The world is full of creepy crawlers 世界上到处都是令人毛骨悚然的爬虫
that make people squirm. 那会让人局促不安。
But don't be fooled by their looks. 但不要被他们的外表所迷惑。
These animals have serious survival skills. 这些动物有很强的生存能力。
How does the blue death feigning beetle stay alive 蓝死假甲虫怎么活下去
by playing dead? 装死？
Why is the giant African snail an invader of foreign lands? 为什么巨大的非洲蜗牛是外国的侵略者？
What makes rhino beetles the strong men of the bug world? 是什么让犀牛甲虫成为昆虫界的强人？
Could this master of disguise 这个伪装大师能
be nature's ultimate ladies' man? 是大自然的终极女侠吗？
Why does this lizard put on a mean snake impersonation? 为什么这只蜥蜴要装成一个卑鄙的蛇？
And what exactly is a horseshoe crab? 什么是马蹄蟹？
Why do many call it a living fossil? 为什么许多人称之为活化石？
In order to thrive and survive, 为了繁荣和生存，
these strange-looking creatures 这些奇怪的生物
have to be more than meets-the-eye. 一定要比看到的更多。
In the hot, dry landscape of the southwestern United States, 在美国西南部炎热干燥的地区，
there is a creature that is fooling everyone. 有一种生物在愚弄每一个人。
It's a pretender. 是个伪装者。
A fake. 假的。
A phony. 假的。
But it's odd and tricky behavior is for a good reason. 但奇怪而狡猾的行为是有原因的。
This beetle is perhaps the best poker player ever. 这个甲虫也许是有史以来最好的扑克玩家。
Pulling off the bluff of its life several times a day even. 甚至一天几次扯下它生命的虚张声势。
The ace up its proverbial sleeve, 众所周知的王牌，
if threatened, 如果受到威胁，
the blue death-feigning beetle rolls over on its back 蓝死假甲虫在它的背上翻滚
and plays dead. 装死。
The ruse has to be perfect 诡计必须是完美的
or this beetle might become dinner for a hungry spider. 或者这只甲虫可能会成为饥饿蜘蛛的晚餐。
It seems risky but it works. 这看起来有风险，但确实有效。
Predators like spiders, birds or rodents 蜘蛛、鸟类或啮齿动物等掠食者
prefer their dinner to be alive and juicy when they catch it, 喜欢他们的晚餐，当他们吃到的时候鲜活多汁，
probably because there's nothing worse 可能是因为没有比这更糟的了
than choking down a dry meal 比把一顿干饭噎死
when there might be something fresh further on. 当有什么新鲜的事情发生的时候。
How could this weird and gutsy defense strategy come to be? 怎么会有这种奇怪而勇敢的防御策略呢？
Most scientists have come to a simple conclusion. 大多数科学家得出了一个简单的结论。
The blue death-feigning beetle seems to know 装死的蓝甲虫似乎知道
what its predators don't like 捕食者不喜欢的东西
and perfectly re-enacts the unwanted meal 完美地再现了不想要的食物
like a seasoned thespian. 就像一个老练的钢琴。
If a plump live beetle is the predator's entree of choice, 如果丰满的活甲虫是捕食者的选择，
there is plenty on the menu. 菜单上有很多。
There are almost 400,000 known species of beetle in the world. 世界上已知的甲虫种类将近40万种。
That's about 40% of all known insects on the planet. 这大约是地球上已知昆虫的40%。
That's a big menu! 那是一份大菜单！
The blue death-feigning beetle 蓝死假甲虫
belongs to a family called the darkling beetles. 属于一个叫做暗甲虫的家族。
It is actually black, 实际上是黑色的，
but its blue coloring comes from a wax on its outward shell 但它的蓝色来自它外壳上的蜡
that works as a protective shield against dehydration. 它起到保护脱水的作用。
That little sheet of bumpy armor changes color 那块凹凸不平的盔甲会变色
as the beetle excretes that wax 当甲虫排泄蜡时
to protect itself from the hot sun. 为了保护自己不受烈日的伤害。
More wax means more water too, 更多的蜡也意味着更多的水，
as throughout the day, the beetle maintains moisture 与白天一样，甲虫保持水分
in that sponge-like shell. 在海绵般的壳里。
Then it slowly and evenly distributes the moisture 然后慢慢均匀地分配水分
to the rest of its body 它身体的其他部分
so that it doesn't dry out in all that heat 这样它就不会在这么热的天气里干涸
and become what it sometimes pretends to be. 变成它有时假装的样子。
The blue death-feigning beetle is one clever creature. 蓝死假甲虫是一种聪明的生物。
