The eNotes Blog Uncovering the Real Richard III Why ItMatters

Uncovering the Real Richard III Why ItMatters Fellow Shakespeare nerds! Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this finding of one twisted old skeleton at the bottom of a car park. Thats right, the long lost body of the last Plantagenet king, Richard III, is now found! For a while now, archaeologists determined to uncover Richard IIIs body, long since presumed to be lost to history or dissolved at the base of a river bed, have suspected a Leicester car park to house his remains. Unglamorous as it is for a royal burial site, the lot was built over the site of the old Grey Friars monastery in which some records report Richard was interred. Last September, all the drilling and digging away of 500 years worth of debris paid off, as the research team pulled from the earth the twisted skeleton of a man killed in combat. Despite the seemingly obvious evidence before themthat the 15th c. skeleton of a man with a deformed spine was found exactly where King Richards body was said to be buriedthe researchers held the bodys identity in question until only yesterday. On Monday, February 4th, a day that will forever go down in Corpsegate history, a press conference on the scale of a hot young pop stars perfume launch descended on the University of Leicester, and the Guardian was there to deliver it to the greedy public in real time. Because who doesnt want to receive minute by minute updates on a 500 year old, unidentified corpse? Nobody. Well, maybe Cambridge academic Mary Beard didnt: But whatevs. Finding Richards body can totally lay to rest the pesky rumors that have haunted his reputation since his fateful death at Bosworth Field in 1485. Richard III was embroiled in a bloody British civil war during the 1400s. This period was named the Wars of the Roses for the emblems of the two feuding royal familiesa white rose for the house of York (Richards), and a red rose for the house of Lancaster. York eventually lost the crown, and Richard of Gloucesters death in the Battle at Bosworth Field signified the end of a thirty year war. His defeat came at the hands of Henry Tudor, who was subsequently crowned Henry VIIfather of Henry VIII and grandfather of Elizabeth I. Enter the Renaissance and the Elizabethan golden age. Eager to impress his Tudor queen, Shakespeare wrote histories that painted the house of Lancaster in a favorable light. But no monarch presented quite as much opportunity for propagandizing as Richard of Gloucester; labeled for centuries as deformed, Richards image only worsened when Shakespeare penned him as the evil, scheming hunchback, the killer of two young princes, an incestuous savage. In actuality, Richards lopsided figure has been speculated before as resulting from his skills at archerythe thought being that one side became overdeveloped, causing a curvature of the spine. No word on the pathology of the skeletons  misshapen  back has been released, however, except to say that it was not caused by scoliosis. Still, the conflicting accounts reveal the murkiness surrounding Richard IIIs legacy. Because in fact, Gloucester made some rather liberal reforms in his time, the most prominent of which stand to this day: In December 1483, Richard instituted what later became known as the Court of Requests, a court to which poor people who could not afford legal representation could apply for their grievances to be heard. He also introduced bail in January 1484, to protect suspected felons from imprisonment before trial and to protect their property from seizure during that time. He founded the College of Arms in 1484, he banned restrictions on the printing and sale of books, and he ordered the translation of the written Laws and Statutes from the traditional French into English. And although most people already know that Shakespeares play was more fiction than history, the unfair image of an old, withered, and bitter king has been a hard one for poor Richard to shake. Now the recovery of his old, withered skeletal remains might not be much help with altering that, but if anything it puts a face, nay, skull to a tired myth. The skull that proves Richard was mercilessly treated by both his captors and history, as he was laid to rest beneath a whole lot of ugly European hatchbacks forever. For all the juicy updates from the University of Leicester press conference, check out that Guardian article here. And if youre suddenly starting to miss that heinously evil version of ol Dick, well weve got some dastardly  Richard III quotes to devour here.

