评论
打印
This is Gila.
这是毒蜥
He's a Gila monster, the only species of lizard native to the United States that is venomous.
他就是一只毒蜥，毒蜥是原产于美国的蜥蜴中唯一一种携带剧毒的蜥蜴
But, don't worry, these laggard lizards aren't exactly known for their ability to give chase.
但是，不用担心，这些行动迟缓的蜥蜴追击的能力并不很有名
Native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico,
毒蜥原产于美国西南部，墨西哥西北部
the Gila monster is a hard to spot desert dweller spending 90% of its day underground.
它们栖息在沙漠里，一天90%的时间都在地下，因此很难被人发现
Squat and heavyset with a large tail and head,
它们的头和尾巴较大，体型庞大且蹲坐着
they grow to be about 20 inches long and weigh two pounds.
毒蜥能长到将近20英寸长，体重能达到2磅
Their skin is studded with dorsal scales.
它们的皮肤上布满了背鳞
Black in color with scattered patterns of orange and red hues,
黑色的底色上点缀着橙色和红色
they camouflage well amongst desert pebbles and rocks.
在沙漠的石头中间能够很好地隐身
Gila monsters prey on small desert animals and their eggs by using their acute sense of smell.
毒蜥嗅觉灵敏，以沙漠中的小型动物及其卵为食
Once located, they bite into their prey with their teeth and don't let go.
一旦捕捉到猎物，它们就会用牙齿咬住猎物绝不松口
They chew relentlessly
它们会毫不留情地撕咬猎物
until the venom stored in their salivary glands can work its way into their prey.
直到将储存在唾液腺中的毒液充分注入猎物的身体
Although quite toxic,
尽管毒蜥毒性很大
their bite is not fatal to adult humans.
成人若被毒蜥咬伤仍不至于丧命
Sadly, the number of Gila monsters in the wild are dropping.
可悲的是，野生毒蜥的数量正在下降
They've lost their habitat to housing and agricultural development,
住宅和农业的发展夺走了它们的栖息地
but since they spend most of their time underground,
但因为毒蜥大多时候都在地下生活
we do not know how many are left.
如今还有多少毒蜥这一点尚未可知
This is the Gila monster.
这就是毒蜥
