Crocodilia is an order of large, predatory, semi-aquatic reptiles. They appeared in the Late Cretaceous, and include true crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials. Solidly built animals, they have long flattened snouts, eyes, ears, and nostrils at the top of the head and laterally compressed tails. Their skin is thick and covered in scales; they have conical teeth and a powerful bite. They swim well and can move quite rapidly on land. They are found mainly in lowlands in the tropics, but alligators are also found in the United States (American alligator pictured) and China. They are largely carnivorous; some specialise on fish while others have generalised diets. They are typically solitary and territorial. In some species, females care for their young. Eight species have attacked humans, the largest number of attacks being by the Nile crocodile. Crocodilian populations are threatened by habitat destruction and being hunted by humans, but farming the reptiles has reduced the unlawful trade in wild skins. They have appeared in art since at least Ancient Egypt. Tales of crocodile tears date to the 9th century, repeated by Sir John Mandeville in 1400 and William Shakespeare.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1343:

Pope Clement VI (cameo pictured) issued the papal bull Unigenitus to justify the power of the pope and the use of indulgences. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Clement_VI

1785:

The University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, one of the oldest public universities in the United States, was founded. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Georgia

1944:

World War II: The Soviet Leningrad–Novgorod Offensive successfully lifted the Siege of Leningrad, 872 days after it began. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Leningrad

1967:

The Apollo 1 spacecraft was destroyed by fire at the Kennedy Space Center, killing astronauts Gus Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1

1974:

The Brisbane River, which runs through the heart of Brisbane, broke its banks and flooded the surrounding areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_Brisbane_flood

2011:

Arab Spring: The Yemeni Revolution began as over 16,000 protestors demonstrated in Sana'a to demand governmental changes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemeni_Revolution

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

cop on: (Ireland, informal, idiomatic) Common sense. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cop_on

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

 Customs and convictions change; respectable people are the last to know, or to admit, the change, and the ones most offended by fresh reflections of the facts in the mirror of art.   --John Updike https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Updike