Welcome to the Institute of Little Guy Research

Official ILGR Public Outreach Page

[ilgr-official]

We apologize for our recent lapse in community conversation!

In recompense, our LBM handlers would like to show a behind-the-scenes image of what it's like to take care of these wonderful creatures. Enjoy!

Ad astra per parvum!

[ilgr-official]

Sometimes I see pictures where the "belt" pattern seems to have vanished. Do LBMs have chromatophores?

A very astute observation!

While ILGR has not found any evidence of chromatophores, LBMs do have an incredible ability to adapt to their surroundings. In most creatures of the animal kingdom, fast-paced evolution can take place in the span of a few generations - but LBMs seem to evolve within their own lifetime!

It has been unfortunately rare to find individuals outside of the Common variation of LBM. ILGR has been able to conduct field research and behavioral studies, but has yet to fully understand the inner workings of LBMs. In the future, we may indeed find evidence of specialized cells in LBMs that allow these changes. For now, though, it simply remains another mystery of these amazing creatures!

Thank you for your question!

We hope this information qualifies as an answer, but if you would like further clarification or have another question, please don't hesitate to message us!

Ad Astra Per Parvum!

[ilgr-official]

So, a good equivalent to their blobbing would be cats loafing?

It's very similar! LBMs actually do loaf in other ways, too - much like a house cat. Here is a quick guide to recognizing LBM "loafs" and what they imply about that LBM's current mental status. We hope this answers your question!

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[ilgr-official]

Hello! I am new to learning about LBM's! They are such cute little guys. I was wondering if you could direct me to the original research paper where Dr T. Ourett Esdog first debuted the LBM's?

Hello and welcome! We're always happy to meet new citizen scientists!

You can find more about Dr. T. Ourett Esdog's first discovery here. They've also curated an amazing amalgamation of LBM information, found under the tag of "little baby man" on their blog. I highly suggest you give it a peruse, when you get the chance! They are a wonderful resource!

If you have any further inquiries, please don't hesitate to ask more about these wonderful creatures!

Ad astra per parvum!

[ilgr-official]

I'm aware of LBMs and their, let's call them "issues", with Christmas. What about other holidays, human or ghostly? Do they have their own traditions separate from other popularly recognized festivities?

While ILGR has yet to find any evidence of LBMs having the cognitive ability to recognize traditions and culture, they are nonetheless very receptive to loud and colorful holidays like National Independence Days, Festivals of Light, and New Years celebrations (Gregorian and Lunar).

LBMs also seem to enjoy celebrations of the dead, like Halloween, Día de los Muertos, and Obon.

As always, LBMs remain largely a mystery, even to ILGR. We may come across information in the future that refutes these hypotheses. Who knows - maybe they really do celebrate their own holidays, just like us!

Thank you for the great question, and please feel free to submit any further inquiries!

Ad astra per parvum!

[ilgr-official]

ILGR is back!

We apologize for our recent absence from the public sphere. Our 2025 construction project hit a few financial snags, but lucky for us, a local entrepreneur — and LBM enthusiast — stepped up! As a show of gratitude, we've decided to rename our new lab in honor of said patron. Masters Hall will be revealed to the public soon!

In the meantime, we here at ILGR want to thank you. Without your continued interest and support, ILGR likely wouldn't continue to exist. It's citizen scientists like yourself that have spread so much awareness and knowledge to the greater public, and are the sole reason for bringing LBMs to the forefront of scientific research. So thanks for sticking around while we were gone! We (really) couldn't do it without you!

As for Mrrpy, he's doing great in his new enclosure! ILGR also has a surprise for both him and you! So stay tuned!

Further ILGR updates to come soon!

Ad Astra Per Parvum!

[ilgr-official]

Another quick update on our favorite littlest employee - Mrrpy!

Additionally, this image is a lovely example of an LBM's penchant for turning translucent when under duress! (Don't worry, though - Mrrpy is just being dramatic!)

(Follow us on Bluesky here!)

[ilgr-official]

While we're finishing up the last of our renovations this month, we'd like to take a moment to connect with all of you!

What kind of ILGR content are you most interested in?

LBM Behavior & Biology

Wild LBM Tips & Advice

ILGR LBM Inhabitant Updates (Mrrpy)

General ILGR Studies & Test Results

Something else (please let us know in the comments!)

Voting ended onJun 11, 2025

Thank you for your input, everyone!

Ad Astra Per Parvum!

[ilgr-official]

A quick (unofficial) update on Mrrpy! He's doing well :)

ILGR would also like to say thank you to our amazing community for continuing to support us during our temporary closure! Our renovations are coming along nicely, and we will be back soon!

Ad astra per parvum!

[ilgr-official]

Hooray! Our first resident wild LBM has been successfully habituated, and no longer shows any negative responses when handled by our team of keepers!

Next step: Socialization! But to do that, he really needs a name. Luckily, our community has given us a wealth of great ideas!

After taking a poll at ILGR, here are the final contestants:

Which name is your favorite?

Squidge

Squiggles

Drainpipe

Spout

Poprock (after the candy we used to lure him out)

Mrrpy (posited by LBM himself once asked)

Voting ended onApr 12, 2025

Thanks everyone for your input - we can't wait to see the results!

