Life of a specialist, life of a survivor

Living as a specialist is a double-edged sword: while focusing your adaptations on hunting a single species increases your risk of extinction when your preferred prey dies out, it also enhances hunting success. However, as long as your prey remains abundant, you face no issues. This is essentially the story of a specialized predator in Antarctica, the sneaking carniere (Microlutra relictus), a small geotter species that survived the Continental Crisis along with its favorite prey. The sneaking carniere is a dwarf form derived from the larger carnieri that once inhabited the trample steppe. It is now the smallest geotter in Antarctica, rarely weighing more than 1-2 kg, second only to the terminal furago.

With a weasel-like body, the sneaking carniere is adapted to hunt momovoles (Subgeoarvicola spp.), a genus of rodents found throughout the Sanctuary Peninsula. There are four species of momovole, each with distinct ecological preferences based on their habitat: some, like those in the Follia Plateau, are primarily herbivorous, while others, like those in Neve Delta, have a more omnivorous diet, with up to half of their intake coming from invertebrates. These variations are driven by ecological necessity rather than significant differences in dental anatomy, as the species is relatively young and have not yet had time to develop marked anatomical distinctions. The reason of the actual momovole diversity and ecology must be found sadly in the habitat fragmentation caused by the Continental Crisis, which have separated a once unique and homogenous population of archaic momovoles. Like lemmings, momovoles remain active in winter by creating tunnels under the snow to hide from predators while searching for food, and they create short tunnels in dry environments during the warmer months.

To catch momovoles, sneaking carnieri have elongated bodies, ideal for entering the rodents' dens, and an excellent sense of smell to detect them under the snow. They dive into snow layers much like Holocene foxes once did. On average, a sneaking carniere needs one momovole per day to survive, but females with cubs may need up to four. Momovoles are consumed whole, with bones being crushed for the marrow thanks to the predator's strong bite force. 

When local momovole populations decline, sneaking carnieri expand their home range instead of switching to alternative prey. While they can consume lizards, invertebrates, and carrion, momovoles still make up 75-99% of their diet. Their primary competitors are the ottofox and banchisaraptor, both of which also hunt momovoles. However, these larger species often dominate the sneaking carniere due to their size. Yet, the presence of a larger geotter species, the running carniere, helps suppress ottofox and ovoviraptor densities, indirectly benefiting the sneaking carniere. As a result, the healthiest populations of sneaking carnieri are found in the Follia Plateau, where the running carniere is more abundant.

For now, as long as this complex trophic interaction persists, the sneaking carniere thrives in Antarctica, unaware of the looming threat posed by the encroaching ice sheets.