极速猎杀（2013）

快于F1赛车的速度
Faster than a formula one race car...
优于火箭的爆发力
More thrust than a space shuttle's rockets...
令战斗机相形见绌的动作姿态
And maneuvers that put fighter jets to shame.
地球上的速度之最
The fastest animals on the planet
动物们致命的速杀
Use speed to kill.
高速摄像机和最先进的电脑影像
High-speed cameras and state-of-the-art cgi
揭开这速度背后的秘密
Uncover how they do it.
沙漠里 太阳是最大的敌人
In the desert, the sun is enemy number one,
然而克服灼热的高温和干旱
But overcoming searing heat and thirst
仅仅是个开始
Is just the beginning.
捕猎者们以惊人的爆发力发起进攻
Predators strike with terrifying bursts of speed.
起承转合隐匿在瞬息之间
A world of action is hiding in the blink of an eye.
在纳♥米♥比♥亚♥的古老沙漠
In namibia's ancient desert,
气温高达160华氏度
Temperatures soar to 160 degrees.
看起来这只是个贫瘠的荒漠
It seems a barren wasteland,
但特殊生物们已占领这炽热的沙丘
But unique creatures have conquered these searing dunes.
在纳♥米♥比♥亚♥一隅存活下来的不二法门
The only way to survive in this corner of namibia
便是要有惊人的速度和致命的杀伤力
Is to be fast and deadly.
理论上讲 这个地域的年降水量不到一英尺
On paper, this area's annual rainfall is less than an inch,
可实际上
But in reality,
大部分沙丘地带已经好几年没下雨了
Large parts of these dune fields don't see rain for years.
因而捕食者们不得不靠猎杀来汲取水分
So predators here have to rely on their prey for moisture.
不过在这样一个无处藏身的环境里
And in such an environment, with nowhere to hide,
速度不只是一项优势
Speed is not just an advantage;
而是生存的必备技能
It's a necessity.
铲口蜥蜴
The shovel-snouted lizard
沙漠里速度最快的蜥蜴之一
Is one of the fastest lizards on the dunes.
但速度在沙漠里可不好施展
But speed doesn't come easily here.
沙漠适应性设计对防止下陷来说是必不可少的
Desert-adapted designs are essential to prevent sinking in.
移♥动♥的越快 陷的就越深
The faster you move, the faster you sink.
不过这只母蜥蜴却不会
But not this girl.
铲蜴能每秒移♥动♥3尺
The shovel-snouted lizard can run at over 3 feet per second.
就其身型来说 这速度是难以置信的
For her size, that's an incredible speed
相当于一秒内移♥动♥了身长的20倍
20 times her body length in one second.
修长的后肢由健壮的大腿肌肉驱动
Long hind legs are driven by powerful thigh muscles
类似发动机工作原理
That work like an engine.
后腿步距
The rear stride length
要远大于前腿
Has so much more reach than the front
使得铲蜥成了有速度优势的两足动物
That the lizard becomes bipedal at speed,
只靠两只腿奔跑而不是四只
Running on only two legs instead of four,
前腿仅用于维持平衡
Only using the forelegs to steer.
而这恰是其腿部构造精妙之处
But it's the structure of the feet
这对沙地行走可谓是关系重大
That make all the difference in the sand.
后腿的大接触面♥积♥起到桨的作用
The back foot's large area functions as a paddle,
促使蜥蜴前进
Pushing the lizard forward,
这时狭长的肌腱如弹簧般
While long tendons act like springs
支撑蜥蜴离开沙面
Lifting the lizard off the sand.
它们以速度优势来猎杀
It uses this speed to kill.
猎物们则为蜥蜴
The prey provides the lizard
提供了其所需的能量和水分
With all its energy and liquid needs.
但在这种环境下面临的挑战
But the challenges of this environment
远远不止食物和水
Go beyond just food and water.
还有高温
It's hot
炼狱般的高温
Hot as hades.
沙漠地表温度可达160华氏度
The surface of the dunes can reach 160 degrees.
极易被灼伤
Vulnerable to overheating,
铲蜥通过特殊的舞蹈来缓解高温
The shovel-snouted lizard does a dance to release heat,
当站着的脚在一定时候达到地表温度时
Changing feet at the exact moment their other foot
她就换另外的脚站
Has reached the same temperature as the sand.
但这样做也有其弊端
But this dance has its limits.
一旦她吸收了超出她承受范围的热量
When she absorbs more heat than she can release,
便有生命危险
She's in the danger zone.
这时候就该找个阴凉地了
It's time to find a cooler spot.
扁平的鸭型鼻
The flattened duck-bill snout
为沙底潜行提供了流线型通道
Provides a streamlined entry for the lizard's sand dive.
