This makes me so happy.

Probably the cutest thing you’ll watch all day.

This cute little guy is an eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus), and it weighs just 15–43 grams. In winter when food is scarce, this Australian marsupial will fall into a state of torpor to conserve energy, curling itself into a ball and letting its body temperature fall to almost match the surrounding air temperature. This means it doesn’t need to eat or drink until the cold spell has passed.

Image thanks to Australian Conservation Foundation.

Pictured is an artist’s rendition of the animal that is believed to be the common ancestor of all mammals (including humans). After an extensive six-year study, it has been discovered that this animal is at the top of the mammalian tree of life. It thrived shortly after the demise of non-avian dinosaurs and the knowledge of its existence has ruled out a previous hypothesis that there were a number of placental mammals prior to the extinction of 70% of the planet’s species (including non-avian dinosaurs).
Outside of this discovery, the study is also helping inform scientists about how mammals have historically adapted to climate change; this knowledge can help us understand how to address the rapid climate change currently facing the planet.

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On January 11th, off the coast of Hawaii, a dolphin who got into some trouble approached divers for help. The dolphin, whose pectoral fin was pierced by a fishing hook and whose body was entangled in fishing line, let out a cry and swam up to one of the divers, nudging him gently. The diver, Keller Laros, said it was obvious that the animal was looking for help. He was able to cut the fishing line and remove the hook from the animal’s fin, but when more divers approached the dolphin to help untangle it, it swam off and didn’t return.

(Information and video source)

The bumblebee bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai), also known as Kitti’s hog nosed bat, is the smallest species of bat. With their length measuring in at around 3 cm on average, they are also one of the smallest mammals. Bumblebee bats hunt via echolocation and they typically fly only under the cover of night. They live in cave groups of around 100 members, though caves can be found with as few as 15 or as many as 500 individuals. Unfortunately, due to human influences, this species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, with its population continually declining.

(Photo source)

The bush pig, also known as the red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus), is an extremely social animal. The males of this species remain with their harems of females and their offspring to help protect them. These smaller groups of pigs can then meet up with other groups, forming congregations of more than fifty hogs.

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Incongruous with its scientific name, the Malagasy fanaloka (Fossa fossana) is not the common Madagascan predator known as the fossa. The Malagasy fanaloka spends its nights foraging in trees or on the forest floor for various invertebrates and frogs, sometimes even fruit. These animals work in pairs to defend their territory by making eerie calls to one another, scaring other species off.

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Reintroduced to Wyoming after becoming extinct in the wild, the adorable black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is extremely rare. This is partially due to the extermination of its most common prey, the prairie dog. They live either individually or in pairs, with females giving birth to as many as six kits at a time.

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The New Zealand sea lion, also known as Hooker’s sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri), may look absolutely adorable, but they are intense hunters. They feed on fish, crabs, penguins, and even seal pups. Their habitat is restricted to a few islands just south of New Zealand, but they forage for food up to 150 km from shore during the daytime before returning at night to rest.

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