The porbeagle is a species of mackerel shark in the family Lamnidae,
distributed widely in the cold and temperate marine waters of the North
Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere. The porbeagle typically reaches 2.5 m
(8.2 ft) in length and a weight of 135 kg (300 lb). Gray above and
white below, the porbeagle has a very stout midsection that tapers
towards the long, pointed snout and the narrow base of the tail. It has
large pectoral and first dorsal fins, tiny pelvic, second dorsal, and
anal fins, and a crescent-shaped caudal fin. The most distinctive
features of this species are its three-cusped teeth, the white blotch on
the back of its first dorsal fin, and the two pairs of lateral keels on
its tail. Preying mainly on bony fishes and cephalopods, the porbeagle
is an opportunistic hunter that regularly moves up and down in the water
column, catching prey in midwater as well as off the bottom. It is well
regarded as a game fish by recreational anglers. The porbeagle's meat
and fins are highly valued, which has led to a long history of intense
human exploitation. However, this species cannot sustain heavy fishing
pressure because of its low reproductive capacity.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porbeagle>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1707:
The Hōei earthquake ruptured all of the segments of the Nankai
megathrust simultaneously—the only earthquake known to have done
this—with an estimated magnitude of 8.6 ML.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1707_H%C5%8Dei_earthquake>
1835:
Māori chiefs signed the Declaration of the Independence of New
Zealand and established the United Tribes of New Zealand.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Tribes_of_New_Zealand>
1918:
Czechoslovakia proclaimed its independence from Austria-
Hungary.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovakia>
1965:
In St. Louis, Missouri, US, the 630-foot (190 m) tall
parabolic steel Gateway Arch was completed.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_Arch>
1971:
Prospero, the only British satellite to date launched on a
British rocket, lifted off from Launch Area 5B at Woomera, South
Australia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospero_(satellite)>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
mulct:
(law) A fine or penalty, especially a pecuniary one.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mulct>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Neither wisdom nor good will is now dominant. Hope lies in dreams, in
imagination and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into
reality.
--Jonas Salk
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jonas_Salk>