Biologists showcase the most adorable creatures in the animal kingdom in Twitter #cuteoff competition

Scientists have been having a lot of fun with hashtags on Twitter recently. 

It began with #junkoff, in which the experts tweeted images of animal genitalia, and biologists are now posting photos of the cutest creatures in the animal kingdom with the tag #cuteoff.

Feeds are full of adorable creatures of leopard geckos, piping plover chicks and even millipedes.

It has also encouraged non-scientist Twitter users to share pictures of their own pets.

THE SCIENCE OF CUTE 

A recent study found that humans are hardwired to prefer cute faces, and this preference begins from the age of three.  

Even before they start school, children rate puppies, kittens and babies as 'cuter' than their adult counterparts, according to a recent study. 

The study, conducted at the University of Lincoln, found that cuteness is wrapped up in what psychologists call ‘baby schema’ - a set of features such as a round face, big eyes and a small nose and mouth.

Baby schema has been shown to stimulate protective, care-giving behaviour and reduced aggression in adults.

In addition to the #cuteoff hashtag, the tweeters are also including other tags to show support for individual fields of research. 

These include #teamentomology, the study of insects, #teamherpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles, and even #teamfungi. 

A recent study found that humans are hardwired to prefer cute faces - even in animals - and this preference begins from the age of three.  

Even before they start school, children rate puppies, kittens and babies as 'cuter' than their adult counterparts.

And apparently, in young children, the faces of dogs are thought of more fondly than those of humans and cats.

The study was conducted at the University of Lincoln. 

Researchers found that cuteness is wrapped up in what psychologists call ‘baby schema’ - a set of infantile features such as a round face, high forehead, big eyes and a small nose and mouth.