The hawksbill turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to
the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in its genus. The
species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific
subspecies. Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic
subspecies, while Eretmochelys imbricata bissa is found in the
Indo-Pacific region. The hawkbill's appearance is similar to that of
other marine turtles. It has a generally flattened body shape, a
protective carapace, and its flipper-like arms are adapted for swimming
in the open ocean. E. imbricata is easily distinguished from other sea
turtles by its sharp, curving beak with prominent tomium, and the
saw-like appearance of its shell margins. While the turtle lives a part
of its life in the open ocean, it is most often encountered in shallow
lagoons and coral reefs where it feeds on its chosen prey, sea sponges.
Some of the sponges eaten by E. imbricata are known to be highly toxic
and lethal when eaten by other organisms. Because of human fishing
practices, Eretmochelys imbricata populations around the world are
threatened with extinction and the turtle has been classified as
critically endangered by the World Conservation Union. By the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, it is illegal
to capture and to trade in hawksbill turtles and products derived from
them in many nations.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawksbill_turtle>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
41:
Roman Emperor Caligula was murdered by Cassius Chaerea and the
disgruntled Praetorian Guards. Caligula's uncle Claudius was proclaimed
emperor in his place.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula>
1848:
James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma,
California, USA, leading to the California Gold Rush.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush>
1857:
The University of Calcutta, the first modern university in the Indian
subcontinent, was established in Calcutta, India.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Calcutta>
1972:
Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi was found hiding in a Guam jungle, where
he had been since the end of World War II.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoichi_Yokoi>
1984:
The first Apple Macintosh, today known as the Macintosh 128K , went on
sale, becoming the first commercially successful personal computer to
feature a mouse and a graphical user interface rather than a command
line interface.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh>
1993:
Turkish journalist and writer Uğur Mumcu was assassinated by a car bomb
outside his home in Ankara.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U%C4%9Fur_Mumcu>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
at loggerheads (adj):
(figuratively) Unable to agree; opposing
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/at_loggerheads>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
There are two ways of spreading light: to be
The candle or the mirror that reflects it.
--Edith Wharton
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Edith_Wharton>