Oryzomys is a genus of semiaquatic rodents in the tribe Oryzomyini living in southern North America and far northern South America. It includes eight species, two of which are widespread: the marsh rice rat (O. palustris, pictured) of the U.S. and O. couesi of Mexico and Central America. Two or three species have gone extinct over the last two centuries and at least one other is endangered. Species of Oryzomys are medium-sized rats with long, coarse fur. The upperparts are gray to reddish and the underparts white to buff. The animals have broad feet with reduced or absent ungual tufts of hair around the claws and, in some species, with webbing between the toes. The habitat includes lakes, marshes, and rivers. Oryzomys species swim well, are active during the night, and eat both plant and animal food. They build woven nests of vegetation; after a gestation period of 21 to 28 days, about four young are born. Species of Oryzomys are infected by numerous parasites and carry at least three hantaviruses, one of which (Bayou virus) also infects humans. The name Oryzomys was established in 1857 by Spencer Fullerton Baird for the marsh rice rat and was soon applied to many other rats.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oryzomys
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1809:
After standing only 15 years, London's Drury Lane theatre, the third building of that name, burned down. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_Royal,_Drury_Lane
1826:
The Treaty of Yandabo was signed, ending the First Anglo- Burmese War, the longest and most expensive war in the history of the British Raj. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Yandabo
1875:
The steamship SS Gothenburg hit a section of the Great Barrier Reef at low tide and sank northwest of Holbourne Island, Queensland, Australia, with over 100 deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Gothenburg
1920:
At a meeting of the German Workers' Party, Adolf Hitler outlined its 25-point programme and the party changed its name to the National Socialist German Workers' Party. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Party
1946:
Colonel Juan Perón (pictured), founder of the political movement that became known as Peronism, was elected to his first term as President of Argentina. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Per%C3%B3n
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
technopeasant: (informal) One who is disadvantaged or exploited within a modern technological society, especially through inability to use computer technology. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/technopeasant
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life. --Steve Jobs https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs
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