動物比人類強大的10個地方(上)

Overall, humans may be the most intelligent, strongest, and most prosperous species on the planet. But we can't keep up with every one of the millions of other species that exist. Various creatures around the globe have made astonishing adaptations that have allowed them to survive and thrive in their various environments.

總的來說，人類可能是地球上最聰明、最強壯和數量最多的物種。但我們不可能每個方面都超過現存的其他上百萬種物種。地球上的很多動物都做出了適應性的改變，以在不同的自然環境中存活下來，繁衍生息。

10 Eyesight

10 視力

Animals take this one by a landslide. Don't get us wrong, humans have some incredible optical equipment. Beyond contacts and glasses, we've designed telescopes capable of seeing great distances across our universe.

在視力方面，動物佔據絕對優勢。不要誤會，人類擁有很多不可思議的光學設備，除了眼鏡，還有望遠鏡，能夠看到宇宙中很遠的地方。

In practice, however, this equipment doesn't compensate for our shortcomings in real-world practice. This is likely because humans no longer need to roam wide, open areas to survive. Creatures without access to agriculture, like birds, need strong eyesight. They must be able to see their prey long before the prey sees them.

但是實際上這些設備並不能彌補人類的缺陷，這可能是因爲人類不需要在遼闊的野外覓食生存。那些不能出現在農田附近的動物，如鳥類，需要強大的視力，它們必須在獵物看到它們之前就發現獵物。

The eagle, for instance, is a classic example of an animal with remarkable sight. Even the most shortsighted eagles can see over four times as powerfully as the average human. The strongest eagles can see over eight times as powerfully! An eagle is estimated to be able to see a rabbit from up to 5 kilometers (3 mi) away.

比如說，鷹擁有非常強大的視力。即使是視力最差的鷹，它的視覺能力也是普通人類的四倍，有些視力強的鷹能夠達到八倍。據估計，鷹能夠看到5千米開外的兔子。

9 Strength

9 力量

As humans, we see ourselves as the strongest race. Although our strength is notable, tiny critters such as beetles and ants put us to shame. The dung beetle, for instance, pulls 1,141 times its own body weight! While it may not seem remarkable due to its small stature, keep in mind that the human equivalent of such strength would require the ability to lift almost 73,000 kilograms (160,000 lb).

人類總認爲自己纔是最強壯的物種，雖然人類的力量有目共睹，但與像甲蟲和螞蟻這樣的小動物相比，人類的力量相形見絀。比如說，屎殼郎能夠舉起自身體重1141倍重的東西！甲殼蟲的體型很小，所以它們能舉起的重量在人類看來似乎微不足道，但如果換算成人類的重量，那就相當於一個人舉起73000千克（160000磅）的東西。

In the way of sheer weight, African elephants take the cake. These enormous, lovable creatures can carry over 9,000 kilograms (20,000 lb). This is done using their massive trunks. Due to the trunk's tens of thousands of muscles, elephants can lift huge objects, including their young, and consume the incredible amount of water they need to survive.

假如用舉起自身重量來衡量力量的大小，那麼非洲象能夠拔得頭籌。非洲象體型龐大，憨態可掬，它們巨大的鼻子由上萬塊肌肉組成，能夠提起超過9000千克（2000磅）的東西，包括小象，而且也通過鼻子喝大量的水，來維持生命。

Small creatures such as ants and beetles are so strong because their strength is not relative to their weight or physical size. It is relative to the cross-sectional area of their muscles.

像螞蟻和甲殼蟲這樣的小動物力量很大與它們的體重或體型無關，而是它們的肌肉橫斷面發揮了重要作用。

In practice, this means that if you were to double an organism's length, the cross section of the muscles would go up fourfold and its volume and weight would increase eightfold. However, a longer organism will not develop the proportionally stronger muscles required to compensate for lost strength.

也就是說，如果你將某個生物組織的長度放大兩倍，肌肉橫斷面將會擴大四倍，體積和重量將會增加八倍。但是，長度更長的生物組織不會爲了彌補失去的力量而擁有等比例的強壯肌肉。

8 Speed

8 速度

Unlike with strength, smaller creatures do not necessarily steal the show in terms of sheer speed. For instance, one of the fastest men alive, Usain Bolt, was noted for having reached the speed of 44.72 kilometers per hour (27.79 mph) in a 100-meter (330 ft) dash. A cheetah, however, easily doubles Bolt's speed in only three seconds.

