Fork-marked lemurs (the genus Phaner) are primates native to Madagascar.
Weighing around 350 grams (0.77 lb) or more, they are some of the
largest members of the family of dwarf and mouse lemurs in the suborder
Strepsirrhini. They have a dorsal forked stripe, dark rings around their
eyes, and large membranous ears. Like other members of their family,
they are nocturnal, and sleep in tree holes and nests during the day.
Males are very vocal, making repeated calls at the beginning and end of
the night. Monogamous pairing is typical; females are dominant, and are
thought to have only one offspring every two years or more. Fork-marked
lemurs run quadrupedally across branches in a wide variety of habitats,
ranging from dry deciduous forests to rainforests. Their diet consists
primarily of tree gum and other exudates, though they may obtain some of
their protein by hunting small arthropods later at night. Three of the
four species are endangered and the other is listed as vulnerable. Their
populations are in decline due to habitat destruction.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork-marked_lemur>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1492:
Members of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus reported
the sighting of unknown light on their way to Guanahani.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1492_light_sighting>
1531:
Swiss Reformation leader Huldrych Zwingli was killed in battle
when Catholic cantons attacked in response to a food blockade being
applied by his alliance.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huldrych_Zwingli>
1942:
World War II: At the Battle of Cape Esperance on the northwest
coast of Guadalcanal, American ships intercepted and defeated a Japanese
fleet sent to attack Henderson Field.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cape_Esperance>
1987:
Sri Lankan Civil War: The Indian Peace Keeping Force began
Operation Pawan to take control of Jaffna from the Tamil Tigers to
enforce their disarmament as a part of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Pawan>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
surrey:
(historical) A light horse-drawn carriage with forward-facing seats
accommodating two or four people, popular in the United States; a
motorized carriage of similar design.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/surrey>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us
to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not
have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilize us.
--Thích Nhất Hạnh
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Nh%E1%BA%A5t_H%E1%BA%A1nh>
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