[Daily article] September 18: Opisthocoelicaudia

Opisthocoelicaudia is a genus of sauropod dinosaur of the Late
Cretaceous discovered in the Nemegt Formation in the Gobi Desert of
Mongolia. Named and described by Polish paleontologist Maria Magdalena
Borsuk-Białynicka in 1977, the type species is Opisthocoelicaudia
skarzynskii. A well-preserved skeleton lacking only the head and neck
was unearthed in 1965 by Polish and Mongolian scientists, making
Opisthocoelicaudia one of the best known sauropods from the Late
Cretaceous. Tooth marks on this skeleton indicate that large carnivorous
dinosaurs had fed on the carcass. Two more specimens have been found,
including part of a shoulder and a fragmentary tail. A relatively small
sauropod, Opisthocoelicaudia measured about 11.4–13 metres
(37–43 ft) in length. Like other sauropods, it would have been
characterised by a small head sitting on a very long neck and a barrel-
shaped trunk carried by four column-like legs. It may have been able to
rear on its hind legs.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opisthocoelicaudia>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1870:

Nathaniel P. Langford of the Washburn–Langford–Doane
Expedition first observed a geyser in the Wyoming Territory erupting at
regular intervals, naming it Old Faithful (video featured).
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Faithful>

1895:

Daniel David Palmer performed the first chiropractic
adjustment, on deaf janitor Harvey Lillard.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_chiropractic>

1918:

World War I: The Central Powers' defeat at the Battle of Dobro
Pole played a role in the Bulgarian withdrawal from the war and led to
the subsequent liberation of Vardar Macedonia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dobro_Pole>

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Wiktionary's word of the day:

Ember day:
(Christianity) Any of the three days within the same week, four separate
sets of which occur roughly equidistant in the circuit of the year, that
are set aside for fasting and prayer. In Western Christianity they are
usually the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday following the first Sunday
in Lent, Whitsunday, Holy Cross Day (14 September), and Saint Lucy's Day
(13 December).
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ember_day>

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Wikiquote quote of the day:

  Men more frequently require to be reminded than informed.  
--Samuel Johnson
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Samuel_Johnson>

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