The red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) is a species of
elapid snake native to Australia. Described by George Shaw in 1794, it
is one of eastern Australia's most commonly encountered snakes.
Averaging around 1.25 metres (4 ft) in length when fully grown, it has
glossy black upperparts, bright red or orange flanks and a pink or dull
red belly. It generally avoids people, but can attack if provoked.
Although its venom is capable of causing significant illness, containing
neurotoxins, myotoxins, coagulants and haemolysins, it is less venomous
than that of other Australian elapid snakes, and no humans have been
confirmed to have died from its bite. The snake forages in bodies of
shallow water, commonly with tangles of water plants and logs, where it
hunts frogs, its main prey item, as well as fish, reptiles and small
mammals. Its numbers are thought to be declining due to habitat
fragmentation and falling frog populations.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-bellied_black_snake>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1790:
Russo-Swedish War: During the Battle of Svensksund in the
Baltic Sea, the Swedish Navy captured a third of the Russian fleet.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Svensksund>
1958:
An earthquake struck Lituya Bay, Alaska; the subsequent
megatsunami, the largest in modern times, reached an elevation of
1,720 ft (524 m).
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958_Lituya_Bay_earthquake_and_megatsunami>
1981:
Nintendo released the arcade game Donkey Kong (cabinet
pictured), which featured the debut of Mario, one of the most famous
characters in video-game history.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario>
1995:
Sri Lankan Civil War: After advising civilians to take shelter
in places of worship, the Sri Lanka Air Force bombed a church in Navaly,
killing at least 147 people.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navaly_church_bombing>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
hyperparasite:
1. (biology) Any parasite whose host is a parasite.
2. (entomology, specifically) An insect that parasitizes another
parasitic insect.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hyperparasite>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
I cherish the mercy and the grace of women’s work. But I know
there is new work that we must undertake as well: that new work will
make defeat detestable to us. That new women’s work will mean we will
not die trying to stand up: we will live that way: standing up. I came
too late to help my mother to her feet. By way of everlasting thanks to
all of the women who have helped me to stay alive I am working never to
be late again.
--June Jordan
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/June_Jordan>
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