Blue Iguana is a critically endangered species of lizard of the genus Cyclura endemic to the island of Grand Cayman. Previously listed as a subspecies of the Cuban Iguana, it was reclassified as a separate species in 2004 due to genetic differences discovered four years earlier. The Blue Iguana is one of the longest-living species of lizard (possibly up to 69 years) and is a national symbol of the Cayman Islands. It prefers rocky, sunlit, open areas in dry forests or near the shore, as females must dig holes in the sand to lay eggs in June and July. Their vegetarian diet includes plants, fruits, and flowers. Their coloration is tan to gray with a bluish cast that is more pronounced during the breeding season, and more so in males. They are large and heavy-bodied with a dorsal crest of short spines running from the base of the neck to the end of the tail. The fossil record indicates that the Blue Iguana was abundant before European colonization; but fewer than 15 animals remained in the wild by 2003, and this wild population was predicted to become extinct within the first decade of the 21st century. Since 2004, 219 captive-bred animals have been released into a preserve on Grand Cayman run by a partnership headed by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, in an attempt to save the species. At least five non-profit organizations are working with the government of the Cayman Islands to ensure the survival of the Blue Iguana.
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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1757: Seven Years' War: British forces under Robert Clive defeated troops under Siraj ud-Daulah at the Battle of Plassey, allowing the British East India Company to annex Bengal. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Plassey)
1858: Edgardo Mortara, a six-year-old Jewish boy, was seized by Papal authorities and taken to be raised as a Roman Catholic. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgardo_Mortara)
1887: The Parliament of Canada passed the Rocky Mountains Park Act, creating Banff National Park as Canada's first national park. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banff_National_Park)
1894: Led by French historian Pierre de Coubertin, an international congress at the Sorbonne in Paris founded the International Olympic Committee to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Olympic_Committee)
1991: The video game Sonic the Hedgehog was first released, propelling the Sega Genesis 16-bit console into mass popularity. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_%28video_game%29)
_____________________ Wiktionary's Word of the day:
chutzpah: (slang) Nearly arrogant courage; utter audacity, effrontery or impudence. (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chutzpah)
_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:
We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done. -- Alan Turing (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alan_Turing)