英语听力：自然百科 迷幻鱼

 A recently discovered species of frogfish(襞鱼科) has been dubbed(授予称号) the psychedelic(引起幻觉的) fish because of the swirl¹ of beige(米黄色的)and peach(桃红色的) zebra stripes that run from its blue eyes to its tail.

 

Histiophryne psychedelica（鱼的名字） is also unique because of the way it hops² along the bottom of the sea floor. Using its lower fins³, the psychedelic fish expels water from tiny gill(鳃) openings to jet itself forward.

 

Their awkward motion might be attributed to a tail that's curled to one side, limiting their ability to steer⁴ themselves. Even when stationary⁵, the fish seems to use its lower fins like feet to position itself.

 

Dive operators in the waters of Ambon Island in Indonesia noticed the colorful fish in early 2008 and scientists at the University of Washington conducted DNA⁶ research to confirm it was a new species and part of the order of Anglerfish（琵琶鱼）.

 

Psychedelica has a gelatinous(胶粘的) body covered with thick folds of skin that protect it from sharp-edged corals. It has a neck for pushing its way into coral crevices（裂缝） for hiding. It has forward-looking eyes like human's and is about the size of a human fist. The fish is shy and secretive, usually seeking a new hiding place within 10 to 15 minutes of discovery by divers⁷. That probably accounts for why the species has remained hidden until now.

 

Researchers say while other frogfish and similar species are known to jettison(抛投) themselves before they take off swimming, none of these species have been seen hopping⁸ like the psychedelic fish.

 

1 swirl   

v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形

参考例句：

• The car raced roughly along in a swirl of pink dust.汽车在一股粉红色尘土的漩涡中颠簸着快速前进。
• You could lie up there,watching the flakes swirl past.你可以躺在那儿，看着雪花飘飘。

2 hops   

跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花

参考例句：

• The sparrow crossed the lawn in a series of hops. 那麻雀一蹦一跳地穿过草坪。
• It is brewed from malt and hops. 它用麦精和蛇麻草酿成。

3 fins   

[医]散热片；鱼鳍；飞边；鸭掌

参考例句：

• The level of TNF-α positively correlated with BMI,FPG,HbA1C,TG,FINS and IRI,but not with SBP and DBP. TNF-α水平与BMI、FPG、HbA1C、TG、FINS和IRI呈显著正相关，与SBP、DBP无相关。 来自互联网
• Fins are a feature specific to fish. 鱼鳍是鱼类特有的特征。 来自辞典例句

4 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

5 stationary   

adj.固定的，静止不动的

参考例句：

• A stationary object is easy to be aimed at.一个静止不动的物体是容易瞄准的。
• Wait until the bus is stationary before you get off.你要等公共汽车停稳了再下车。

6 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

7 divers   

adj.不同的；种种的

参考例句：

• He chose divers of them,who were asked to accompany him.他选择他们当中的几个人，要他们和他作伴。
• Two divers work together while a standby diver remains on the surface.两名潜水员协同工作，同时有一名候补潜水员留在水面上。

8 hopping   

n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The clubs in town are really hopping. 城里的俱乐部真够热闹的。
• I'm hopping over to Paris for the weekend. 我要去巴黎度周末。