中英對照讀新聞》World’s longest animal discovered in Australian waters 在澳洲海域發現世界最長動物

科學家在澳洲沿岸的深海中，發現外型有如一條繩子的管水母。（取自Schmidt Ocean Institute官網）

◎黃靖媗

Scientists exploring the deep sea off Australia’s coast have discovered as many as 30 new marine species – and what may be the longest animal ever seen.

科學家在探勘澳洲沿岸的深海時，發現30多種新的海洋生物，以及一種也許是人類見過最長的動物。

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The discoveries were the result of expeditions into Western Australia’s underwater canyons. One of the biggest discoveries was a siphonophore measuring an estimated 46 metres. Siphonophores are deep-sea predators made up of many small clones that act together as one and spread out like a single long string in the water. Researchers think this particular siphonophore may be the longest yet found.

這次針對西澳洲海底峽谷的探險有許多發現，其中一項最大的發現，就是一隻長約46公尺的管水母。管水母是一種深海掠食者，由許多小型複製體組成一隻（水母），並在水裡散開成一條繩子的形狀。研究人員認為，這隻獨特的管水母，可能是目前已知世界上最長的（動物）。

Nerida Wilson, a senior research scientist at the Western Australia Museum, who led the expedition, said the discovery of the extra-long siphonophore came when many researchers on board were least expecting it. The research vehicle dived as deep as 4,439 metres, but the siphonophore was only discovered as the vehicle was making its way back to the surface at around 630 metres.

領導這次探勘的西澳洲博物館資深研究科學家涅里達．威爾森說，研究人員在最不抱期望的時刻，發現了超長管水母。研究船最深潛至4439公尺深，管水母卻是在他們要返回水面時，於約630公尺處被發現。

新聞辭典

predator：名詞 ，掠食者。例句：The leopard is a predator of the monkey.（花豹是這隻猴子的掠食者。）

expedition：名詞，探險、遠征。例句：We discovered a new species during the expedition.（我們在這次探險中，發現一種新物種。）

dive：動詞，潛水。例句：To rescue the girl, the lifeguard dived in the river quickly.（為了營救那個女孩，救生員飛快地潛進河裡。）

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