Laevistrombus canarium, commonly known as the dog conch, is a species of
edible sea snail, a marine gastropod in the true conch family, found
from India and Sri Lanka to Melanesia, Australia and southern Japan. The
animal has an elongated snout, thin eyestalks with well-developed eyes
and sensory tentacles, and a narrow, strong foot. The burrowing
behaviours and leaping form of locomotion are common among true conchs.
Living on muddy and sandy bottoms, it grazes on algae and detritus. The
easily distinguishable sexes depend on internal fertilization for
spawning. The maximum life span is 2 to 2.5 years. Predators of this
snail include carnivorous gastropods such as cone snails and volutes. It
is also a prey species for vertebrates, including humans, who consume
the soft parts in a wide variety of dishes. The heavy shell is valued as
an ornament, and used as a sinker for fishing nets. Several studies
indicate that populations in some areas may be suffering from
overexploitation.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laevistrombus_canarium>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1356:
Hundred Years' War: English forces led by Edward the Black
Prince decisively won the Battle of Poitiers and captured King Jean II
of France.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Poitiers>
1846:
Two French shepherd children, Mélanie Calvat and Maximin
Giraud, reported experiencing a Marian apparition on a mountaintop near
La Salette, France, now known as Our Lady of La Salette.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_La_Salette>
1940:
Polish resistance member Witold Pilecki allowed himself to be
captured by German forces and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp
in order to gather intelligence.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witold_Pilecki>
1985:
An 8.1 ML earthquake struck Mexico City, killing at least 9,000
people and leaving up to 100,000 homeless.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_Mexico_City_earthquake>
1995:
The manifesto of "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski was published in The
Washington Post and The New York Times, almost three months after it was
submitted.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Kaczynski>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
coctile:
1. Made by baking, or exposure to heat.
2. Built of baked bricks.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coctile>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
In 1963 the BBC premiered a show about an alien Who traveled
through space and time to combat the powers of evil. … The show has
been running in Britain almost fifty years, With many different actors
in the role of The Doctor. … One thing is consistent though And this
is why the show is so beloved by geeks and nerds — It's all about the
triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism! … And
if there is any hope for any of us in this giant explosion in which we
inhabit then surely that’s it: Intellect and romance triumph over
brute force and cynicism!
--Craig Ferguson
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Craig_Ferguson>