纪录片《南太平洋》 第48期 四海为家（16）

Discovered only 30 years ago,

人们在30年前发现

Fiji's largest surviving reptile¹ was marooned² on a handful of its outer islands.

斐济最大的爬行类幸存者被困在少数外岛上

Crested³ iguanas⁴. They're one of the toughest and most saltwater-tolerant lizards⁵ around.

这是斐济冠鬣蜥。它们是最坚韧、最耐盐水的蜥蜴

In the breeding season, males, nearly a metre long, battle it out for a mate.

在繁殖季节中，近1米长的雄性为了抢夺配偶而奋斗

They begin with a gentle bout⁶ of competitive head-bobbing.

开始它们温和地摆动头部

If no-one backs down, things become more animated⁷.

如果双方都不后退，决斗就不可避免

The loser scrambles⁸ for cover. So where did these large lizards come from?

失败者迅速逃到树顶。那么这些大蜥蜴是从哪里来的?

Some speculate Asia, 4,000 miles to the west.

有人猜测这些巨型蜥蜴来自6000公里以西的亚洲

Others, the Americas, 5,000 miles to the east.

也有人认为，它们是来自8000公里以东的美洲

But how did they end up here in Fiji?

然而它们是如何最终抵达斐济的呢

One answer is that the iguanas, the frogs and the millipedes were all carried here by powerful oceanic forces.

其中一个答案是，鬣蜥，蛙和千足虫都是被强大的海洋力量带来这里。

1 reptile   

n.爬行动物；两栖动物

参考例句：

• The frog is not a true reptile.青蛙并非真正的爬行动物。
• So you should not be surprised to see someone keep a reptile as a pet.所以，你不必惊奇有人养了一只爬行动物作为宠物。

2 marooned   

adj.被围困的；孤立无援的；无法脱身的

参考例句：

• During the storm we were marooned in a cabin miles from town. 在风暴中我们被围困在离城数英里的小屋内。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Five couples were marooned in their caravans when the River Avon broke its banks. 埃文河决堤的时候，有5对夫妇被困在了他们的房车里。 来自辞典例句

3 crested   

adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点

参考例句：

• a great crested grebe 凤头䴙䴘
• The stately mansion crested the hill. 庄严的大厦位于山顶。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 iguanas   

n. 美洲蜥蜴 名词iguana的复数形式

参考例句：

• Galapagos land iguanas belong to the genus Conolophus, of which there are currently three recognised species. 加拉帕戈斯陆栖鬣蜥属于鬣蜥属，其中目前得到确认的有三个物种。
• Feral cats in the region could be eating eggs and young iguanas, Gentile speculates. 这一区域的野猫可能正在吃鬣蜥蛋及其幼崽，金泰尔猜测。

5 lizards   

n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nothing lives in Pompeii except crickets and beetles and lizards. 在庞培城里除了蟋蟀、甲壳虫和蜥蜴外，没有别的生物。 来自辞典例句
• Can lizards reproduce their tails? 蜥蜴的尾巴断了以后能再生吗？ 来自辞典例句

6 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

7 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

8 scrambles   

n.抢夺( scramble的名词复数 )v.快速爬行( scramble的第三人称单数 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• The breaking of symmetry scrambles the underlying order of nature. 对称性的破坏会打乱自然界的根本秩序。 来自互联网
• The move comes as Japan scrambles for ways to persuade women to have more babies. 这一行动的出现正值日本政府想尽各种办法鼓励妇女多生育孩子。 来自互联网