【轻松英文阅读】为什么树袋熊喜欢抱树

Almost any picture you see of a koala, they are hugging a tree. It’s their classic pose. But did you know there was a reason for it? Well, researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia have discovered why they do it. According to the scientists, they hug the tree to cool down their bodies.

 

The researchers observed the koalas with thermal¹ cameras throughout the year. They noticed that on really hot summer days the koalas moved down to the lower parts of the trees where it was cooler and they tended to hug the trees closer.

 

Measurements taken with the thermal cameras showed a dramatic difference between the koalas’ body temperature and the outside temperature. In fact, they were as much as 6 degrees cooler on days when the temperature was over 39 degrees Celsius².

 

Koalas tend to have thinner fur on their abdomens³. The researchers suspect that this thinner fur helps them make closer contact with the tree, which in turn facilitates cooling.

 

 

1 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

2 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

3 abdomens   

n.腹（部）( abdomen的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The women especially disliked their stomachs or abdomens, hips, thighs and legs. 这些妇女特别不喜欢自己的胃部，腹部，臀部，大腿，腿部。 来自互联网
• They danced not with their legs or arms, but with their entire bodies, undulating their abdomens. 他们跳舞不是用腿和臂，而是用整个身子，腹部一起一伏地扭动着。 来自互联网