The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a species of extremely
venomous snake native to parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the second-
longest venomous snake after the king cobra; mature specimens generally
exceed 2 metres (6.6 feet) and commonly grow to 3 m (10 ft). Specimens
of 4.3 to 4.5 m (14.1 to 14.8 ft) have been reported. Its skin colour
varies from grey to dark brown. The species is both terrestrial
(ground-living) and arboreal; it inhabits savannah, woodland, rocky
slopes and, in some regions, dense forest. It is diurnal and is known to
prey on birds and small mammals. Over suitable surfaces, it can move at
speeds up to 16 km/h (10 mph) for short distances. It is capable of
striking at considerable range and may deliver a series of bites in
rapid succession. Its venom, primarily composed of neurotoxins, is
frequently fatal unless antivenom is administered. Despite its
reputation as a formidable and highly aggressive species, the black
mamba rarely attacks humans.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_mamba>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1862:
Vietnamese guerrilla leader Trương Định decided to defy
Emperor Tự Đức and the Treaty of Saigon, choosing to fight on
against the Europeans.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tr%C6%B0%C6%A1ng_%C4%90%E1%BB%8Bnh>
1941:
Second Sino-Japanese War: During one sortie in a five-year
bombing campaign on Chongqing, 4,000 people died of asphyxiation when
the tunnel they were hiding in became blocked.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Chongqing>
1981:
The Centers for Disease Control recorded a cluster of
Pneumocystis pneumonia cases among homosexual men in Los Angeles, the
first reported cases of AIDS.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS>
2009:
After almost two months of civil disobedience, at least 31
people were killed in clashes between the National Police and indigenous
people in Peru's Bagua Province.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Peruvian_political_crisis>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
rubbish:
1. (chiefly Australia, New Zealand, Britain) Garbage, junk, refuse,
trash, waste.
2. (by extension, chiefly Australia, New Zealand, Britain) An item, or
items, of low quality.
3. (by extension, chiefly Australia, New Zealand, Britain) Nonsense.
4. (archaic) Debris or ruins of buildings. […]
5. (transitive, chiefly Australia, New Zealand, Britain, colloquial) To
criticize, to denigrate, to denounce, to disparage.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rubbish>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
The social object of skilled investment should be to defeat the
dark forces of time and ignorance which envelope our future.
--The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_General_Theory_of_Employment,_Interest_and_Money>