The Bivalvia comprise a class of marine and freshwater molluscs that have laterally compressed bodies enclosed by a shell consisting of two hinged parts. Bivalves include clams, oysters, cockles, mussels, scallops, and numerous other families that live in saltwater or in freshwater. The majority are filter feeders. Most bivalves bury themselves in sediment, where they are relatively safe from predation, though some others lie on the sea floor or attach themselves to rocks or other hard surfaces. A bivalve's shell (giant clam shell pictured) is composed of calcium carbonate, and consists of two, usually similar, parts called valves, which can open and close without becoming disarticulated. Adult shell sizes of bivalves vary from fractions of a millimetre to over a metre in length, but the majority of species do not exceed 10 cm (4 in). Bivalves have long been a part of the diet of coastal human populations, and pearl oysters are the most common source of natural pearls. Bivalves first appear in the fossil record more than 500 million years ago. The total number of living species is approximately 9,200.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bivalvia
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1812:
French invasion of Russia: As Napoleon's Grande Armée began its retreat, its rear guard was defeated at the Battle of Vyazma. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vyazma
1838:
The Times of India, the world's largest circulated English- language daily broadsheet newspaper, was founded as the The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times_of_India
1954:
The first film featuring the giant monster known as Godzilla, was released. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla
1969:
U.S. President Richard Nixon made a plea to the "silent majority", referring to those Americans who did not join in the large demonstrations against the Vietnam War at the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_majority
2007:
Pakistani President and Chief of Army Staff Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency across Pakistan, suspending the Pakistani Constitution. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_state_of_emergency,_2007
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
canine: 1. Of, or pertaining to, dogs. 2. Dog-like. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/canine
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Natural work democracy is politically neither "left" nor "right." It embraces anyone who does vital work; for this reason, its orientation is only and alone forward. It has no inherent intention of being against ideologies, including political ideologies. On the other hand, if it is to function, it will be forced to take a firm stand, on a factual basis, against any ideology or political party which puts irrational obstacles in its path. Yet, basically, work democracy is not "against," as is the rule with politics, but "for"; for the formulation and solution of concrete tasks. --Wilhelm Reich https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Reich
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