Beavers are large, semiaquatic rodents of the Northern Hemisphere. There are two extant species: the North American (pictured) and Eurasian beaver. Both have stout bodies, large heads, chisel-like incisors, hand- like front feet, webbed back feet and flat, scaly tails. The Eurasian beaver has a longer skull, lighter color and narrower tail. Both are found in freshwater habitats, and are herbivorous, consuming plants and tree bark. They build dams and lodges using tree branches, vegetation, rocks and mud. Their infrastructure has a great impact on the surrounding environment. Adults live in monogamous pairs with their offspring. Beavers are territorial and scent-mark with a secretion called castoreum. Historically, beavers were hunted for their fur, meat and castoreum. Overhunting nearly exterminated both species. With protection, populations have rebounded, and both are listed as least- concern species on the IUCN Red List. The beaver symbolizes industriousness and is Canada's national animal.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1926:

Italian dictator Benito Mussolini survived an assassination attempt by Irishwoman Violet Gibson. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violet_Gibson

1945:

World War II: U.S. forces sank the Japanese battleship Yamato during Operation Ten-Go in the East China Sea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ten-Go

1979:

Uganda–Tanzania War: Tanzanian forces defeated Ugandan troops and their Libyan allies at the Battle of Entebbe, opening the way for an advance on the Ugandan capital, Kampala. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Entebbe

2017:

A hijacker deliberately drove a truck into crowds along Drottninggatan in Stockholm, Sweden, killing five people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Stockholm_truck_attack

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

dickkopf: (biochemistry) Any of a family of glycoproteins that is involved in the development of the embryo. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dickkopf

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

We are all part of some cosmic pattern, and this pattern works toward good and not evil.   --Henry Kuttner https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henry_Kuttner