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Thegoblin shark is a rare species of deep-seashark. Sometimes called a "living fossil", it is the only extant representative of thefamilyMitsukurinidae, a lineage 125 million years old. This species looks unlike any other shark, with a long, flattened snout, highly protrusible jaws containing prominent nail-like teeth and pink coloration. Its snout is covered withampullae of Lorenzini that enable it to sense minuteelectric fields produced by nearby prey, which it can snatch up by rapidly extending its jaws. It is usually three to four metres long (10 to 13 ft) when mature. Goblin sharks inhabit uppercontinental slopes,submarine canyons andseamounts deeper than 100 metres (330 ft). Anatomical features, such as its flabby body and small fins, suggest that it is sluggish in nature. It hunts forteleost fishes,cephalopods andcrustaceans both near the sea floor and in the middle of thewater column. TheInternational Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it asLeast Concern. (Full article...)
Did you know ...
- ... that the end of theOkipa involved Bull Dancers of theMandan tribe(example pictured) havingritual sex with married women and then smoking a "pipe of reconciliation" with their husbands?
- ... that theCova de les Dones contains prehistoric art and ancient Roman inscriptions?
- ... that baseball playerChuck Hockenbery had to refuse an offer to join an MLB team?
- ... that around 2,000 prison guards were fired after the2025 New York corrections officers' strike ended?
- ... thatan openly gay referee officiated the2025 PDC World Darts Championship final?
- ... that old bridgeabutments became artificial reefs during theSouth Coast Rail project?
- ... that the limited edition ofReira Ushio's debut EP includes a booklet featuring short stories she wrote?
- ... that financial issues including the misuse of funds emerged atan Illinois TV station after its director died?
- ... that, before designing theMillard House, Frank Lloyd Wright designed theMillard House?
In the news

- Flooding in Central Texas(pictured), United States, leaves more than 110 people dead.
- Astronomers announce the discovery of3I/ATLAS, aninterstellar object passing through theSolar System.
- TheVera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile releases thefirst light images from its new8.4-metre (28 ft) telescope.
- In basketball, theOklahoma City Thunder defeat theIndiana Pacers to winthe NBA Finals.
On this day
- 1640 – TheVirginia Governor's Council madeJohn Punch the first legally recognized slave inEngland's North American colonies.
- 1745 –War of the Austrian Succession: French victory at theBattle of Melle enabled their subsequent capture ofGhent from theAustrian Netherlands.
- 1790 –Russo-Swedish War: During theBattle of Svensksund in theBaltic Sea, theSwedish Navy captured a third of theRussian fleet.
- 1850 – FollowingZachary Taylor's death,Millard Fillmore(pictured) became president of the United States, the last member of theWhig Party to hold that office.
- 1995 –Sri Lankan civil war: After advising civilians to take shelter in places of worship, theSri Lanka Air Forcebombed a church inNavaly, killing at least 147 people.
Today's featured picture
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Thetamarind (Tamarindus indica) is aleguminous tree in the familyFabaceae, indigenous totropical Africa and naturalized in Asia. The tamarind tree produces brown, pod-like edible fruits, 12 to 15 centimetres (4.5 to 6 inches) in length, which contain a sweet, tangy pulp. The pulp is also used intraditional medicine and as ametal polish. This photograph shows two tamarind fruits of the cultivar 'Si Thong', one whole and one opened, with three tamarind seeds in front. The picture wasfocus-stacked from 51 separate images. Photograph credit:Ivar Leidus Recently featured: |
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