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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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