Seahorse Facts

Seahorse Facts Seahorses (Hippocampus spp of the family Syngnathidae) are fascinating examples of bony fish. They have a unique body morphology with a horse-shaped head, large eyes, curved trunk, and a prehensile tail. Even though these charismatic creatures are banned as trade items, they are still heavily traded in the illicit international markets. Fast Facts: Seahorses Scientific Name: Syngnathidae (Hippocampus spp)Common Name: SeahorseBasic Animal Group: FishSize: 1–14 inchesLifespan: 1–4 yearsDiet:  CarnivoreHabitat: Temporal and tropical waters throughout the worldConservation Status: Not Evaluated Description After much debate over the years, scientists finally decided that seahorses are fish. They breathe using gills, have a swim bladder to control their buoyancy, and are classified in the Class Actinopterygii, the bony fish, which also includes larger fish such as cod  and tuna. Seahorses have interlocking plates on the outsides of their bodies, and this covers a spine made of bone. While they have no tail fins, they have four other fins- one at the base of the tail, one under the belly, and one behind each cheek. Some seahorses, like the common pygmy seahorse, have shapes, sizes,  and colors that allow them to blend in with their coral habitats. Others, such as the thorny seahorse, change color to blend in with their surroundings. According to the World Register of Marine Species, there are 53 species of seahorses (Hippocampus spp), though other sources number the existing species between 45 and 55. The taxonomy has proven difficult because seahorses dont vary a great deal from one species to another. They do, however, vary within the same species: Seahorses can and do change color and grow and lose skin filaments. Their size ranges from under 1 inch to 14 inches long. Seahorses are categorized in the family Syngnathidae, which includes pipefish and seadragons. Georgette Douwma/Getty Images Habitat and Range Seahorses are found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. Favorite seahorse habitats are coral reefs, seagrass beds, estuaries, and mangrove forests. Seahorses use their prehensile tails to anchor themselves to objects such as seaweed and branching corals. Despite their tendency to live in fairly shallow waters, seahorses are difficult to see in the wild, since they can remain very still and blend in with their surroundings. Diet and Behavior Although there is some variation based on species, in general, seahorses feed on plankton and tiny crustaceans such as amphipods, decapods, and mysids, as well as algae. Seahorses do not have stomachs, so food passes through their bodies very quickly, and they need to eat often, between 30 and 50 times a day. Although they are fish, seahorses are not great swimmers. Seahorses prefer to rest in one area, sometimes holding on to the same coral or seaweed for days. They beat their fins very quickly, up to 50 times a second, but they do not move quickly.  They are able to move up, down, forward or backward. Reproduction and Offspring Many seahorses are monogamous, at least during a single breeding cycle.  A myth perpetuates that seahorses mate for life, but this doesnt seem to be true. Unlike many other fish species, though, seahorses have a complex courtship ritual and may form a bond that lasts during the entire breeding season.  The courtship involves an enchanting dance in which they entwine their tails​ and may change colors. Larger individuals- male and female both- produce larger and more offspring, and there is some evidence for mate choice based on size. Unlike any other species, male seahorses  become pregnant and carry babies (called fry) to term.  Females insert their eggs through an oviduct into the males brood pouch. The male wiggles to get the eggs into position, and once all the eggs are inserted, the male goes to a nearby coral or seaweed and grabs on with his tail to wait out gestation, which lasts 9–45 days.   Males produce 100–300 young per pregnancy and while the main source of food to the embryos is the yolk of the egg, the males do provide additional sustenance. When its time to give birth, hell contort his body in contractions until the young are born, over a period of minutes or sometimes hours.   felicito rustique / Flickr   Conservation Status The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not as yet evaluated seahorse endangerment, but Hippocampus spp were among the first fishes brought under global trade restrictions in 1975. They are currently listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which allows exports of specimens only if they are sourced sustainably and legally. All countries which were historically exporting large numbers of them have since banned the export or are under CITES export suspensions- some banned the export prior to 1975. Nevertheless, seahorses are still threatened by harvesting for use in aquariums, as curios, and in traditional Chinese medicine. Historic and recent fisheries and/or trade surveys in source countries with trade bans have all revealed persistent exports of dried seahorses through unofficial channels. Other threats include habitat destruction and pollution. Because they are hard to find in the wild, population sizes may not be well-known for many species.  Ã‚   Stuart Dee / Getty Images Seahorses and Humans Seahorses have been a topic of fascination for artists for centuries, and are still used in Asian traditional medicine. They are also kept in aquariums, although more aquarists are getting their seahorses from seahorse ranches now rather than from the wild. Author and marine biologist Helen Scales, Ph.D., said of seahorses in her book Poseidons Steed: They remind us that we rely on the seas not only to fill our dinner plates but also to feed our imaginations. Sources Faleiro, Filipa, et al. Size Does Matter: An Assessment of Reproductive Potential in Seahorses. Animal Reproduction Science 170 (2016): 61–67. Print.Foster, Sarah J., et al. Global Seahorse Trade Defies Export Bans under Cites Action and National Legislation. Marine Policy 103 (2019): 33–41. Print.International Protections for Seahorses Take Effect May 15. World Wildlife Fund, May 12, 2004.Koldewey, Heather J., and Keith M. Martin-Smith. A Global Review of Seahorse Aquaculture. Aquaculture 302.3 (2010): 131–52. Print.Scales, Helen. Poseidons Steed: The Story of Seahorses, From Myth to Reality. New York: Gotham Books, 2009.Sea Horse Facts. The Seahorse Trust.