在速度方面，小動物就沒有那麼地引人注目了。比如說，現在世界上速度最快的人類是牙買加飛人博爾特，記錄顯示，他在110米欄中曾經達到44.72千米/小時的速度。但美洲豹能夠在短短3秒之內增速至博爾特的兩倍。

A bird noted as one of the fastest living creatures, the peregrine falcon, can reach an earth-shattering 355 kilometers per hour (220 mph). This incredible creature beats nearly every peak of human innovation.

遊隼是公認的速度最快的生物之一，它能夠以355千米/小時的速度飛翔，着實令人震驚，超越任何人類科技能夠達到的速度。

The reason for this is simply necessity. To intercept its prey in the sky, the peregrine falcon must dive at remarkable speeds. A combination of its slim feathers, pointed wings, and aerodynamic body allows it to reach such speeds.

遊隼能夠達到這麼快的速度也是出於生存需要，爲了在空中攔截獵物，它必須以非常快的速度俯衝，再加上超薄的羽毛、尖銳的翅膀和符合空氣動力學的身體，遊隼的速度無可匹敵。

7 Productivity

7 生產力

We can all admit that humans are not the most productive creatures at times. But we have also heard the saying “as busy as a bee.” Some bees will work only several hours, while some will work over 12.

我們時常會承認，人類不是生產力最強的生物。有句英國諺語叫“像蜜蜂一樣忙碌”，有的蜜蜂一天只要工作幾小時，而有的竟然要工作超過12小時。

Worker bees, which operate within the hive at all times, are busy day and night. Due to the lack of restrictions based on environmental and time factors, these bees can continue their tasks, such as cooling the nest with their wings, tending to various honeycombs, and, of course, taking lunch breaks.

工蜂整天在蜂巢裏沒日沒夜地幹活兒。由於環境和時間因素的限制，這些蜜蜂可以一刻不停地幹活，如扇動翅膀爲蜂巢降溫，照料不同的蜂巢，當然，也是會休息一下的。

Ants are another prime example of a hard-pressed species. As a community, every member must fill a role. Some will defend their colony, some will collect food, and some will even invade and enslave other ant colonies. Not only is it hard work, but it is demanding and lengthy.

另一種非常勤勞的動物是螞蟻。在蟻羣中，每個成員都承擔固定的角色。有些負責保衛領土，有的負責收集食物，有的負責入侵和擒獲俘虜。所以說，螞蟻不僅僅很勤勞，而且任務繁多。

While we get to lie down at the end of a hard day and rest for hours, worker ants get a measly 4–5 hours of sleep throughout the day. Not by having 2–3 naps, though. No, these restless workers take hundreds of short power naps. This is also expected to reduce their life spans.

當我們忙碌了一天躺下來休息時，工蟻一天只休息4-5小時，其他的時間不會打盹，而是不停地進行短暫的休息以恢復體力，這也使得它們的壽命變得很短。

6 Adaptations

6 適應性

As humans, we've made some incredible adaptations. However, these have relied heavily on machinery and construction. Other animals lack the ability to craft such meticulous things with their hands.

人類已經根據環境表現出難以置信的適應性，但是這都是取決於機器和施工。其他動物不像人類這樣，能夠用自己的雙手建造出精細的物件。

As such, over thousands upon millions of years, they have been forced to adapt. Suppose an animal living in Southern Africa was not able to adequately feed itself because it could not reach its food. Over a very long time, that creature's neck would grow, eventually becoming what it is now—a giraffe.

比如說，在數千年裏，動物們被迫適應環境。非洲南部有種動物，由於自己夠不到食物而老是吃不飽。隨着時間的推移，這種動物的脖子慢慢地就變長了，成爲現在的樣子——這種動物就是長勁鹿。

A classic example of an adaptation? Flight.

動物界適應性的一個絕佳例子是飛行。

While monkeys choose to swing and jump across the vast canopies, some animals take a simpler approach—flight. Animals that have to migrate long distances also benefit from this adaptation as it allows large groups to travel by sky.

猴子選擇在樹冠層上懸蕩和跳躍，有的動物選擇更簡單的方法——飛行。一些需要長途遷徙的動物也從中獲益頗豐，因爲飛行能夠使得一大羣動物同時在空中遷徙。

Some scientists fear that humans will no longer adapt within the next thousands of years. Due to machinery, we are nearly exempt from natural selection and are not “required” to adapt. We can only hope that spiders, scorpions, and bees don't choose to revolt against us.

有些科學家擔心，人類在未來的幾千年裏都不會再進化了。由於機器的發展，人類似乎失去自然選擇的能力，也“不需要”進化了。我們只能祈禱，蜘蛛、蠍子和蜜蜂不會聯合起來反抗人類。