The Malagasy mountain mouse (Monticolomys koopmani) is a small mouse- like rodent of the family Nesomyidae. Found in the highlands of eastern Madagascar (map pictured), it is dark brown on the upperparts and dark gray below. It has small, rounded, densely haired ears and broad feet with well-developed pads. The long tail lacks a tuft at the tip. The skull is delicate and lacks crests and ridges on its roof. First collected in 1929, the Malagasy mountain mouse was not formally described until 1996, but it is now known to have a broad distribution. Active during the night in trees and on the ground, the species occurs in both montane forest and human-disturbed grasslands, and feeds on fruits and seeds. Although habitat destruction may pose a threat, it is classified as a species of least concern. Monticolomys means "mountain- dwelling mouse", and koopmani honors Karl Koopman for his contributions to mammalian systematics.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malagasy_mountain_mouse

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1918:

An ammunition plant in Sayreville, New Jersey, U.S., exploded, killing around 100 people and destroying more than 300 buildings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._A._Gillespie_Company_Shell_Loading_Plant_explosion

1957:

Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 1 (replica pictured), the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, was launched by an R-7 rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_1

1958:

The current Constitution of France was signed into law, establishing the French Fifth Republic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Fifth_Republic

2010:

The dam holding a waste reservoir in western Hungary collapsed, freeing one million m3 (1,300,000 yd3) of red mud, which flooded nearby communities and killed ten people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajka_alumina_plant_accident

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

wasm: (humorous) A doctrine, ideology, rule, or theory that is no longer current or fashionable. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wasm

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

One of the tests of the civilization of people is the treatment of its criminals.   --Rutherford B. Hayes https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Rutherford_B._Hayes