Seahorse Facts

Seahorse Facts Seahorses (Hippocampus spp of the family Syngnathidae) are fascinating examples of bony fish. They have a unique body morphology with a horse-shaped head, large eyes, curved trunk, and a prehensile tail. Even though these charismatic creatures are banned as trade items, they are still heavily traded in the illicit international markets. Fast Facts: Seahorses Scientific Name: Syngnathidae (Hippocampus spp)Common Name: SeahorseBasic Animal Group: FishSize: 1–14 inchesLifespan: 1–4 yearsDiet:  CarnivoreHabitat: Temporal and tropical waters throughout the worldConservation Status: Not Evaluated Description After much debate over the years, scientists finally decided that seahorses are fish. They breathe using gills, have a swim bladder to control their buoyancy, and are classified in the Class Actinopterygii, the bony fish, which also includes larger fish such as cod  and tuna. Seahorses have interlocking plates on the outsides of their bodies, and this covers a spine made of bone. While they have no tail fins, they have four other fins- one at the base of the tail, one under the belly, and one behind each cheek. Some seahorses, like the common pygmy seahorse, have shapes, sizes,  and colors that allow them to blend in with their coral habitats. Others, such as the thorny seahorse, change color to blend in with their surroundings. According to the World Register of Marine Species, there are 53 species of seahorses (Hippocampus spp), though other sources number the existing species between 45 and 55. The taxonomy has proven difficult because seahorses dont vary a great deal from one species to another. They do, however, vary within the same species: Seahorses can and do change color and grow and lose skin filaments. Their size ranges from under 1 inch to 14 inches long. Seahorses are categorized in the family Syngnathidae, which includes pipefish and seadragons. Georgette Douwma/Getty Images Habitat and Range Seahorses are found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. Favorite seahorse habitats are coral reefs, seagrass beds, estuaries, and mangrove forests. Seahorses use their prehensile tails to anchor themselves to objects such as seaweed and branching corals. Despite their tendency to live in fairly shallow waters, seahorses are difficult to see in the wild, since they can remain very still and blend in with their surroundings. Diet and Behavior Although there is some variation based on species, in general, seahorses feed on plankton and tiny crustaceans such as amphipods, decapods, and mysids, as well as algae. Seahorses do not have stomachs, so food passes through their bodies very quickly, and they need to eat often, between 30 and 50 times a day. Although they are fish, seahorses are not great swimmers. Seahorses prefer to rest in one area, sometimes holding on to the same coral or seaweed for days. They beat their fins very quickly, up to 50 times a second, but they do not move quickly.  They are able to move up, down, forward or backward. Reproduction and Offspring Many seahorses are monogamous, at least during a single breeding cycle.  A myth perpetuates that seahorses mate for life, but this doesnt seem to be true. Unlike many other fish species, though, seahorses have a complex courtship ritual and may form a bond that lasts during the entire breeding season.  The courtship involves an enchanting dance in which they entwine their tails​ and may change colors. Larger individuals- male and female both- produce larger and more offspring, and there is some evidence for mate choice based on size. Unlike any other species, male seahorses  become pregnant and carry babies (called fry) to term.  Females insert their eggs through an oviduct into the males brood pouch. The male wiggles to get the eggs into position, and once all the eggs are inserted, the male goes to a nearby coral or seaweed and grabs on with his tail to wait out gestation, which lasts 9–45 days.   Males produce 100–300 young per pregnancy and while the main source of food to the embryos is the yolk of the egg, the males do provide additional sustenance. When its time to give birth, hell contort his body in contractions until the young are born, over a period of minutes or sometimes hours.   