Acamptonectes is a genus of ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaur, a type of dolphin-like marine reptile that lived during the Early Cretaceous around 130 million years ago. The first specimen—a partial adult skeleton—was discovered in Speeton, England, in 1958, but it was not formally described until 2012. Acamptonectes had unusual adaptations that made its trunk rigid, including tightly-fitting bones in the occiput (back and lower part of the skull) and interlocking vertebral centra, likely allowing it to swim at high speeds with a tuna-like form of locomotion. Other distinguishing characteristics include an extremely slender snout and unique ridges on the basioccipital bone of the braincase. As an ichthyosaur, Acamptonectes had large eye sockets and a tail fluke. Its teeth, which were slender and textured with longitudinal ridges, were probably adapted for impaling prey such as squid and fleshy fish.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1879:

The Blackpool Illuminations (example pictured) in the English seaside town of Blackpool were switched on for the first time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpool_Illuminations

1948:

The Australian cricket team's Invincibles tour of England concluded; they had played 34 matches, including five Tests, without defeat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_cricket_team_in_England_in_1948

1961:

En route to negotiate a ceasefire between Katanga troops and United Nations forces, the plane carrying United Nations secretary- general Dag Hammarskjöld crashed under mysterious circumstances near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia, resulting in the deaths of Hammarskjöld and 15 others on board. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dag_Hammarskj%C3%B6ld

2001:

Five letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to various media outlets in the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_anthrax_attacks

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

Paralympian: 1. (sports) One who competes in the Paralympics. 2. Of or pertaining to a Paralympian (“one who competes in the Paralympics”). 3. Of or pertaining to the Paralympics; Paralympic. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Paralympian

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

When I behold the works of thy hands and consider the course of thy providence, give me Grace always to remember that thy thoughts are not my thoughts, nor thy ways my ways. And while it shall please Thee to continue me in this world where much is to be done and little to be known, teach me by thy Holy Spirit to withdraw my mind from unprofitable and dangerous enquiries, from difficulties vainly curious, and doubts impossible to be solved. Let me rejoice in the light which thou hast imparted, let me serve thee with active zeal, and humble confidence, and wait with patient expectation for the time in which the soul which Thou receivest, shall be satisfied with knowledge.   --Samuel Johnson‎ https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Samuel_Johnson