But don't believe everything you see. 但不要相信你看到的一切。
This little bug might be faking you out. 这个小虫子可能是在骗你。
Snails seem like strange but harmless creatures. 蜗牛似乎是奇怪但无害的生物。
Most of them certainly don't look like 他们中的大多数看起来不像
they could do a lot of damage. 它们会造成很大的破坏。
But let giant African land snails lose 但是让巨大的非洲陆生蜗牛失去
and say goodbye to your garden 和你的花园说再见
and just about everything else in their paths. 几乎所有其他的事情都在他们的道路上。
This could be the mug shot of a wanted creature. 这可能是通缉犯的头像。
It was banned in the Unites States 在美国是被禁止的
because of its destructive behavior. 因为它的破坏性行为。
Truth be told, it wasn't entirely the snail's fault. 说实话，这不全是蜗牛的错。
It had an unwitting accomplice. 它有一个不知情的同谋。
It all started with a plant-loving granny. 一切都是从一个爱护植物的奶奶开始的。
Once upon a time, back in the '60s, 很久以前，60年代，
a boy in Florida had a giant African snail 佛罗里达的一个男孩有一只巨大的非洲蜗牛
as a most unlikely pet. 作为最不可能的宠物。
The grandma didn't like it eating her house plants, 奶奶不喜欢吃她家的植物，
so she put the snail outside 所以她把蜗牛放在外面
innocently unleashing a menace. 无辜地释放威胁。
One of these guys can eat an entire head of lettuce 其中一个人可以吃一整头莴苣
in a single day. 一天之内。
They're not picky 他们不挑剔
and will eat as many as 500 different types of plant. 将吃多达500种不同类型的植物。
Their veracious appetite is twofold 他们真实的胃口是双重的
as what they consume will not only nourish them, 因为他们吃的东西不仅能滋养他们，
it will build their home. 它将建造他们的家园。
These giant snails are constantly building themselves 这些巨大的蜗牛不断地在建造自己
a safe house. 安全的房子。
How do they build it? 他们是怎么建造的？
The shell is made from what they consume, 贝壳是由它们消耗的东西制成的，
so they're always on the lookout for anything with calcium in it, 所以他们总是在寻找含有钙的东西，
which is the primary building material. 它是主要的建筑材料。
Amazingly, they can even consume concrete. 令人惊讶的是，它们甚至可以消耗混凝土。
Being on the lam appears to make the giant snails sweaty, 在逃亡中似乎让巨大的蜗牛汗流浃背，
but it's not. 但事实并非如此。
They need moisture to survive and absorb it whenever they can, 它们需要水分来生存和吸收水分，
no matter how wet they already are. 不管他们已经多湿了。
Getting so saturated, they drip beads of water. 它们变得如此饱和，滴下了水珠。
That moisture also creates mucous 水分也会产生粘液
that covers their bodies. 覆盖了他们的身体。
Their slimy layer makes it easier for them 他们黏糊糊的一层使他们更容易
to slide in and out of their shell. 滑进滑出外壳。
Like most outlaws, the snail always has a fallback plan. 像大多数不法分子一样，蜗牛总是有退路的计划。
If a drought sets in, 如果干旱来临，
it just moves back to its safe house. 它只是搬回了它的安全屋。
If things are really bad, 如果事情真的很糟，
it can even stay over there for up to 3 years. 它甚至可以在那里呆上3年。
The snail squeezes its whole body into its shell 蜗牛把整个身体挤进壳里
and creates a calcium disc, like a hatch 形成一个钙盘，就像一个舱口
to seal itself inside until the drought is over 把自己封闭起来直到干旱结束
and it's safe to come out again. 再出来是安全的。
And also like any renegade, 就像任何叛徒一样，
when it is not hiding or eating concrete, 当它不隐藏或吃混凝土的时候，
it's out looking for some lovin'. 它在寻找爱。
Long, slow lovin'. 长久的，缓慢的爱。
And like a true rebel, 像一个真正的叛逆者，
this outlaw doesn't need any commitments 这个亡命之徒不需要任何承诺
if it just wants to produce the next generation. 如果它只想创造下一代。
The giant African snail is a hermaphrodite 巨大的非洲蜗牛是雌雄同体
and though, it doesn't happen often, 不过，这种情况并不经常发生，
it is capable of impregnating itself. 它能使自己受孕。
But most of the time, it finds a partner. 但大多数时候，它会找到一个伴侣。
The two snails will intertwine 这两只蜗牛会缠在一起
and then the magic happens 然后魔法就发生了
for as long as 10 to 12 hours. 长达10到12小时。
