The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a species of extremely venomous snake native to parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the second- longest venomous snake after the king cobra; mature specimens generally exceed 2 metres (6.6 feet) and commonly grow to 3 m (10 ft). Specimens of 4.3 to 4.5 m (14.1 to 14.8 ft) have been reported. Its skin colour varies from grey to dark brown. The species is both terrestrial (ground-living) and arboreal; it inhabits savannah, woodland, rocky slopes and, in some regions, dense forest. It is diurnal and is known to prey on birds and small mammals. Over suitable surfaces, it can move at speeds up to 16 km/h (10 mph) for short distances. It is capable of striking at considerable range and may deliver a series of bites in rapid succession. Its venom, primarily composed of neurotoxins, is frequently fatal unless antivenom is administered. Despite its reputation as a formidable and highly aggressive species, the black mamba rarely attacks humans.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1862:

Vietnamese guerrilla leader Trương Định decided to defy Emperor Tự Đức and the Treaty of Saigon, choosing to fight on against the Europeans. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tr%C6%B0%C6%A1ng_%C4%90%E1%BB%8Bnh

1941:

Second Sino-Japanese War: During one sortie in a five-year bombing campaign on Chongqing, 4,000 people died of asphyxiation when the tunnel they were hiding in became blocked. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Chongqing

1981:

The Centers for Disease Control recorded a cluster of Pneumocystis pneumonia cases among homosexual men in Los Angeles, the first reported cases of AIDS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS

2009:

After almost two months of civil disobedience, at least 31 people were killed in clashes between the National Police and indigenous people in Peru's Bagua Province. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Peruvian_political_crisis

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

rubbish: 1. (chiefly Australia, New Zealand, Britain) Garbage, junk, refuse, trash, waste. 2. (by extension, chiefly Australia, New Zealand, Britain) An item, or items, of low quality. 3. (by extension, chiefly Australia, New Zealand, Britain) Nonsense. 4. (archaic) Debris or ruins of buildings. […] 5. (transitive, chiefly Australia, New Zealand, Britain, colloquial) To criticize, to denigrate, to denounce, to disparage. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rubbish

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The social object of skilled investment should be to defeat the dark forces of time and ignorance which envelope our future.   --The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_General_Theory_of_Employment,_Interest_and_Money