Overall, humans may be the most intelligent, strongest, and most prosperous species on the planet. But we can't keep up with every one of the millions of other species that exist. Various creatures around the globe have made astonishing adaptations that have allowed them to survive and thrive in their various environments.

总的来说，人类可能是地球上最聪明、最强壮和数量最多的物种。但我们不可能每个方面都超过现存的其他上百万种物种。地球上的很多动物都做出了适应性的改变，以在不同的自然环境中存活下来，繁衍生息。

 

 

 

Animals take this one by a landslide. Don't get us wrong, humans have some incredible optical equipment. Beyond contacts and glasses, we've designed telescopes capable of seeing great distances across our universe.

在视力方面，动物占据绝对优势。不要误会，人类拥有很多不可思议的光学设备，除了眼镜，还有望远镜，能够看到宇宙中很远的地方。

 

In practice, however, this equipment doesn't compensate for our shortcomings in real-world practice. This is likely because humans no longer need to roam wide, open areas to survive. Creatures without access to agriculture, like birds, need strong eyesight. They must be able to see their prey long before the prey sees them.

但是实际上这些设备并不能弥补人类的缺陷，这可能是因为人类不需要在辽阔的野外觅食生存。那些不能出现在农田附近的动物，如鸟类，需要强大的视力，它们必须在猎物看到它们之前就发现猎物。

 

The eagle, for instance, is a classic example of an animal with remarkable sight. Even the most shortsighted eagles can see over four times as powerfully as the average human. The strongest eagles can see over eight times as powerfully! An eagle is estimated to be able to see a rabbit from up to 5 kilometers (3 mi) away.

比如说，鹰拥有非常强大的视力。即使是视力最差的鹰，它的视觉能力也是普通人类的四倍，有些视力强的鹰能够达到八倍。据估计，鹰能够看到5千米开外的兔子。

 

 

 

Unlike with strength, smaller creatures do not necessarily steal the show in terms of sheer speed. For instance, one of the fastest men alive, Usain Bolt, was noted for having reached the speed of 44.72 kilometers per hour (27.79 mph) in a 100-meter (330 ft) dash. A cheetah, however, easily doubles Bolt's speed in only three seconds.

在速度方面，小动物就没有那么地引人注目了。比如说，现在世界上速度最快的人类是牙买加飞人博尔特，记录显示，他在110米栏中曾经达到44.72千米/小时的速度。但美洲豹能够在短短3秒之内增速至博尔特的两倍。

 

A bird noted as one of the fastest living creatures, the peregrine falcon, can reach an earth-shattering 355 kilometers per hour (220 mph). This incredible creature beats nearly every peak of human innovation.

游隼是公认的速度最快的生物之一，它能够以355千米/小时的速度飞翔，着实令人震惊，超越任何人类科技能够达到的速度。

 

The reason for this is simply necessity. To intercept its prey in the sky, the peregrine falcon must dive at remarkable speeds. A combination of its slim feathers, pointed wings, and aerodynamic body allows it to reach such speeds.

游隼能够达到这么快的速度也是出于生存需要，为了在空中拦截猎物，它必须以非常快的速度俯冲，再加上超薄的羽毛、尖锐的翅膀和符合空气动力学的身体，游隼的速度无可匹敌。

 

 

 

We can all admit that humans are not the most productive creatures at times. But we have also heard the saying “as busy as a bee.” Some bees will work only several hours, while some will work over 12.

我们时常会承认，人类不是生产力最强的生物。有句英国谚语叫“像蜜蜂一样忙碌”，有的蜜蜂一天只要工作几小时，而有的竟然要工作超过12小时。

 

Worker bees, which operate within the hive at all times, are busy day and night. Due to the lack of restrictions based on environmental and time factors, these bees can continue their tasks, such as cooling the nest with their wings, tending to various honeycombs, and, of course, taking lunch breaks.

工蜂整天在蜂巢里没日没夜地干活儿。由于环境和时间因素的限制，这些蜜蜂可以一刻不停地干活，如扇动翅膀为蜂巢降温，照料不同的蜂巢，当然，也是会休息一下的。

 

Ants are another prime example of a hard-pressed species. As a community, every member must fill a role. Some will defend their colony, some will collect food, and some will even invade and enslave other ant colonies. Not only is it hard work, but it is demanding and lengthy.