位于鼻子顶端的独特鼻孔设置
Uniquely positioned nostrils on the top of the snout
确保沙子不进入鼻腔
Ensure that sand doesn't enter the nasal cavity.
强壮的前臂为潜行开道
Strong forearms clear a pathway for entry,
同时有力的后腿将沙子踢到两边
While the powerful hind legs kick sand to the side,
让铲蜥游到阴凉的安全地带
Swimming the lizard to a cooler safe zone.
沙粒中的空气
With air trapped between the sand grains,
能使铲蜥在地表1.5尺下
The lizard can remain buried at 1.5 feet below the surface
待24小时
For 24 hours.
这也是个避开猎杀者的好办法
It's also a good way to escape predators.
这片沙漠的生命体少得可怜
These dunes aren't exactly crawling with life,
因此所有潜在的猎物都值得考虑
So all potential prey needs to be investigated.
带着水汽的砂粒吸引了附近的一只雄铲蜥
The dew-covered sand grains have attracted a nearby male.
这条蛇的行速可达每小时18公里
This snake can travel at speeds of up to 18 miles per hour.
比它更快的只有黑眼镜蛇
Only the black mamba is faster.
可这个小家伙甚至没有眼镜蛇的十分之一长
But this little guy is not even one-tenth the length of a mamba,
因此按相对值计算
So in relative terms,
这还真是个令人侧目的第二名
It's an impressive second place.
这蛇叫侏咝蝰
This is the peringuey's adder,
又叫侧行蝰
Also called the sidewinder.
侧行时相当于马在狂奔
Sidewinding is the equivalent of the horse's gallop
在蛇类中
In the snake world.
这是最快的行走方式
It's the fastest way to get around.
抛开速度 对蛇来说
And speed aside, it's also the best way
这也是通过松散流沙的最好方式
For a snake to cross loose, shifting sand.
在侧行中 蛇体只有两个部分
In sidewinding, only two parts of the snake
同时与地面接触
Are on the ground simultaneously.
同时以头和尾巴作为支点
With the head and tail firmly anchoring the snake,
将身体从环形中掷出前进
It throws its body forward in a loop.
然后头借势向前移♥动♥
When that lands, the head is thrust forward.
紧接着尾巴抬起
As soon as that lands, the tail is brought up,
如此反复
And so on.
这样的移♥动♥会产生抓力 就像把脚往下碾
This movement creates grip, much like a foot pushing down,
使得蛇在前进过程中不需滑行
Allowing the snake to move forward without sliding,
即使在流沙上
Even on shifting sand.
侧行同样也是必要的热处理行为
Sidewinding is also a necessary heat-coping behavior
在碳烤般的沙漠里
In the scorched desert.
这能减少身体与沙子的接触
It reduces the body's contact with the hot sand,
与铲口蜥蜴的舞蹈有着异曲同工之妙
Much like the thermal dance does for the shovel-snouted lizard.
倘若没有侧行
Without their sidewinding action,
蝰蛇们便成了烤蛇了
These adders would cook on the sand.
然而侧行的速度并不足以捕杀猎物
But the sidewinder doesn't use this speed to chase down prey.
蜥蜴的速度要比侧行快
The lizards are way too quick for that.
它们反而会找一处蜥蜴常出没的地方
Instead, they find an area with good lizard activity
往往在草丛边 蜥蜴们通常在这里乘凉
Often near grass tussocks, where the lizards seek shade.
从尾部开始
Starting at the tail
慢慢到头部
And working its way towards the head,
侧行蝰将身体扭进沙里
The sidewinder wiggles its body into the sand.
虽然蛇没有听觉
Although snakes don't have ear openings,
但它们能听到声波
They can hear vibrational waves
地表的震动经由两块专门的骨头
That travel through the ground and straight into their skull
会径直传入它们的头骨
Via two specialized bones.
当猎物靠近时 肌肉的震颤
When prey is close, a burst of muscle activity
形成在肋骨间的拉力
Generates tension between the ribs.
弹力再以迅雷不及掩耳之势
The elastic recoil propels the head and fangs forwards
反冲推动头部和牙齿尖端
At tremendous speed.
沙面上只露出眼睛
With only its eyes above the sand
沙漠的风吹散了藏匿的痕迹
And the desert wind blowing all traces of its burial site away,
蝰蛇伺机而动
The adder waits,
毒液也已蓄势待发
Its potent venom ready to do the hard work.
一只铲口蜥蜴也在觅食
A shovel-snouted lizard is also on the hunt.
他进入了侧行蝰的视线
He's spotted the sidewinder's eyes,
但显然还没意识到自己的处境
But clearly doesn't recognize them for what they really are.
他停下来捕食一只虫子
He stops to pick up a bug.
致命的疏忽
Big mistake.
在这炽热的沙漠 蜥蜴不仅仅是一顿饱餐
In this scorched desert, the lizard is not just a meal