Rattlers

Rattlers, written by Robert Charles.

《响尾蛇》，罗伯特·查尔斯 著

Introduction While most snakes are harmless, there are a few that can strike with a deadly bite. Rattlesnakes, commonly known as rattlers, are some of the most feared of these deadly snakes. But before you get the wrong idea about rattlers, let's set the record straight. Snakes don't go around looking for someone to In fact, most snakes, including rattlers, would rather avoid people. And also, most people who are bitten by rattlesnakes do not die from the bite.

引言 大多数蛇都无毒无害，但有少数蛇能发起攻击，咬出致命的伤口 响尾蛇就是这类致命毒蛇中最让人害怕的一种 不过在你对响尾蛇产生误解之前，我们先来理清事实 蛇不会主动到处找人攻击，事实上包括响尾蛇在内，大多数蛇都更愿意避开人类 另外，大多数被响尾蛇咬伤的人都不会因此丧命

You should also know that snakes have an important role to play among living creatures. Rattlers eat rodents such as rats and mice. Since many rodents carry diseases and destroy valuable crops and property, rattlesnakes help humans by keeping the number of rodents under control. So the next time you think bad things about rattlesnakes, don't forget the good they do.

你还应该知道，蛇在生物界中扮演着十分重要的角色 响尾蛇以老鼠这类啮齿动物为食 许多啮齿动物会传播疾病、毁坏庄稼和财物，响尾蛇控制它们的数量，其实是在帮助人类 所以下次你对响尾蛇产生坏印象时，别忘了它们做的好事

Where Rattlers Live All of the world's rattlesnakes are found in North and South America. They live in almost every state of the United States, in every South American country and throughout southern Canada. Their habitat?

响尾蛇的栖息地 全世界的响尾蛇都分布在北美洲和南美洲 它们几乎生活在美国每个州、南美洲所有国家，以及加拿大南部全境 它们的栖息地都有哪些呢？

include swamps, deserts, prairies, forests, and mountains. The greatest numbers of rattlesnakes are found in the deserts and dry areas of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like all reptiles, rattlesnakes are cold -blooded. This means their body temperature goes up and down with the temperature around them. Because they can't keep their bodies warm, Rattlers spend the winter hibernating in dens below the ground. For the most part, Rattlers are loners, but during hibernation, hundreds can gather in the same den. As spring begins, Rattlesnakes crawl out of their dens to bask in the sun. As the sun warms their bodies, the Rattlers become more active and get ready to spend the summer hunting. You are most likely to see rattlesnakes when the temperature is 21 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius, 70 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In areas where it gets really hot during the day, rattlers must find shady places to stay cool. They often like to lie under rocks, bushes, cactuses, and trees.

包括沼泽、沙漠、草原、森林和山地 响尾蛇数量最多的区域是美国西南部和墨西哥北部的沙漠与干旱地带 和所有爬行动物一样，响尾蛇是冷血动物 也就是说，它们的体温会跟着周围环境的温度变化而升降 因为没法自己维持体温，响尾蛇冬天会在地底洞穴里冬眠 大多数时候响尾蛇都独来独往，但冬眠时，几百只响尾蛇会聚集在同一个洞穴里 春天来临后，响尾蛇会爬出洞穴晒太阳 太阳把身体晒暖后，响尾蛇就会变得活跃，准备整个夏天都用来捕猎 气温在21到30摄氏度，也就是70到90华氏度时，你最容易见到响尾蛇 在白天非常炎热的地区，响尾蛇会找阴凉的地方降温 它们常常躲在岩石、灌木丛、仙人掌和树荫底下

How Rattlers Hunt. Rattlers belong to a group of snakes called pit vipers. Pit vipers have deep heat -sensing pits below their eyes. The pits detect the body heat of rodents, birds, and other prey. A rattler can detect the heat of a candle flame from as far away as 10 meters, 30 feet. Rattlers also smell with their forked tongues by flicking them in and out of their mouths. Using heat and smell to find food makes Rattlers good night hunters.

响尾蛇如何捕猎 响尾蛇属于蝮蛇类 蝮蛇的眼睛下方长有能感知热量的深颊窝 这些颊窝能探测到啮齿动物、鸟类和其他猎物的体温 响尾蛇在10米，也就是30英尺外就能探测到蜡烛火焰的热量 响尾蛇还靠分叉的舌头闻气味，它们会不停把舌头伸进出进 依靠热量和气味寻找猎物，让响尾蛇成了出色的夜间猎手