felicito rustique / Flickr   Conservation Status The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not as yet evaluated seahorse endangerment, but Hippocampus spp were among the first fishes brought under global trade restrictions in 1975. They are currently listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which allows exports of specimens only if they are sourced sustainably and legally. All countries which were historically exporting large numbers of them have since banned the export or are under CITES export suspensions- some banned the export prior to 1975. Nevertheless, seahorses are still threatened by harvesting for use in aquariums, as curios, and in traditional Chinese medicine. Historic and recent fisheries and/or trade surveys in source countries with trade bans have all revealed persistent exports of dried seahorses through unofficial channels. Other threats include habitat destruction and pollution. Because they are hard to find in the wild, population sizes may not be well-known for many species.  Ã‚   Stuart Dee / Getty Images Seahorses and Humans Seahorses have been a topic of fascination for artists for centuries, and are still used in Asian traditional medicine. They are also kept in aquariums, although more aquarists are getting their seahorses from seahorse ranches now rather than from the wild. Author and marine biologist Helen Scales, Ph.D., said of seahorses in her book Poseidons Steed: They remind us that we rely on the seas not only to fill our dinner plates but also to feed our imaginations. Sources Faleiro, Filipa, et al. Size Does Matter: An Assessment of Reproductive Potential in Seahorses. Animal Reproduction Science 170 (2016): 61–67. Print.Foster, Sarah J., et al. Global Seahorse Trade Defies Export Bans under Cites Action and National Legislation. Marine Policy 103 (2019): 33–41. Print.International Protections for Seahorses Take Effect May 15. World Wildlife Fund, May 12, 2004.Koldewey, Heather J., and Keith M. Martin-Smith. A Global Review of Seahorse Aquaculture. Aquaculture 302.3 (2010): 131–52. Print.Scales, Helen. Poseidons Steed: The Story of Seahorses, From Myth to Reality. New York: Gotham Books, 2009.Sea Horse Facts. The Seahorse Trust.

Seahorse Facts

Seahorse Facts Seahorses (Hippocampus spp of the family Syngnathidae) are fascinating examples of bony fish. They have a unique body morphology with a horse-shaped head, large eyes, curved trunk, and a prehensile tail. Even though these charismatic creatures are banned as trade items, they are still heavily traded in the illicit international markets. Fast Facts: Seahorses Scientific Name: Syngnathidae (Hippocampus spp)Common Name: SeahorseBasic Animal Group: FishSize: 1–14 inchesLifespan: 1–4 yearsDiet:  CarnivoreHabitat: Temporal and tropical waters throughout the worldConservation Status: Not Evaluated Description After much debate over the years, scientists finally decided that seahorses are fish. They breathe using gills, have a swim bladder to control their buoyancy, and are classified in the Class Actinopterygii, the bony fish, which also includes larger fish such as cod  and tuna. Seahorses have interlocking plates on the outsides of their bodies, and this covers a spine made of bone. While they have no tail fins, they have four other fins- one at the base of the tail, one under the belly, and one behind each cheek. Some seahorses, like the common pygmy seahorse, have shapes, sizes,  and colors that allow them to blend in with their coral habitats. Others, such as the thorny seahorse, change color to blend in with their surroundings. According to the World Register of Marine Species, there are 53 species of seahorses (Hippocampus spp), though other sources number the existing species between 45 and 55. The taxonomy has proven difficult because seahorses dont vary a great deal from one species to another. They do, however, vary within the same species: Seahorses can and do change color and grow and lose skin filaments. Their size ranges from under 1 inch to 14 inches long. Seahorses are categorized in the family Syngnathidae, which includes pipefish and seadragons. Georgette Douwma/Getty Images Habitat and Range Seahorses are found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. Favorite seahorse habitats are coral reefs, seagrass beds, estuaries, and mangrove forests. Seahorses use their prehensile tails