地球上速度最快的十種動物(下)

ebeests – 50 mph

5.牛羚：時速50英里

Wildebeests can run as fast as 50 mph, especially if they feel threatened. There are two types of wildebeests: black and blue. They are members of the Bovidae family along with cows, goats and antelopes. Both the black and blue species are native to Africa and adapted to the grassy lands in the southern areas. The species are different mostly because they live in different regions and eat different foods, and the distinction can be made based on body colors and the orientations of the horns.

牛羚在遇到危險時，最快時速可以達到50英里。牛羚分爲兩種，黑色牛羚和藍色牛羚，他們和奶牛、山羊、羚羊同屬於牛科動物。兩種牛羚都是非洲本土物種，適宜在南部草原地區生活。黑色和藍色牛羚生活在不同的區域，吃不同的食物，可以通過顏色和其觸角的方向來辨別他們。

The black wildebeests migrate more often, but the blue wildebeests are more abundant in number. Despite the fact that they are hunted by animals and humans, their populations remain high and stable. Wildebeests are found in the southern and eastern parts of Africa from South Africa to Zimbabwe. Even though they used to roam lands freely, they are now confined to nature reserves and national parks due to excessive hunting. In East Africa, large groups of blue wildebeests prepare to migrate as the season changes from dry to rainy. They migrate to find more food and water and to avoid predators. Along the way, many of them drown in rivers or get eaten by predators like lions, crocodiles and cheetahs. There are many ways that wildebeests work to reduce predation, which is fascinating to attempt to understand. In general, they are strong, fast creatures that can attack their predators singly or in large groups. They usually move as one in a swarm, and the strongest members herd around the youngest ones to protect them from harm. Zebras commonly travel with wildebeest to keep the numbers of predators down, too. Whenever there are calls of distress from other animals, the wildebeest stay on alert.

黑色牛羚遷徙更加頻繁，藍色牛羚數量更多一些。雖然牛羚不斷被動物和人類獵殺，它們的數量卻一直趨於穩定，居高不下。牛羚生活在非洲的東部和南部的津巴布韋。由於人類的過度捕獵，牛羚在非洲大陸馳騁的景象已經不復存在，它們現在只能在國家公園和自然保護區內活動。在東非地區，大羣的藍色牛羚正準備在乾溼季節更替時大規模的遷移。它們要遷移到水草肥美的地方，還要在途中避免肉食動物的攻擊。許多牛羚在遷移途中溺死在河水中，或者是淪爲獅子、鱷魚或獵豹的盤中餐。牛羚有很多有趣的方法來減少被獵食的機會。大多數牛羚比較強壯且速度極快，理論上講，他們可以單獨或成羣結對去攻擊他們的天敵。牛羚通常聚羣飛奔，成年強壯的牛羚把幼崽團團圍住，免受肉食動物的攻擊。斑馬羣通常會和牛羚一同遷徙，保護自己，減少食肉動物的攻擊。牛羚在聽到其他動物的悽慘叫聲時會時刻保持警惕，避免天敵的突襲。

ich – 60 mph

4.鴕鳥：時速60英里

Ostriches are the earth's largest, tallest birds and are known for being flightless. What many people may not know is that these animals run really fast – up to 60 mph. In Africa, humans even hop on their backs and use them in races, as they can maintain a 60 mph speed for half an hour and cover many miles of ground. With their powerful legs and wings, they can take 3.5 meter strides through the air, and even when not provoked by other animals or humans, they are often seen running.

儘管不會飛，鴕鳥卻是這個世界上最大、最高的鳥類。但是，不爲人們所知得是，鴕鳥奔跑時的最高時速可達到60英里。在非洲，人們甚至會舉辦騎鴕鳥比賽。鴕鳥可以以60英里/小時的速度跑上半個小時，這是一段非常長的距離了。靠着強有力的大長腿和翅膀，他們一步就可以跨3.5米，而且，即使沒有其他動物或者人類的挑釁，它們也經常狂奔不息。

Ostriches are located throughout the southern and eastern regions of Africa. Their omnivorous diet allows them to eat plants and smaller animals, but they mostly eat plants. They do not require water like humans do because they derive this moisture from plant matter, and in captivity, they can consume over 3 kg of plants per day. When they reproduce, they lay eggs that weigh as much as 1.5 kg, and these eggs are some of the largest and most prominent in the world. For centuries, ostriches have been hunted for their large eggs, meat and very large feathers. Their feathers are used for decorations along with fashion accessories. In the past, these birds were found all over most of Africa and in some parts of southern Asia. These days, however, their numbers have been drastically reduced. There was a subspecies of ostrich that roamed near the Syrian desert, but they have become extinct since 1941, but some humans have tried to reintroduce the ostrich populations in the Middle East. Despite these facts, the ostriches are not on the lists of highly endangered species.

