Vísindamenn um heim allan keppast nú við að birta myndir á Twitter af þeim dýrum sem þeir telja krúttlegustu dýr veraldar. Myllumerkið #cuteoff er að ná miklu flugi.

Ekki er vanþörf á því rannsóknir sýna að það sé hollt og gott fyrir sálina að horfa á sæt dýr.

Það eru þó ekki aðeins vísindamenn sem láta til sín taka í keppninni. Allir þeir sem hafa skoðun á málefninu geta birt myndir undir þessu myllumerki og eru í raun hvattir til þess. Vísindamennirnir hafa sumir birt myndir af dýrum sem skarta ekki dæmigerðri fegurð og eru jafnvel úr skordýraheimum.

Hér að neðan gefur að líta færslur um nokkur dýr sem tilnefnd eru í keppninni.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">

Cutest in the deep sea- Opisthoteuthis sp! <a href="http://t.co/k4RAIvFP9d">http://t.co/k4RAIvFP9d</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CuteOff?src=hash">#CuteOff</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MBARI_News">@MBARI_News</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/podlett">@podlett</a> <a href="http://t.co/Jno9z7epiH">pic.twitter.com/Jno9z7epiH</a>

— Susan vonThun (@omgirlsvt) <a href="https://twitter.com/omgirlsvt/status/638750389760749568">September 1, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><div id="embedded-remove"> </div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">

ICYMI: <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews">@CBSNews</a> segment on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CuteOff?src=hash">#CuteOff</a> <a href="http://t.co/BZNXFHAgIy">http://t.co/BZNXFHAgIy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamFish?src=hash">#TeamFish</a> represent! <a href="http://t.co/WDGAAsGel3">pic.twitter.com/WDGAAsGel3</a>

— Dr. Solomon David (@SolomonRDavid) <a href="https://twitter.com/SolomonRDavid/status/638884901266198528">September 2, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><div id="embedded-remove"> </div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">

Well, really, what could be cuter than a little river otter cuddling with his tail? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CuteOff?src=hash">#CuteOff</a> <a href="http://t.co/peNX2N203I">pic.twitter.com/peNX2N203I</a>

— Seattle Aquarium (@SeattleAquarium) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeattleAquarium/status/638808077513330688">September 1, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><div id="embedded-remove"> </div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">

You think that is cute? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CuteOff?src=hash">#CuteOff</a> (from <a href="http://t.co/c3CCVCMOsP">http://t.co/c3CCVCMOsP</a>) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/beeflies?src=hash">#beeflies</a> <a href="http://t.co/kU0STCFki0">pic.twitter.com/kU0STCFki0</a>

— Erica McAlister (@flygirlNHM) <a href="https://twitter.com/flygirlNHM/status/638619961502638080">September 1, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><div id="embedded-remove"> </div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">

I present you Pteromys momonga, as my entry into this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CuteOff?src=hash">#CuteOff</a> contest. <a href="http://t.co/cPc2rtCnuH">http://t.co/cPc2rtCnuH</a> <a href="http://t.co/JecnCEo9Ba">pic.twitter.com/JecnCEo9Ba</a>

— Benjamin Burger (@benjamin_burger) <a href="https://twitter.com/benjamin_burger/status/638572594015301633">September 1, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><div id="embedded-remove"> </div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">

What makes an animal cute, anyway? The greatest hits of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CuteOff?src=hash">#CuteOff</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/Paleophile">@Paleophile</a> <a href="http://t.co/JCMCp1Omx0">http://t.co/JCMCp1Omx0</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/SlateWild">@SlateWild</a>

— Laura Helmuth (@laurahelmuth) <a href="https://twitter.com/laurahelmuth/status/639172145252311041">September 2, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><div id="embedded-remove"> </div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">

Juvenile coast horned lizard found on McGinty Mountain. Photo by John Martin <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USFWS?src=hash">#USFWS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CuteOff?src=hash">#CuteOff</a> <a href="http://t.co/mN0G3dLOrH">pic.twitter.com/mN0G3dLOrH</a>

— US Fish and Wildlife (@USFWS) <a href="https://twitter.com/USFWS/status/639171820382457856">September 2, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><div id="embedded-remove"> </div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">

Took this a few years back at a <a href="https://twitter.com/BushHeritageAus">@BushHeritageAus</a> reserve in the Simpson Desert. Little thorny devil. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wildoz?src=hash">#wildoz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cuteoff?src=hash">#cuteoff</a> <a href="http://t.co/7vecTHiDVZ">pic.twitter.com/7vecTHiDVZ</a>

— John Pickrell (@john_pickrell) <a href="https://twitter.com/john_pickrell/status/638501875713597440">September 1, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><div id="embedded-remove"> </div>