国家地理 古老森林中的神话生物

Mythical¹ creature found in ancient wood

古老森林中的神话生物

Researchers exploring Brazil's Atlantic Forest discovered some five to seven new species of praying mantises³. Among the newfound creatures are unicorn⁴ mantises, which have mysterious, hornlike structures on their heads, as seen above on a member of the genus Zoolea.

研究人员探索巴西的大西洋沿岸森林，发现了五到七个薄翅螳螂的新物种。这些新物种包括了独角螳螂，它们头上具有神秘的角状构造，属于Zoolea属的成员。

It's unclear exactly what purpose the protuberances serve. Perhaps they're "meant to break up the silhouette⁵ of the animals," says team leader Leonardo Lanna, whose Projeto Mantis² expedition was funded by the National Geographic⁶ Society. Predators⁷ may then mistake them for something inedible⁸, such as a leaf bud. Unlike their magical namesake, the praying mantises of the Atlantic Forest are experts in the art of blending in.

这个突起物的作用仍不清楚，也许是“用来混淆身形”。研究团队领导人李奥纳多·拉纳如此说；他的螳螂计划考察行程由国家地理学会赞助。掠食者可能会误认这些螳螂是不能吃的东西，例如一片叶芽。不同于和它们同名的神话动物，这些大西洋沿岸森林的薄翅螳螂可是伪装大师。

1 mythical   

adj.神话的；虚构的；想像的

参考例句：

• Undeniably,he is a man of mythical status.不可否认，他是一个神话般的人物。
• Their wealth is merely mythical.他们的财富完全是虚构的。

2 mantis   

n.螳螂

参考例句：

• Praying mantis has two powerful claws like sharp knives.螳螂有一对强壮的爪子，它们像锋利的刀。
• In her mind,it was a female mantis,devouring her mates.她的意识中，是一只雌螳螂正吞咽她的配偶。

3 mantises   

n.螳螂( mantis的名词复数 )

参考例句：

4 unicorn   

n.(传说中的)独角兽

参考例句：

• The unicorn is an imaginary beast.独角兽是幻想出来的动物。
• I believe unicorn was once living in the world.我相信独角兽曾经生活在这个世界。

5 silhouette   

n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓

参考例句：

• I could see its black silhouette against the evening sky.我能看到夜幕下它黑色的轮廓。
• I could see the silhouette of the woman in the pickup.我可以见到小卡车的女人黑色半身侧面影。

6 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 inedible   

adj.不能吃的，不宜食用的

参考例句：

• The food was totally inedible.食物完全无法下咽。
• These chemicals make the fruit inedible.这些化学品使这种水果不宜食用。