That slow love can produce up to 200 eggs 那种缓慢的爱能产生200个鸡蛋
6 times a year. 一年6次。
They spend almost as much time breeding as they do eating 他们花在繁殖上的时间几乎和吃东西的时间一样多
and 90% of their eggs will survive. 它们90%的卵能存活。
At the rate they're eating and reproducing, 以它们进食和繁殖的速度，
giant African land snails 巨大的非洲陆生蜗牛
could become strange-looking outlaws 会变成长相怪异的不法分子
muscling their way across America. 横穿美国。
To survive in the insect world, 为了在昆虫世界生存，
you don't have to be good at everything. 你不必事事都很在行。
But it helps if you're really good at one thing. 但如果你真的擅长一件事，那就有帮助了。
Some are tricky. 有些很棘手。
Some organized. 一些有组织的。
Or masters of disguise. 或者伪装大师。
Some pack a poisonous sting or bite. 有些人身上带有毒刺或咬痕。
Rhino beetles do none of these things. 犀牛甲虫不会做这些事情。
But they do one thing really, really well. 但是他们做了一件非常非常好的事情。
They fight. 他们打架。
And fight. 和战斗。
And fight some more. 再打一些。
For these prized pugilists, it's always fight night. 对于这些珍贵的拳击手来说，比赛总是在晚上进行。
These not-so-secret weapons 这些不是秘密武器
are why rhino beetles have flourished around the world. 这就是为什么犀牛甲虫在世界各地繁衍生息的原因。
In parts of Asia, 在亚洲部分地区，
beetle-fighting is a popular pass time. 甲虫大战是一个流行的消磨时间。
All you need are two male beetles, 你只需要两只雄性甲虫，
a female for them to fight over 一个女人让他们为之战斗
and a few humans who enjoy a good wager. 以及一些喜欢赌一把的人。
But in the wild, 但在野外，
this is not mindless pit fighting. 这不是愚蠢的斗殴。
There is a purpose and a prize. 有一个目标和一个奖品。
The beetle left standing gets the girl 站在左边的甲虫抓住了那个女孩
and his championship genes are passed on 他的冠军基因被遗传了下来
to the next generation. 给下一代。
It's about survival and the strongest beetle wins. 这是关于生存和最强的甲虫获胜。
This beetle has an average weight 这种甲虫平均体重
of about 0.08 of an ounce. 约0.08盎司。
That ball bearing 2.32 ounces. 那个滚珠轴承2.32盎司。
That's almost 28 times its own weight. 这几乎是它自身重量的28倍。
It's hard to tell if the beetle even knows it's there. 很难说甲虫是否知道它在那里。
The largest of these pugnacious bugs can lift up to 850 times 这些好斗的虫子中最大的一个能举起850次
its own weight. 它自己的重量。
That's a strong beetle. 那是一只强壮的甲虫。
What does all this weightlifting mean 举重意味着什么
in human terms? 就人类而言？
Well, imagine an average-sized male 想象一下一个中等身材的男人
lifting 15 recreational vehicles over his head. 把15辆休闲车举过头顶。
That's 153,000 pounds. 那是153000磅。
Even more brain bending. 更多的大脑弯曲。
A rhino beetle can lift and carry 犀牛甲虫能举起并携带
up to 30 times its own weight 高达自身重量的30倍
without any effect on its speed, breathing or metabolism. 对它的速度、呼吸和新陈代谢没有任何影响。
To this day nobody has been able to figure out 直到今天还没人能搞清楚
how it can do it. 它是怎么做到的。
Rhino beetles were once considered 犀牛甲虫曾被认为是
the undisputed champion strong men of the insect world, 昆虫世界无可争议的冠军强人，
until recently. 直到最近。
Now that title is held 现在这个头衔被保留了
by the Onthophagus Taurus dung beetle. 金牛粪甲虫。
They can lift up to 1,140 times their own weight. 它们能举起1140倍于自身重量的东西。
Of course, it's still dung they're lifting. 当然，他们提的还是粪便。
So they're decidedly lacking in style and flair. 所以他们显然缺乏风格和才华。
For this reason, 因为这个原因，
the rhino beetle will always be a champion of the hearts 犀牛甲虫永远是心脏的冠军
of many bug enthusiasts. 很多虫子爱好者。
Feisty to the end. 精力充沛到最后。
Sometimes you have to take a second look 有时你得再看一眼
to see a creepy crawler. 去看一只毛骨悚然的爬虫。
If it's not actually crawling, 如果不是爬行，
it might just look like part of a plant, 它可能只是植物的一部分，
but it's not a leaf or a wilted snow pea. 但这不是一片叶子，也不是一颗枯萎的雪豆。
