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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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