另一种非常勤劳的动物是蚂蚁。在蚁群中，每个成员都承担固定的角色。有些负责保卫领土，有的负责收集食物，有的负责入侵和擒获俘虏。所以说，蚂蚁不仅仅很勤劳，而且任务繁多。

 

While we get to lie down at the end of a hard day and rest for hours, worker ants get a measly 4–5 hours of sleep throughout the day. Not by having 2–3 naps, though. No, these restless workers take hundreds of short power naps. This is also expected to reduce their life spans.

当我们忙碌了一天躺下来休息时，工蚁一天只休息4-5小时，其他的时间不会打盹，而是不停地进行短暂的休息以恢复体力，这也使得它们的寿命变得很短。

 

 

Humans like to consider combat as one of our greatest accomplishments. Various martial arts, such as Krav Maga and Muay Thai, have been developed over centuries alongside technological marvels, starting with the musket and moving on to the weapons we know today.

人类可能认为自己是战斗力最强的种族，毕竟人类创造出多种武术，如近身格斗、泰拳等。与此同时，科技的发展给人类带来了火枪，随后又出现更多我们今天熟知的武器。

 

We have truly taken combat and self-defense to an incredible scale. However, in the animal kingdom, the playing field is much rougher. In the underwater ecosystem, squid simply shoot ink at their predators. However, this is not the most extreme example.

人类确实将战斗和自我防卫延伸至较大的范围，但是，在动物世界里，战斗的环境要艰巨得多。在海底世界里，鱿鱼直接向敌人喷射墨汁，这还不是最极端的例子。

 

At first glance, the Texas horned lizard appears to be a standard lizard—spikes on the back with rough, scaly skin. Get on his nerves, however, and you'll realize how mistaken you are. This lizard sprays blood from its eyes. While the practicality is questionable, it's astounding how this lizard improvises when necessary.

德克萨斯角蜥乍一看像是普通的蜥蜴——背上皮肤粗糙，有尖锐的角。但一旦把它惹怒了，你会尝到苦果。这种蜥蜴能够从眼睛里喷出血来。尽管这听上去很难实现，但情急之下这种蜥蜴会这么做的。

 

 

As humans, we've made some incredible adaptations. However, these have relied heavily on machinery and construction. Other animals lack the ability to craft such meticulous things with their hands.

人类已经根据环境表现出难以置信的适应性，但是这都是取决于机器和施工。其他动物不像人类这样，能够用自己的双手建造出精细的物件。

 

As such, over thousands upon millions of years, they have been forced to adapt. Suppose an animal living in Southern Africa was not able to adequately feed itself because it could not reach its food. Over a very long time, that creature's neck would grow, eventually becoming what it is now—a giraffe.

比如说，在数千年里，动物们被迫适应环境。非洲南部有种动物，由于自己够不到食物而老是吃不饱。随着时间的推移，这种动物的脖子慢慢地就变长了，成为现在的样子——这种动物就是长劲鹿。

 

A classic example of an adaptation? Flight.

动物界适应性的一个绝佳例子是飞行。

 

While monkeys choose to swing and jump across the vast canopies, some animals take a simpler approach—flight. Animals that have to migrate long distances also benefit from this adaptation as it allows large groups to travel by sky.

猴子选择在树冠层上悬荡和跳跃，有的动物选择更简单的方法——飞行。一些需要长途迁徙的动物也从中获益颇丰，因为飞行能够使得一大群动物同时在空中迁徙。

 

Some scientists fear that humans will no longer adapt within the next thousands of years. Due to machinery, we are nearly exempt from natural selection and are not “required” to adapt. We can only hope that spiders, scorpions, and bees don't choose to revolt against us.

有些科学家担心，人类在未来的几千年里都不会再进化了。由于机器的发展，人类似乎失去自然选择的能力，也“不需要”进化了。我们只能祈祷，蜘蛛、蝎子和蜜蜂不会联合起来反抗人类。

 

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