This creature is so bizarre, 这个生物真奇怪，
it's almost easier to describe what it isn't than what it is. 描述它不是什么比描述它是什么要容易得多。
It's not a cricket or a grasshopper. 不是蟋蟀也不是蚱蜢。
And it's not an alien invader from an old movie. 也不是老电影里的外星人入侵者。
It's a katydid. 是一个卡蒂德。
That's right, katydid. 没错，卡蒂德。
That's not an official Latin-based genus name. 那不是一个官方的拉丁文属名。
This name describes the sounds these insects make 这个名字描述了这些昆虫发出的声音
when they rub their wings together, 当它们摩擦翅膀时，
katydid. 卡蒂德。
Each looks so dramatically different from the others, 每个人看起来都和其他人有天壤之别，
it would have been impossible to name them 不可能说出他们的名字
for their appearance. 因为他们的外表。
So that's how they became the katydid. 所以他们就成了卡蒂德。
They range in size 大小不等
from the tiny lady bug to the chickadee. 从小虫子到山雀。
Some eat plants, some eat other bugs. 有些吃植物，有些吃其他的虫子。
There are thousands of different species found all over the world 世界上有成千上万种不同的物种
and they all vary from one another. 它们彼此不同。
But they do have a few things in common. 但他们确实有一些共同点。
They all hear using sound receptors in their knees. 他们都能通过膝盖上的声音接收器听到声音。
That's where audio information is collected 那是收集音频信息的地方
before being sent up the leg and into the brain. 在被送进大脑之前。
And those ears on the katydid's knees 还有卡蒂德膝盖上的耳朵
are surprisingly similar to human ears, 与人类的耳朵惊人的相似，
and there's another way this master of disguise stands out 还有另一种方法这个伪装大师脱颖而出
from the pack. 从背包里。
It's reproductive tools. 这是生殖工具。
Quick trivia question. 快速琐事问题。
Which member of the animal kingdom 哪个动物王国的成员
has the largest testes in proportion to its body mass? 最大的睾丸与其体重成比例吗？
It's not a horse or an elephant. 不是马也不是大象。
It's this guy. 就是这个人。
That's right, 14% of the male tuberous katydid's body mass 是的，14%的男性块茎katydid的身体质量
is made up of its testicles. 是由睾丸组成的。
In human terms, 就人类而言，
the average weight of a man is 180 pounds. 一个人的平均体重是180磅。
14% of that works out to 25 pounds. 其中的14%可以达到25磅。
Wow! 真 的！
But for the katydid, 但对于卡蒂德来说，
size isn't the only thing that matters. 尺寸不是唯一重要的。
They may be renowned for their natural endowment, 他们可能以天生的禀赋而闻名，
but they are also true romantics. 但他们也是真正的浪漫主义者。
When mating, the male's pack of sperm 交配时，雄性的精子群
comes attached to what's called a spermatophylax. 附属于所谓的精原细胞。
It is a generous ball of nutrients 这是一个营养丰富的球
that he offers to the females, 他提供给女性，
the more of which she eats, the more eggs she lays. 她吃得越多，生的蛋就越多。
In true date night style, 在真正的约会之夜，
the male katydid wines and dines his way to his lover's heart 男卡蒂德酒足饭饱地走近情人的心
through her stomach. 通过她的胃。
Introducing the ultimate ladies' man of the bug world, 介绍臭虫世界的终极女侠，
the katydid. 卡蒂德。
At first glance, 乍一看，
many animals don't fit into a single category. 许多动物不属于同一类。
Some even seem to be hybrids, 有些甚至看起来是混血儿，
but with no discernible legs or feet, 但是没有明显的腿和脚，
this critter is clearly a snake, right? 很明显这是条蛇，对吧？
Nope. 不。
It's a lizard, a legless lizard to be precise. 准确地说是蜥蜴，一种没有腿的蜥蜴。
Since the dawn of mankind, 自从人类诞生以来，
hybrid creatures like this one have inspired the imagination. 像这样的混合生物激发了人们的想象力。
In ancient Greece, the chimera, a mythical creature 古希腊神话中的奇美拉
with the heads of a lion, a goat and a snake 有狮子、山羊和蛇的头
was believed to be an omen for an impending volcanic eruption. 据信是火山即将爆发的预兆。
In medieval Europe, 在中世纪的欧洲，
it was thought that the basilisk, 有人认为蛇怪，
with the head of a chicken and the tail of a serpent 鸡头蛇尾
could kill with a glance. 一眼就能杀人。
