2020 has undoubtedly been the strangest year for all of us. Trying to carry on with our lives and work has been challenging during a pandemic, and I know that many of us have lost people close to us over this last year. All three of us hope that this year is a much happier and healthier one for all of our readers.

As 2020 ends, we like to share our top 5 blog posts of the last year, and highlight those least read posts as well, to show them a little love. Sit back with a hot chocolate and enjoy the richness of our past.

 Least read blog posts of 2020:

1. A whorl of difference: A tiny Ice Age survivor found itself in a new home, far from home.

2. A test of time: How can some of the smallest organisms in the oceans help us to work out the climate of the past? One of our smallest beasts, with the biggest stories to tell.

3. Time capsules of the Ice Age: How artic ground squirrels can help us to understand environments during the last ice age. Mummified specimens, along with nests open up a window to a world 20,000 years ago!

A mummified Arctic Ground Squirrel from Alaska. 20,000 years ago this squirrel curled up and went to sleep. But never woke up. (Image by Ryan Somma)

4. The ancients of the forests: Some trees in New Zealand are a geed few thousand years old. They are incredibly important to the ecosystems.

5. The fanged beast: Discover the story of the tiny, venomous shrew.

The most read blog posts of 2020:

1. The stuff of night-mares: One of the largest species of horse to have existed. This post is no one trick pony.

2. Just like the weather: A guest post by Ted Rechlin provides an amazing view of North America with his unique illustrations.

3. America’s Ass: I was quite pleased with the title of this post! And it made it into the top 5! Read to find out what it’s about!

America’s ass, Hippidion, with it’s short, stocky legs, and prehensile upper lip. (Image Twilight Beasts)

4. A very brief introduction to mammoths: It’s all about the mammoths. All 10 species of them!

5. The evolutionary history of extinct and living lions: Latest genetic research by our very own Ross and pals has helped to understand the relationships between living and extinct lions.

From the three of us at Twilight Beasts, we wish you a very healthy and happy 2021. Thank you for continuing to support the work we do on our blog highlighting the amazing diversity of our recent past. We look forward to sharing lots more beasts with you!

Rena (@JustRena), Ross (@DeepFriedDNA) and Jan (@JanFreedman). Follow us on Twitter  (@Twilightbeasts)  and Instagram (@TwilightBeasts)