鴕鳥廣泛分佈於非洲南部和東部地區。鴕鳥是雜食動物，它們主要吃植物，也吃小型的動物。鴕鳥獲取水分的方式與人類不同，它們能夠從植物體內獲得所需的水分。在旅行過程中，他們每天要消耗超過3KG的植物。提到繁衍後代，單個鴕鳥蛋的重量能達到1.5KG，世界上最大、最顯眼的蛋自然也少不了他們的蹤影。幾個世紀以來，人們爲了鴕鳥蛋、鴕鳥肉和鴕鳥大大的羽毛而獵殺它們。它們的羽毛被用於時尚配飾。過去，這種動物在非洲隨處可見，在南亞的一些地方也可以找到他們的蹤影。然而，現在鴕鳥數量銳減。在靠近敘利亞的沙漠地區，曾經生活着一種鴕鳥亞種，但是它們已經在1941年滅絕，人們嘗試着從中東地區重新引進鴕鳥。儘管這樣，鴕鳥其實並算瀕危動物。

ngbok – 60 mph

3.跳羚：時速60英里

Like pronghorns, springbok are very agile with sharp senses. When very agitated, these animals can run up to 60 mph, making them some of the fastest mammals in the world. Springbok get the "spring" in their name because they leapt as high as 9 feet in the air.

和叉角羚一樣，敏銳的感官使得跳羚十分機警。一旦受刺激，跳羚奔跑時的速度可以達到60英里每小時。這也使得他們成爲這個世界上跑的最快的哺乳動物。跳羚因其可以騰空起跳達到9英尺而得名。

Along with their leaps, springbok are recognizable by the soft white fur on their faces and bellies. The rest of their bodies are covered in light reddish brown fur. They are extremely lightweight with an average of 60 to 100 pounds and consume mostly plant foods. During the hot summers, they dine on grasses, but during the dry winters, they look for shrubs. Springbok are some of the most commonly found types of antelope in southern Africa. They live in dry, open plains where they are hunted by both animals and humans. For humans, they are the most desired species to hunt because of their venison meat. In a feat called pronking, springbok jump as high as 13 feet in the air. They curve their bodies, stiffen their legs and point their heads down toward the ground. They continue to repeat these series of landings and leaps. The Springbok used to exist in large numbers in the southern parts of Africa, and they roamed lands covered in bushes, shrubs and grasses. They used to migrate in large herds known as treckbokken, but these treks have discontinued. Extreme hunting practices have reduced the populations significantly, and throughout the late 1800s, the springbok was almost eliminated due to hunting, but the numbers have since been reintroduced. People are continuing to manage the populations effectively, and there is currently not a long-term threat to their survival.

除了它們強大的跳躍能力，人們也可以通過他們臉上和肚子上柔軟的白色皮毛辨認出跳羚來。跳羚身體的其他部位是明亮的棕紅色。跳羚體態輕盈，體重僅有60至100磅，一般來說，跳羚以植物爲主食。在炎熱的夏天，它們主要吃草，到了乾燥的冬季，它們則需要尋找矮灌木叢。跳羚是非洲南部最常見的羚羊。它們生活在乾燥、廣袤的平原上。在這裏，人類和其他肉食動物競相捕殺着這種可愛的小生靈。對人們來說，鮮美的野味使得跳羚成爲理想的獵物。跳羚可以實現騰空跳躍13英尺的壯舉。屈體、繃緊四肢、頭抵地，起跳、落地，跳羚不斷重複着這一系列的動作。過去，成羣的跳羚居住在非洲的南部地區，它們在長滿灌木、矮樹和草坪的平原上漫步。它們曾經的長途大規模遷移，但現如今由於極端的狩獵行爲導致跳羚數量銳減，不能再現大規模遷徙景象。無休止的狩獵行爲持續到19世紀末期，使得跳羚幾近滅絕，但是，還好它們數量重新開始增長了。人們一直致力於保護着跳羚的種羣數量，因此，對於跳羚來說，現在並不存在長期威脅他們生存的因素。

ghorn – 100 mph

2.叉角羚：時速100英里

These animals evolved their superior running abilities to escape from predators like cheetahs along with coyotes and cougars. Unlike their predators, they can maintain their high speeds for longer periods of time. Pronghorns have adapted to their conditions, and they have large eyes for easier seeing across large areas. In addition, they have hearts, lungs and tracheas that make it easier to consume colossal amounts of oxygen for long periods of time. Pronghorns also have hooves that have cushions underneath that work as shock absorbers as they run. Their bone structure is light, making them very flexible, and they have minimal hair to reduce profuse sweating. Pronghorns are designed for running, but sometimes they can accomplish amazing jumps, especially under immense pressure.

