective treats. Like Frog and Toad, these monkeys like to hang together. (McGraw et al. 1994) #2024MMM

The #MMMagic whirlpool causes ocean water to also flow back through the portal, creating a temporarily brackish fresh & salt-water mix as the Mantis Shrimp is pulled closer to the whirlpool portal... #2024MMM

Mona Monkey sees the maelstrom in the river & clambers down to investigate at the water's edge, peering over the branch... #2024MMM

Mantis Shimp's bent poised raptorial appendenge juuuuust crosses into the Democrative Republic of Congo river waters... #2024MMM

POW POW POW!!!!! #2024MMM

GUNFIRE IN THE FOREST!!!!! #2024MMM

In 2016, Mona Monkey & Red-tailed Monkey meat was 45% of the available game meat in one of the largest markets in Kindu, the closest urban area to Lomami River primate habitat (Hart 2020)! #2024MMM

But the 2017 introduction of a voucher system for regulated hunting has reduced monkey meat at the market, as larger, more sustainable game is prioritzed by hunters! (Hart, Omene, and Hart 2021) #2024MMM

THE POW POW POW was a hunter's harvest of an approved ungulate... but the noise scares the monkeys deeper into the forest AND BEYOND THE FIELD OF BATTLE!! (Bessone et al 2022) #2024MMM

MANTIS SHRIMP OUTLASTS MONA MONKEY!!!! #2024MMM

#2024 ROUND 2 🌈 COLLECTION & TAKE A BOW WINNERS: Painted Wild Dog, Polecat, Mantis Shrimp, Moth, Elephant Seal, Turtle, Shark, and Honey Bee! Join us on Wednesday, March 27th at 7pm EST. for the SWEET 16!!

It is Giving Day at Wayne State. Please consider supporting our Light it Up fund for the museum gallery - we are buying UV filters for the gallery lights to protect our artifacts on exhibit. give.wayne.edu/schools/WayneS… #givegreenbegold

Will you support our museum gallery on Wayne State University Giving Day today? We want to buy UV filters for our gallery to protect artifacts on exhibit. We are looking for 30 donors - one for each light fixture! give.wayne.edu/schools/WayneS…

Giving Day is winding down. Thank you to the alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the museum who have supported our efforts! give.wayne.edu/schools/WayneS…