關于海豚，8個令人難以置信的事實

關于海豚，8個令人難以置信的事實

Dolphins never cease to amaze. As researchers delve into the underwater world of these brilliant cetaceans, we're learning how full of surprises these creatures are, from their intricate social lives to their intelligence. Here are just some of the ways dolphins are exceptional, both physically and mentally.

海豚總是讓人驚嘆不已。當研究人員深入水下世界研究這些聰明的鯨類動物時，我們了解到這些生物是多么令人驚奇，從它們復雜的社會生活到它們的智力。這里列出海豚在身體和精神上的一些特殊之處。

1. Dolphins evolved from land-based animals

海豚是從陸生動物進化而來的

(Photo: Matt9122/Shutterstock)

Dolphins didn't always live in the water. Millions of years ago, the ancestors of dolphins roamed across land. The dolphins we know today are evolved from even-toed ungulates, which had hoof-like toes at the end of each foot. But around 50 million years ago, these ancestor animals decided the ocean was a better place to be. They eventually returned to the water and evolved into the dolphins that we know today.

海豚并不總是生活在水里。數(shù)百萬年前，海豚的祖先在陸地上游蕩，我們今天所知道的海豚是由偶蹄類動物進化而來的，偶蹄類動物在每只腳的末端都有類似蹄的腳趾，但是大約在5000萬年前，這些祖先知道了海洋是一個更好的地方。它們最終回到了水中，進化成了我們今天所知道的海豚。

2. Dolphins stay awake for weeks on end

海豚連續(xù)幾周保持醒著的狀態(tài)

(Photo: Jman78/iStockPhoto)

Recent research has shown the surprising capabilities of dolphins for staying awake for days or weeks on end — or possibly indefinitely.

最近的研究顯示，海豚有驚人的能力連續(xù)幾天或幾周保持清醒，甚至可能是無限期的。

On the one hand, the ability makes perfect sense. Dolphins need to go to the ocean's surface to breathe, so they can't simply breathe automatically like humans do. They have to stay constantly awake to take a breath and avoid drowning. How do they do this? By resting just one half of their brain at a time, a process called unihemispheric sleep.

一方面，這種能力非常有意義。海豚需要到海洋表面呼吸，所以它們不能像人類那樣簡單地自動呼吸。他們必須時刻保持清醒來呼吸，避免溺水。他們是怎么做到的?它們一次只休息大腦的一半，這一過程被稱為大腦半球睡眠。

3. Dolphins can't chew

海豚不能咀嚼

(Photo: Alicia Chelini/Shutterstock)

If you've ever watched a dolphin eat, you've noticed that they seem to gulp down their food. That's because dolphins can't chew. Instead, their teeth are used to grip prey. Sometimes, they'll shake it or rub it on the ocean floor to tear it into more manageable pieces. One theory for why they've evolved to do away with chewing is because they need to quickly consume fish before it can swim away. Skipping the process of chewing ensures their meal doesn't escape.

如果你曾經(jīng)看過海豚吃東西，你會注意到它們似乎會狼吞虎咽，那是因為海豚不能咀嚼。相反，它們的牙齒是用來抓住獵物的。有時，它們會在海底搖晃或摩擦獵物，把它撕成更容易處理的碎片。有一種理論解釋了它們進化到不再咀嚼的原因，那就是它們需要在魚游走之前迅速吃掉它們，跳過咀嚼的過程確保他們的食物不會逃脫。

4. Dolphins have worked for the Navy since the 1960s

海豚自20世紀60年代以來一直為海軍工作

(Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Brien Aho/Wikimedia Commons)

The idea of dolphins being employed by the military to scan harbors for enemy swimmers or pinpoint the location of underwater mines may seem like the plot of a movie, but it's true and has been for decades.

海豚被軍方用來掃描港口，尋找敵方潛入者，或者精確定位水下水雷的位置，這種想法可能看起來像是電影的情節(jié)，但這是真的，幾十年來一直如此。

5. Dolphins teach their young how to use tools

海豚教它們的幼崽如何使用工具

(Photo: Joost van Uffelen/Shutterstock)

A 2005 study by researchers revealed that a population of dolphins living in Shark Bay, Australia, use tools, and they pass that knowledge down from mother to daughter.

2005年，研究人員的一項研究顯示，生活在澳大利亞鯊魚灣的海豚種群使用工具，并由“父母”將這些知識傳給“兒女”。

6. Dolphins form friendships through shared interests

海豚通過共同的興趣建立友誼

This particular group of dolphins have been keeping researchers busy over the years, revealing information about group's culture and social habits.

多年來，這群海豚一直讓研究人員忙得不可開交，它們揭示了群體文化和社會習慣的信息。

7. Dolphins call each other by name

海豚互相叫名字

We've know dolphins communicate, but this is new: Dolphins have names and respond when called. Dolphins within pods have their own "signature whistle," just like a name, and other dolphins can use that special whistle to get the attention of their pod mates. Considering dolphins are a highly social species with the need to stay in touch over distances and coordinate together, it makes sense they would have evolved to use "names" much in the same way people do.

我們知道海豚會交流，但不知道的是：海豚有名字，當別人叫它們的時候它們會回應。圓莢體中的海豚有自己的“標志性哨聲”，就像名字一樣，其他海豚可以用這種特殊的哨聲來吸引圓莢體同伴的注意。考慮到海豚是高度群居的物種，需要保持遠距離的聯(lián)系和協(xié)調，它們進化到與人類非常相似地使用“名字”的方式是有道理的。

8. Dolphins get high on fish toxins

海豚對魚的毒素很敏感

We know that pufferfish have strong toxins. Apparently dolphins

know this too, and they use this for recreational benefit.

我們知道河豚魚有很強的毒素。顯然海豚也知道這一點，而且它們用這個來娛樂。