叉角羚是北美地區奔跑速度最快的陸地動物，跑起來時速可達60公里到100公里不等。第一次在北美髮現並識別出這種動物的，是劉易斯和克拉克的探險隊。正是憑藉跑步優勢，叉角羚們能夠躲開美洲獅還有狼這些天敵的追捕。儘管獵豹奔跑速度是世界第一，但其耐力遠不如叉角羚。叉角羚視覺敏銳，能看到數千米以外的物體。其敦實的體形、細長的四肢都適於奔跑，發達的心肺和氣管有利於吸收大量氧氣，能保證他們能長時間奔跑。同時，蹄子下面的軟墊如減震器一般起保護作用，避免運動受傷。此外叉角羚的骨架十分輕盈，運動靈活，體表的毛髮也不多，這樣在奔跑時就不會大量出汗消耗能量。叉角羚卓越的奔跑能力與生俱來，它們的彈跳能力也十分驚人，尤其身處巨大壓力時。

The Lewis and Clark exploration group were the first ones to find and recognize pronghorns in North America. Today, they are found in specific regions in the U.S., including Yellowstone National Park, along with Canada and northern Mexico. Pronghorns belong to a whole species that is not located anywhere else on the planet. Pronghorns live in wide, open areas, usually in high elevations, and they are known to migrate for very long distances across North America – up to 150 miles. They eat mostly plants, such as grass and cacti, and their natural curiosity gets them into trouble at times, as this can make them quite easy prey for predators.

叉角羚生活在寬闊的草原和荒漠地帶，海拔多在900-2400米之間。主要以草、灌木、仙人掌爲食。叉角羚生性好奇，喜歡靠近一些沒有明顯威脅特徵的新東西。獵人常常利用這一點，靜坐一處揮動白手帕，來引誘隱藏的叉角羚現身。如今叉角羚分佈於北美洲西部的開闊地帶，北起加拿大南部，南到墨西哥北部，中間美國的黃石公園都有不少叉角羚的身影。而在世界其他地區幾乎見不到叉角羚的蹤跡，他們已是北美洲的特色物種。

tah – 112 mph

1.獵豹：時速112英里

Cheetahs are known for its beautiful spots and fur along with its amazing speed and agility. They are the fastest animals known on land. They can go from 0 to 112 mph in just a few seconds. However, they can only maintain this speed for about 1,500 feet. The main reason why cheetahs are so fast is because they have evolved over time to chase animals such as gazelles and antelopes.

獵豹以珍貴的皮毛、美麗的斑點和行動極其敏捷而聞名，是目前世界上奔跑最快的陸地動物，從起跑到時速112公里僅需幾秒鐘。然而獵豹的最高時速，通常只能維持在400到500米之間。獵豹速度如此之快和長期追捕瞪羚、羚羊這些獵物有關。

Cheetahs try to stalk prey that moves individually or in packs, but the animals are likely to notice the cheetah's movements and take off running as fast as they can. When this happens, however, the cheetah springs into action, and as they can run faster than their prey, often catch up. Cheetahs mostly live in grassy or open areas like savannas, but sometimes they are found in deserts and mountains. Over many years, cheetahs have evolved into becoming the earth's fastest land animals through a series of adaptations. They have large lungs and hearts that are capable of consuming and circulating large amounts of oxygen. Their nostrils are large, their bodies are long and lean and their legs are strong. The tail works like a rudder built on a ship, and the claws are retractable to help the animals run on the ground. Overall, their bodies are more evolved for running than most other land animals.

獵豹常常只是悄悄地跟在獵物後面，一旦前面的獵物發現它們的天敵就開始逃命狂奔。這時，獵豹迅速行動起來進行捕捉。由於獵豹敏捷的彈跳能力和快速奔跑能力，獵物們往往只能束手就擒。不過當它們奔跑一段距離後，體溫悔快速升高，必須停下來一段時間散掉身上的熱量，恢復體力。如果天氣過熱或者海拔過高，再進行這種極速運動追捕獵物就相當危險了。獵豹通常棲息在草地或者其他開闊的環境中，人們經常在熱帶草原上看見獵豹，在沙漠和崎嶇的山地中有時也能發現它們的蹤跡。經過數萬年時間的積累，獵豹不斷適應環境，逐漸成爲地球上運動最快的陸地動物。強有力的心臟、超大的肺、遒勁有力的動脈系統可以吸收大量氧氣，爲高速運動提供能量。此外，獵豹體型細長、姿態優美、動作靈活，擁有較大的鼻孔和鼻腔，細長的尾巴充滿肌肉，如同船舵，能夠維持身體平衡，同時厚實硬挺的肉掌近似胎紋，在快速奔跑中幫助它們急轉彎。總之，獵豹各項生理特徵，似乎都是爲其成爲陸地上奔跑最快的動物而造。

審校:假微信 編輯:旭旭 來源:前十網