动物奇葩睡眠习惯：海獭睡觉手牵手

 　　From sleeping standing¹ up to shutting down half of their brain, animals have some strange sleeping habits.

　　动物们有一些奇特的睡觉习惯，有的站着睡觉，有的一半大脑休息。

　　Now some of these more unusual habits, from napping giraffes to birds that sleep while flying, have been revealed in an infographic.

　　现在一些更不寻常的睡觉习惯已经用信息图表展示出来了，从打瞌睡的长颈鹿到边飞边睡的鸟类都有记录。

　　The chart maps the liveliest to the idlest creatures to reveal that Little brown bats are most lethargic², sleeping for around 19.5 hours a day.

　　图表展示了从最活泼的动物到最懒惰的动物，其中小型棕蝙蝠是最嗜睡的，一天大概睡19.5小时。

　　动物奇葩睡眠习惯：海獭睡觉手牵手

　　This long period of sleep is thought to be a way of conserving³ energy and means they only hunt for a few hours each night when their insect prey⁴ are available.

　　这样长时间的睡眠被认为能够保存能量，这意味着每天晚上它们只有几个小时在捕捉昆虫。

　　In contrast, giraffes can go weeks without sleep and when they do grab some shut eye, it’s never for more than five minutes.

　　相比之下，长颈鹿可以几个星期不睡觉，它们真正闭上眼睛的时间也不会超过5分钟。

　　This is because being large and slow moving giraffes are constantly vulnerable to attacks from predators⁵, and therefore can’t sleep for long periods.

　　长颈鹿因为体积大，移动不方便，所以容易受到食肉动物的攻击，因此睡眠时间不长。

　　Adult giraffes sleep standing up in short bursts, but keep watch on their young which lie down to sleep, tucking their long legs underneath⁶ their bodies and curling up like a cat.

　　成年长颈鹿站着小睡时也会照看躺下睡觉的幼崽。幼崽把长腿弯曲在身子下面，像猫一样缩成一团。

　　However, other animals are experts at multitasking and can swim or fly while sleeping.

　　还有其他一些动物擅长同时进行多项活动，边游边睡或者边飞边睡。

　　动物奇葩睡眠习惯：海獭睡觉手牵手

　　As well as exotic beasts, the chart features pets such as domestic cats (shown above) which sleep for approximately two thirds of their lives and take extra naps when it's raining or if they're bored

　　除了一些奇异的野兽，图表也突出展示了一些宠物，例如家猫，它们一生中大约三分之二的时间都在睡觉，下雨或者无聊的时候也会睡一小觉。

　　For example, dolphins and whales sleep while keeping half of their brain alert, so they don’t drown, with dolphins typically dozing⁷ for around 10 hours a day.

　　例如，海豚和鲸鱼睡觉时会保持一半大脑清醒，所以它们不会淹死，海豚通常一天会睡10个小时左右。

　　The method is known as ‘logging’and it has been observed in bottlenose dolphins, which keep half of their brain a low level of alertness.

　　这种方法称为“运行记录”，在宽吻海豚身上就能观察到这一点，它们能使一半大脑保持较低的警觉性。

　　This allows the dolphin to retain enough consciousness to carry on breathing through its blowhole.

　　这使海豚能保留足够的意识去通过喷水孔呼吸。

　　While sea otters⁸ aren’t alert while they sleep, they form rafts to they don’t drift away from each other.

　　然而海獭睡觉时并不警觉，他们彼此手牵手，这样就不怕在睡梦中被海浪冲散了。

　　The creatures sometimes hold hands, or paws, when they sleep and typically eat, sleep and rest while floating in groups called rafts.

　　这种动物睡觉时有时手拉手，有时爪牵爪，通常成群结对像竹筏一样漂在水上吃、睡和休息。

　　These can range in numbers from a handful to hundreds of otters.

　　海獭的群体数量从几只到几百只不等。

　　Migrating birds can sleep while flying, with some drinking and napping during epic⁹ journeys that last for six months.

　　候鸟能边飞边睡，在持续六个月的迁徙过程中伴随着饮水和小睡。

　　Scientists recently have found that migrating birds, such as the Alpine¹⁰ swift, can fly for 200 days without stopping.

　　科学家最近发现了高山雨燕等候鸟能够在空中持续飞行200天。

　　The bird’s activity appeared to rise and fall during flight in a 2011 study, leading experts suggest that they control their wings while flying.

　　2011年的研究显示这种鸟飞行期间忽高忽低，由此，专家表示它们飞行时能够控制翅膀。

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 lethargic   

adj.昏睡的，懒洋洋的

参考例句：

• He felt too miserable and lethargic to get dressed.他心情低落无精打采，完全没有心思穿衣整装。
• The hot weather made me feel lethargic.炎热的天气使我昏昏欲睡。

3 conserving   

v.保护，保藏，保存( conserve的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Contour planning with or without terracing is effective in conserving both soil and moisture. 顺等高线栽植，无论做或不做梯田对于保持水土都能有效。 来自辞典例句
• Economic savings, consistent with a conserving society and the public philosophy. 经济节约，符合创建节约型社会的公共理念。 来自互联网

4 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

5 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

7 dozing   

v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• He never falters in his determination. 他的决心从不动摇。

8 otters   

n.（水）獭( otter的名词复数 )；獭皮

参考例句：

• An attempt is being made to entice otters back to the river. 人们正试图把水獭引诱回河里去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Otters are believed to have been on Earth for 90 million years. 水獭被认为存活在地球上已经9千多万年。 来自互联网

9 epic   

n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的

参考例句：

• I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
• They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

10 alpine   

adj.高山的；n.高山植物

参考例句：

• Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。
• Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。