It all started with some friendly competition between bat-eared foxes and baby bears.
Ok guys, what #serengeti species are these cuties? #mammalwatching
OMG -@AnneWHilborn's bat -eared foxes may be even cuter than @BenCAugustine's baby bears @whapavt https://t.co/HqU9lFglYH
But it soon escalated. Just look at this little salamander.
A #CuteOff, you say? Here is an eastern red-backed salamander from a herp survey. *drops tiny mic, scuttles off*
And this squirrel glider.
What's cuter than a squirrel glider? *crickets chirping in the backround* Correct--nothing! #CuteOff
And this tiny sea turtle.
#CuteOff @AnneWHilborn (part of research covered under a NOAA/FWS ESA permit)
It wasn't long before all sorts of biologists, and animals, were getting involved.
@AnneWHilborn Did somebody say #CuteOff? Just give up now.
Proving that you don't have to be cuddly to be cute.
Took this a few years back at a @BushHeritageAus reserve in the Simpson Desert. Little thorny devil. #wildoz #cuteoff
Although of course it does help.
.@BushHeritageAus And this adorable dunnart. #wildoz #cuteoff
Awwwwwwww.
No animal #cuteoff is complete without baby bobcats from the @SantaMonicaMtns http://t.co/AssWVupzvg #mammalwatching
Some animals, like this pony, were very keen to get involved.
@AlongsideWild this is the wild iPhone-tasting-baby-polo-pony in its natural habitat. #foal. #yum
Others were clearly used to the camera.
We enter the #CuteOff with one of our Crucifix frogs from when it was a baby #frog https://t.co/zlhBOw4CN9
And some, like this hoary marmot, were extremely chill about the whole thing.
For your #CuteOff consideration, a Baby Hoary Marmot from Jasper National Park.
These caterpillars are on their way to say "hey".
3 day old Monarch #butterfly caterpillars - early stages of the greatest #insect migration. #CuteOff #TeamEntomology
This gecko would love to hold your hand.
@HerpSocIreland #TeamHerpetology mammals are cute, but will never be hatchling crested gecko cute!! #CuteOff
And this as-yet-unidentified critter just wants to be your friend.
This insect = cutest thing ever seen in my yard. Just look at those eyebrows & its fuzzy butt. Any1 have ID? #CuteOff
So while beauty may be in the eye of the beholder...
#cuteoff needs more #inverts
...it's really hard to argue that baby versions of literally any animal are not cute.
This #CuteOff needs moar inverts: The #SQUEEE is strong in this freshly-hatched little #cuttlefish, Sepiola atlantica