Ad Astra Per Parvum!

[ilgr-official]

Science in Action: Blobbing

Take a look at the above photo! This is an example of a behavior we call "blobbing," where an LBM's corporeal form seems to "drip" upwards! While it may look like they're melting, they're actually not losing any mass.

We're still studying this phenomenon, but we've concluded it's a behavior shown when an LBM is intensely happy. In this photo, you can see our resident LBM enjoying his favorite treat, and spending some "office time" with his handlers.

Fun fact: This image is also an example of the artifacting effect commonly seen in photos of LBMs. They are referred to as "flares," and are somewhat similar to the effect intense radiation has on camera photos. We have yet to understand what causes them.

Ad astra per parvum!

[ilgr-official]

Active LBM season is coming up - please remember to stay cautious of all wild animals, and be sure to follow these tips to stay safe out there.

Only you can prevent dismemberment! 🫵

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[ilgr-official]

Do LBM's handle baths well? Sometimes they dig around in my garbage and become quite stinky. I have one that prefers to sniff burger wrappers. Speaking of wrappers, are towel burritos a good containment system?

LBMs handle baths surprisingly well - as long as you don't scare them with one!

First and foremost, be sure to wear thick gloves, long sleeves, and safety goggles when attempting to wrangle a feral LBM. If they show any signs of hostility, immediately back away and call our LBM Control & Rescue line for further help.

To bathe an LBM, you will need: a small tub filled with lukewarm water, some puppy or kitten shampoo (or nontoxic dish soap), a soft sponge or brush, and a towel or fluffy sock.

We have found that most LBMs do prefer to be clean. If you bring out the above supplies and set them near where the LBMs are congregating (such as a trash can), they will usually be docile enough to handle and bathe.

You have the right idea when it comes to drying an LBM - leaving one wet and cold is an easy recipe for disaster. We recommend using a fluffy slipper sock rather than a towel. Socks seem to trigger some sort of comfort mechanism, and often times, they will simply fall asleep in one. You could also try a towel, but this is usually seen as playtime, rather than dry time!

Here's an example of the Tube Sock Method (used by our researchers to weigh LBMs):

Additionally - could you provide more information about the specific trash items your LBMs are getting into? We've established that LBMs do not eat flesh, but we've also had many reports of LBMs being attracted to "Nasty Burger" food wrappers. We assume the food items are made of something other than meat, but the restaurant unfortunately refuses to answer our questions.

Thank you for the inquiry!

Ad astra per parvum!

[ilgr-official]

How's your permanent resident doing so far?

Also.. what's the male/female ratio of LBMs?

Our newest (yet to be named) resident has been officially released into his new enclosure! He's still a little bit shy, though - try spotting him in this photo!

Besides being a little jumpy, he's been eating well and seems to enjoy the many toys and enrichment activities our lab assistants have brought in for him. The glow stars are his favorite so far, but it's hard to parse whether he enjoys them, or if he's attempting to use them as camouflage.

To answer your second question: we're actually not sure! Every LBM we've come across so far has been similar in size, weight, and appearance, with only a few notable anomalies. There are no gender dimorphisms or sexual dichotomies that we've been able to find. Thus, our current theory: they seem to be completely genderless!

(That said - the usage of the terms "little guy," "little man," and "tiny dude" - while intended for gender-neutral use - subconsciously impart the idea of our subjects being referred to in masculine terms. We also sometimes refer to them as "they" or, in some instances, "it." However, old social habits die hard, and "he/him" is the most frequently used in our facility at the moment. Maybe someday, we'll be able to ask the LBMs themselves!)

[daily-spooky]

[alias-h3o]

@solhunder I feel this is a perfect question to bring to the ILGR community!!

[ilgr-official]

Thank you for this question, @alias-h3o!

Indeed, LBMs do have teeth! As you can see in the image below taken by one of our researchers, they have a set of teeth similar to that of a small ferret. However, unlike the tissues that make up most mammalian teeth, LBM teeth seem to be made of an entirely unknown substance. Their teeth can also grow back once lost, and can heal if cracked or broken! Truly an amazing enigma of nature!

Additionally, although the public has come to refer to creatures such as Ectohominfans Minimus as "ghosts," they are in fact biological creatures and not supernatural spirits - though their tendency for intangibility and translucence would certainly make you think otherwise!

Ad astra per parvum!

[ilgr-official]

Exciting news!

ILGR has gained its first permanent resident! He will be introduced to his new habitat soon - keep an eye out for updates!

In the meantime, ILGR is asking the public to submit names for this little guy! What should we call him? Please submit your name ideas via the "Comments" button on this post.

Thank you for your continuing support of our endeavors, and as always: Ad Astra Per Parvum!

[ilgr-official]

In celebration of ILGR's long awaited expansion and renovation project, we've decided to compile a quick history of our organization, as well as of our favorite Little Guy - Ectohominfans Minimus!

We hope you enjoy a quick look at how far ILGR has come, and we hope you will be along for the ride as we continue forward!

Ad Astra Per Parvum!