Navigating the Archives
March Mammal Madness has been making its mark since 2013! MMM's current home is this ASU Library Guide with all the information you'll need to participate as a player, student, or educator. MMM started on Dr. Katie Hinde's blog Mammals Suck... Milk! and has migrated here, so check out her blog to see where it all began! The purpose of this archive page of the guide is to provide a history of the tournament and showcase the winners, art, resources, and jokes that have made MMM into what it is today!
You can navigate through the archived tournament information from the Hall of Fame table on this page or the dropdown sidebar under "Archive." Scroll down to check out the image gallery and the youtube channel that houses the Rodent Recaps with MC Marmot posted after each battle.
History of March Mammal Madness
Dr. Katie Hinde Started the Madness in 2013
"In honor of the NCAA College Basketball March Madness Championship Tournament, Mammals Suck is featuring *simulated* head-to-head combat competition among mammals. I'll be honest, this is a blatantly swiped concept from Buzzfeed except their competition is about "cuteness". As we in the Comparative Lactation Lab were filling out our Buzzfeed animal brackets we found ourselves asking "what about <enter numerous awesome mammals here>?!?!?" so we ditched theirs and made our own vastly superior version." (Katie Hinde on the Mammals Suck Blog)
If You're Learning You're Winning
Inspired by (but in no way affiliated with or representing) the NCAA College Basketball March Madness Championship Tournament, March Mammal Madness is an annual tournament of *simulated* combat competition among animals. Scientific literature is cited to substantiate likely outcomes as a probabilistic function of the two species' attributes within the battle environment. Attributes considered in calculating battle outcome include temperament, weaponry, armor, body mass, running speed, fight style, physiology, and motivation.
Through the scientific information embedded in the bout descriptions, participants are educated about inter-species interactions, the importance of ecological context, how natural selection has shaped adaptations, and conservation management of endangered species.
With cited scientific research, links to conservation projects, educator resources, epic trash talk, and all the mammal puns you can take; we are dolphin-itely not lion everyone is a winner!
Survival of the Fittest
March Mammal Madness has what it takes to stick around. The tournament has evolved over the past decade and the storytelling element has made it a great way to get people of all ages excited about science communication!

MMM Championship Hall of Fame
Final Match Competitors |
Winner |
Date of Match |
Read All About it |
Orca vs. Pride of Lionesses |
Pride of Lionesses |
April 6, 2022 |
#2022MMM Championship |
Red Kangaroo vs. Harpy Eagle |
Red Kangaroo |
March 31, 2021 |
#2021MMM Championship |
Brown Hyena vs. Gorilla |
Gorilla |
April 1, 2020 |
#2020MMM Championship |
Bengal Tiger vs. Warthog and Mongoose |
Bengal Tiger |
April 3, 2019 |
#2019MMM Championship |
Pygmy Hippo vs. Amebelodon |
Pygmy Hippo |
April 4, 2018 |
#2018MMM Championship |
Short-Faced Bear vs. Honey Badger |
Short-Faced Bear |
March 29, 2017 |
#2017MMM Championship |
Giant Forest Hog vs. Wolf of the Tundra |
Tundra Wolf |
March 24, 2016 |
#2016MMM Championship |
Dwarf Mongoose vs. Sumatran Rhino |
Sumatran Rhino |
March 26, 2015 |
#2015MMM Championship |
Orca vs. Hyena Clan |
Hyena Clan |
March 24, 2014 |
#2014MMM Championship |
Warthog vs. Elephant |
Elephant |
March 26, 2013 |
#2013MMM Championship |