March Mammal Madness

Written by Lily Wodzisz and Kalea Hoffner

‘Twas recently the season for March Madness, or for some, March Mammal Madness (MMM). Modeled after the popular annual single-elimination NCAA basketball tournament, MMM was created in 2013 by Dr. Katie Hinde, a professor at Arizona State University. This competition operates exactly like the traditional March Madness, where basketball teams are placed in a bracket and play each other for a spot in the championship game. However, MMM features plants and animals instead of basketball teams. Though this bracket was initially filled solely with mammals, as it gained popularity, Dr. Hinde expanded the scope of the competition to include organisms other than just mammals. The simulated competition’s motto is, “If you’re learning, you’re winning!”

How it works: each competitor can “win” a battle by killing the opponent or by outlasting their challenger. The first three rounds take place in the habitat of the higher-seeded competitor, which is the contestant deemed the stronger fighter. The final three rounds are located in one of the four random environments, which change each year. This year’s randomized battle locations were sea caves, geothermal wetlands, sky islands, or a temperate broadleaf forest. 

All of the “competitors” fall into one of four categories, which make up the four “brackets.” The categories change every year, with this year's titles being Same/Different, The ONLY ONES, Roots and Relicts, and Tuxedo Style. Each category had specific criteria and characteristics. 

Same/Different included animals from wildly different lineages who have adapted to similar lifestyles, resulting in similar traits. The ONLY ONES included mammals that are the only living species left of their genus, the second most specific rank in biological classification. The Roots and Relicts included ancient species, some of which were lost or are part of a remnant population. The final category, Tuxedo Style, included monochromatic mammals, specifically any shade of grey, from black to white. 

The top competitor of the Same/Different bracket and advancing to the final four was the Gelada, a large, stocky primate, native to plateaus of the Ethiopian Highlands. These beasts are diurnal herbivores that are expert ledge hoppers. Up against the Gelada was the Puma, the winner of The ONLY ONES category. The Puma, a clawed, long-toothed cat, capable of jumping 15ft vertically and 40ft horizontally, destroyed the Gelada in a battle in the Temperate Broadleaf Forest. 

Here, the Puma chased the Gelada into a tree, creeping onto the branch the Gelada was perched on, ultimately snapping it and sending the Gelada falling into the river below. The Gelada managed to get to the riverbank, climbing out of the water, but fled the battleground, leaving the Puma as the winner. 

Next was the Tuxedo Style vs. Roots and Relicts round. This battle was between the Polar Bear, the largest land dwelling carnivore, capable of sniffing out prey from 19 miles away, and the Ginkgo, a plant with two-lobed, leathery leaves native to Mediterranean climates. The Ginkgo and Polar Bear faced off in the Sea Cave. 

Unfortunately for the Roots and Relicts branch, the Ginkgo tree was not able to root itself into the ground as the incoming and outgoing tide repeatedly bashed the tree against the cave walls. Eventually, the currents pulled the Ginkgo out of the cave, leaving it to float out to sea, away from the battle location. With its strong swimming skills, the Polar Bear was able to make it to shore, ultimately outlasting the Ginkgo. 

This year’s Championship took place in a Geothermal Wetland. Upon their arrival, both the Puma and the Polar Bear sensed a caribou. The Polar Bear was the first to reach the prey, but the caribou managed to twist free of the Polar Bear’s grasp. This was when the Puma took advantage, delivering the killing blow that brought down the caribou. The Polar Bear saw this action as competition and charged towards the caribou carcass. This sudden display of aggression scared away the Puma, causing it to flee the arena. As the Puma fled, the Polar Bear was left with a caribou-sized meal and the title of the 2025 March Mammal Madness Champion!

Hannah Reyes, a science teacher at IAA, has been participating in MMM for four years. She likes MMM so much, saying, “It’s like somebody finding their first bird. It is the jumping off point for getting really excited about something out there in the natural world.” 

Her strategy for picking her bracket is second guessing all of her picks, which unfortunately did not work in her favor this year. Reyes introduced Abigail Chapman, another IAA science teacher, to MMM.

Chapman created her first bracket this year. Her strategy of doing extensive research was successful, as she picked both the Puma and the Polar Bear as the final two: beginner's luck!

Chapman says, “It’s ridiculous and goofy, but it’s fun, and it lets students learn about different species and learn about the world. I think the more you know about the world and the natural things in it, the more you care about it.”

In addition to bragging rights, each year the winning organism of MMM receives a special edition Wheaties box featuring a photo of them. Be sure to watch for the Polar Bear edition next time you're in the cereal aisle!