to anchor themselves to objects such as seaweed and branching corals. Despite their tendency to live in fairly shallow waters, seahorses are difficult to see in the wild, since they can remain very still and blend in with their surroundings. Diet and Behavior Although there is some variation based on species, in general, seahorses feed on plankton and tiny crustaceans such as amphipods, decapods, and mysids, as well as algae. Seahorses do not have stomachs, so food passes through their bodies very quickly, and they need to eat often, between 30 and 50 times a day. Although they are fish, seahorses are not great swimmers. Seahorses prefer to rest in one area, sometimes holding on to the same coral or seaweed for days. They beat their fins very quickly, up to 50 times a second, but they do not move quickly.  They are able to move up, down, forward or backward. Reproduction and Offspring Many seahorses are monogamous, at least during a single breeding cycle.  A myth perpetuates that seahorses mate for life, but this doesnt seem to be true. Unlike many other fish species, though, seahorses have a complex courtship ritual and may form a bond that lasts during the entire breeding season.  The courtship involves an enchanting dance in which they entwine their tails​ and may change colors. Larger individuals- male and female both- produce larger and more offspring, and there is some evidence for mate choice based on size. Unlike any other species, male seahorses  become pregnant and carry babies (called fry) to term.  Females insert their eggs through an oviduct into the males brood pouch. The male wiggles to get the eggs into position, and once all the eggs are inserted, the male goes to a nearby coral or seaweed and grabs on with his tail to wait out gestation, which lasts 9–45 days.   Males produce 100–300 young per pregnancy and while the main source of food to the embryos is the yolk of the egg, the males do provide additional sustenance. When its time to give birth, hell contort his body in contractions until the young are born, over a period of minutes or sometimes hours.   felicito rustique / Flickr   Conservation Status The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not as yet evaluated seahorse endangerment, but Hippocampus spp were among the first fishes brought under global trade restrictions in 1975. They are currently listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which allows exports of specimens only if they are sourced sustainably and legally. All countries which were historically exporting large numbers of them have since banned the export or are under CITES export suspensions- some banned the export prior to 1975. Nevertheless, seahorses are still threatened by harvesting for use in aquariums, as curios, and in traditional Chinese medicine. Historic and recent fisheries and/or trade surveys in source countries with trade bans have all revealed persistent exports of dried seahorses through unofficial channels. Other threats include habitat destruction and pollution. Because they are hard to find in the wild, population sizes may not be well-known for many species.  Ã‚   Stuart Dee / Getty Images Seahorses and Humans Seahorses have been a topic of fascination for artists for centuries, and are still used in Asian traditional medicine. They are also kept in aquariums, although more aquarists are getting their seahorses from seahorse ranches now rather than from the wild. Author and marine biologist Helen Scales, Ph.D., said of seahorses in her book Poseidons Steed: They remind us that we rely on the seas not only to fill our dinner plates but also to feed our imaginations. Sources Faleiro, Filipa, et al. Size Does Matter: An Assessment of Reproductive Potential in Seahorses. Animal Reproduction Science 170 (2016): 61–67. Print.Foster, Sarah J., et al. Global Seahorse Trade Defies Export Bans under Cites Action and National Legislation. Marine Policy 103 (2019): 33–41. Print.International Protections for Seahorses Take Effect May 15. World Wildlife Fund, May 12, 2004.Koldewey, Heather J., and Keith M. Martin-Smith. A Global Review of Seahorse Aquaculture. Aquaculture 302.3 (2010): 131–52. Print.Scales, Helen. Poseidons Steed: The Story of Seahorses, From Myth to Reality. New York: Gotham Books, 2009.Sea Horse Facts. The Seahorse Trust.