VOA科学技术2023 墨西哥新博物馆重点保护濒危蝾螈（在线收听）

A new museum in Mexico aims to educate the public about the critically endangered axolotl salamander.

墨西哥的一家新博物馆旨在向公众介绍极度濒危的蝾螈。

The museum recently opened at Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City.

该博物馆最近在墨西哥城的查普尔特佩克动物园开放。

The axolotl is native only to Mexico.

蝾螈原产于墨西哥。

The animal is extremely endangered in the wild because its natural environment is increasingly threatened.

这种动物在野外极度濒危，因为它的自然环境日益受到威胁。

The salamander has captured wide attention for its ability to heal itself when its body gets harmed.

蝾螈因其身体受伤后自愈的能力而引起了广泛的关注。

For example, the animal can regrow legs and damaged tissue.

例如，这种动物可以重新长出腿和受损的组织。

It can even repair problems affecting the heart and brain.

它甚至可以修复影响心脏和大脑的问题。

Scientists have also documented how the salamander can breathe with lungs and gills.

科学家还记录了蝾螈是如何用肺和鳃呼吸的。

It can also take in oxygen through its skin.

它还可以通过皮肤吸收氧气。

This can cause problems if the animal comes in contact with polluted water.

如果这种动物接触到被污染的水，就会造成问题。

"They are one of the few animals that can regenerate their skin, muscles, bones, blood vessels, nerves, heart, brain," said Fernando Gual, a conservation official at the zoo.

该动物园的保护官员费尔南多·瓜尔说：“它们是为数不多的能够再生皮肤、肌肉、骨骼、血管、神经、心脏和大脑的动物之一。”

Speaking about the museum, Gual said he sees it as a valuable tool to inform citizens about the unusual creature.

在谈到该博物馆时，瓜尔说，他认为它是一个宝贵的工具，可以让市民了解这种不同寻常的生物。

"A hugely important part of this space is environmental education," he said.

他说：“环境教育是这个领域非常重要的一部分”。

In Aztec tradition, a rebel god named Xolotl turned himself into an axolotl to hide and avoid being killed by his other gods.

在阿兹特克人的传统文化中，一位名叫索洛托的反叛神将自己变成了蝾螈，以躲避其他神的追杀。

But the god was still discovered, captured and killed.

但索洛托还是被发现了、然后被抓住，并被杀死了。

Axolotl salamanders were also commonly eaten by Aztec kings.

阿兹特克国王也经常吃蝾螈。

The axolotl that is native to Mexico City's southern Xochimilco area is especially well-known.

原产于墨西哥城南部赫霍奇米尔科的蝾螈尤其出名。

But Gual noted that 16 other kinds of axolotls also call Mexico home.

但瓜尔指出，其他16种蝾螈也以墨西哥为家。

In the past, axolotls did very well in Xochimilco's muddy canals.

过去，蝾螈在赫霍奇米尔科浑浊的运河里生活得很好。

The canals are the only remaining part of a once large waterway system dating back to Aztec times.

这些运河是阿兹特克时代大型水道系统中仅存的一部分。

But studies have shown the spread of cities, polluted water and non-native fish that eat the salamanders have led to their near-total collapse.

但研究表明，城市的扩张、水污染和以蝾螈为食的非本地鱼类导致它们几乎完全崩溃。

Still, Xochimilco still holds nearly 11 percent of Mexico's biodiversity, Gual said.

尽管如此，瓜尔说，赫霍奇米尔科的生物多样性仍占墨西哥的近11%。

The term biodiversity describes the number and kinds of plants and animals that exist in a particular area.

生物多样性一词描述了存在于特定地区的动植物的数量和种类。

With Mexico's 370 different kinds of amphibians, the country ranks number 5 in biodiversity worldwide.

墨西哥拥有370种不同的两栖动物，在全球生物多样性方面排名第五。

As the museum opened to its first visitors, the axolotl's popularity with the public was very clear.

随着该博物馆向第一批参观者开放，蝾螈在公众中的受欢迎程度是非常明显的。

"The truth is I'm very, very, very, very excited to be able to see how they eat, how they live, just how they are," said one visitor named Fernando.

一位名叫费尔南多的参观者说：“事实上，能够看到它们如何吃东西、如何生活以及它们的样子，我感到非常非常兴奋。”

The man, who did not want to give his last name, showed off a small axolotl tattoo he had on his arm.

这名男子不愿透露自己的姓氏，他展示了他手臂上的一个小蝾螈纹身。

"I'm marked for life," he said.

他说：“我一辈子都不会忘记”。

I'm Bryan Lynn.

布莱恩·林恩为您播报。