The giant anteater is a large insectivorous mammal native to Central and South America. It is one of four living species of anteater and is classified with the sloths in the order Pilosa. This species is the most terrestrial of the living anteaters, unlike its arboreal or semi- arboreal cousins, and is the largest of its family, stretching 182–217 cm (5.97–7.12 ft) and weighing 33–41 kg (73–90 lb) for males and 27–39 kg (60–86 lb) for females. It is recognizable by its elongated snout, bushy tail, long foreclaws and distinctively colored pelage. The anteater can be found in multiple habitats including grassland and rainforest and feeds primarily on ants and termites, using its foreclaws to dig them up and its long, sticky tongue to collect them. The giant anteater is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has been extirpated from some parts of its former range. Threats to its survival include habitat destruction and hunting, though some anteaters inhabit protected areas. Because of its distinctive appearance, the anteater has been featured in pre-Columbian myths and folktales as well as modern popular culture.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_anteater
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
961:
The Muslim Emirate of Crete was conquered by the Byzantine Empire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirate_of_Crete
1447:
Tomaso Parentucelli became Pope Nicholas V. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Nicholas_V
1836:
Texas Revolution: Mexican forces captured the Alamo in San Antonio from the Texans after a 13-day siege. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Alamo
1913:
First Balkan War: The Greek army captured Bizani Fortress, near Ioannina, from the Ottomans. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bizani
1930:
Organized by the Communist International, hundreds of thousands of people in major cities around the world marched to protest mass unemployment associated with the Great Depression. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Unemployment_Day
1975:
The Zapruder film of the assassination of John F. Kennedy was broadcast on television for the first time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapruder_film
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
begorra: (Ireland) A mild minced oath; a euphemism for "by God". https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/begorra
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
A famous writer who wants to continue writing has to be constantly defending himself against fame. I don't really like to say this because it never sounds sincere, but I would really have liked for my books to have been published after my death, so I wouldn't have to go through all this business of fame and being a great writer. In my case, the only advantage to fame is that I have been able to give it a political use. Otherwise, it is quite uncomfortable. The problem is that you're famous for twenty-four hours a day, and you can't say, "Okay, I won't be famous until tomorrow," or press a button and say, "I won't be famous here or now." --Gabriel García Márquez https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Gabriel_Garc%C3%ADa_M%C3%A1rquez
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