Laevistrombus canarium, commonly known as the dog conch, is a species of edible sea snail, a marine gastropod in the true conch family, found from India and Sri Lanka to Melanesia, Australia and southern Japan. The animal has an elongated snout, thin eyestalks with well-developed eyes and sensory tentacles, and a narrow, strong foot. The burrowing behaviours and leaping form of locomotion are common among true conchs. Living on muddy and sandy bottoms, it grazes on algae and detritus. The easily distinguishable sexes depend on internal fertilization for spawning. The maximum life span is 2 to 2.5 years. Predators of this snail include carnivorous gastropods such as cone snails and volutes. It is also a prey species for vertebrates, including humans, who consume the soft parts in a wide variety of dishes. The heavy shell is valued as an ornament, and used as a sinker for fishing nets. Several studies indicate that populations in some areas may be suffering from overexploitation.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1356:

Hundred Years' War: English forces led by Edward the Black Prince decisively won the Battle of Poitiers and captured King Jean II of France. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Poitiers

1846:

Two French shepherd children, Mélanie Calvat and Maximin Giraud, reported experiencing a Marian apparition on a mountaintop near La Salette, France, now known as Our Lady of La Salette. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_La_Salette

1940:

Polish resistance member Witold Pilecki allowed himself to be captured by German forces and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp in order to gather intelligence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witold_Pilecki

1985:

An 8.1 ML earthquake struck Mexico City, killing at least 9,000 people and leaving up to 100,000 homeless. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_Mexico_City_earthquake

1995:

The manifesto of "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski was published in The Washington Post and The New York Times, almost three months after it was submitted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Kaczynski

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

coctile: 1. Made by baking, or exposure to heat. 2. Built of baked bricks. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coctile

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

In 1963 the BBC premiered a show about an alien Who traveled through space and time to combat the powers of evil. … The show has been running in Britain almost fifty years, With many different actors in the role of The Doctor. … One thing is consistent though And this is why the show is so beloved by geeks and nerds — It's all about the triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism! … And if there is any hope for any of us in this giant explosion in which we inhabit then surely that’s it: Intellect and romance triumph over brute force and cynicism!   --Craig Ferguson https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Craig_Ferguson