Wikipedia:Main Page history/2015 January 16

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USS Mahan

The Mahan-class destroyers of the US Navy were 18 destroyers commissioned in 1936 and 1937. Mahan (pictured) was the lead ship, named for Rear Admiral Alfred T. Mahan, an influential historian and theorist on sea power. These ships featured improvements over previous destroyers, with 12 torpedo tubes, superimposed gun shelters, generators for emergency use, and a new steam propulsion system that was used on many subsequent wartime US destroyers. All 18 ships saw action in World War II, entirely in the Pacific Theater, including during the Guadalcanal Campaign and the battles of the Santa Cruz Islands, Leyte Gulf, and Iwo Jima. Their participation in major and secondary campaigns included the bombardment of beachheads, amphibious landings, task force screening, convoy and patrol duty, and anti-aircraft and submarine warfare. Six ships were lost in combat and two were expended in the postwar Operation Crossroads nuclear tests. The remainder were decommissioned, sold, or scrapped after the war; none remain today. Collectively, the ships received 111 battle stars for their World War II service. (Full article...)

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A photograph providing a side view of a frog facing left and standing on a plane that is inclined such that the frog's head is more elevated than its rear

Twenty-six amphibian species are found in Michigan, one of the fifty United States. These species include twelve species of frog, twelve species of salamander and two species of toad, all members of the class Amphibia. Blanchard's cricket frog (pictured), a subspecies of northern cricket frog, is considered to be threatened and two species, the marbled salamander and small-mouth salamander, are considered endangered; these are protected under the Endangered Species Act of the State of Michigan. Two more species, the boreal chorus frog and lesser siren, are considered to be of special concern, although they are not protected under the act. Most of Michigan's frogs and toads become dormant in the winter; some frogs can withstand short periods of freezing conditions, but this is not true of all species. Some species of salamander also hibernate during the winter, while other fully aquatic species remain active throughout the year. (Full list...)

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Austroicetes frater

Austroicetes frater (the southern austroicetes) is a species of grasshopper in the genus Austroicetes which is found in Australia. First described by Karel Brančik in 1898, this species is abundant from mid-August to early December.

Photograph: JJ Harrison

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