Whether real or imagined, 无论是真实的还是想象的，
these creatures still exist in pop culture and fantasy 这些生物仍然存在于流行文化和幻想中
and incredibly, in the real world. 难以置信的是，在现实世界里。
But this one is no myth. 但这不是神话。
Throughout Europe and Asia, the legless lizard 在整个欧洲和亚洲，无腿蜥蜴
was historically known as a joint snake 历史上被称为关节蛇
for its unique ability to shatter part of its body. 因为它独特的粉碎身体的能力。
They can drop their tails when threatened... 当受到威胁的时候他们会掉尾巴。。。
Giving the appearance of breaking or shattering, 呈现出破碎或破碎的样子，
which is why it's still called the glass lizard 所以它还是叫玻璃蜥蜴
in parts of Europe and Asia. 在欧洲和亚洲的部分地区。
The scientific term is autotomy, 科学术语是自残，
a defense mechanism among many lizard species. 许多蜥蜴物种之间的防御机制。
But the legless lizard doesn't shed its tail lightly. 但这只没有腿的蜥蜴并没有轻易甩掉尾巴。
It makes up about two thirds of its body. 它占身体的三分之二。
If it is attacked by a predator, 如果它被捕食者攻击，
the tails can break off into many pieces 尾巴可以折断成许多碎片
and each piece will continue to wiggle to divert the predator 每一块都会继续摆动以转移捕食者
away from the more-necessary head of the lizard. 远离蜥蜴更需要的头部。
This is a fantastic defense mechanism 这是一个奇妙的防御机制
that confuses predators, hopefully just long enough 让捕食者感到困惑，希望足够长的时间
that the head and intact body of the actual lizard 真实蜥蜴的头部和完整的身体
can make a getaway. 可以逃走。
The tail does regenerate over time, 随着时间的推移尾巴会再生，
but it will be much shorter and more blunt. 但它会更短更钝。
A closer look and there are other telltale giveaways 仔细一看，还有其他一些泄露秘密的赠品
that this is definitely a lizard. 这绝对是只蜥蜴。
They have moveable eyelids, while snakes do not. 它们的眼睑可以活动，而蛇则没有。
Unlike snakes, so-called glass lizards 不像蛇，所谓的玻璃蜥蜴
have inflexible jaws and no fangs to speak of. 下颚僵硬，没有尖牙可言。
They can eat only small fare 他们只能吃少量的食物
like beetles, grasshoppers, spiders and mice. 像甲虫，蚱蜢，蜘蛛和老鼠。
Now they certainly won't be seen unhinging their jaw 现在肯定看不到他们的下巴
to devour a whole rat. 吃掉一整只老鼠。
To crawl, they have internal free floating remnants 爬行时，它们有内部自由漂浮的残余物
of a hip bone and tiny tips of hind legs, 髋骨和后腿的小尖端，
which they use to help to pull themselves along. 他们用它来帮助自己振作起来。
On the world stage of reptiles, 在爬行动物的世界舞台上，
the legless lizard is a bit of a fringe character, 无腿蜥蜴有点像边缘人物，
an outlier to the wide diversity of snake species. 蛇的广泛多样性的一个例外。
But when it comes to survival, 但说到生存，
the legless lizard gives its all, 这只没有腿的蜥蜴竭尽全力，
well, at least two thirds, to ensure it wriggles on. 好吧，至少三分之二，以确保它继续蠕动。
Lurking on the muddy seafloor... 潜伏在泥泞的海底。。。
It looks as if it could be from an alien world. 它看起来好像来自一个外星世界。
But this ungainly creature is actually a relic 但这个丑陋的生物实际上是个遗迹
from the ancient past. 从古至今。
Horseshoe crab fossils have been found dating back 马蹄蟹化石的发现可以追溯到
445 million years 4.45亿年
before humans, 在人类之前，
before flowering plants, 在开花之前，
even before the dinosaurs roamed the earth. 甚至在恐龙漫游地球之前。
They haven't changed much since then, 从那以后就没什么变化了，
because they haven't had to. 因为他们没必要。
These arthropods manage to find a sweet spot 这些节肢动物设法找到了一个好地方
where they live free from the type of competitive pressures 他们生活在没有竞争压力的地方
that would normally push them to evolve. 这通常会促使它们进化。
As part of that early evolution, 作为早期进化的一部分，
this creature developed an outer skeleton 这个生物长出了一副外骨骼
instead of an internal one. 而不是内部的。
And it's because of this armored casing 因为这个装甲外壳
that they don't have many natural predators. 他们没有多少天敌。
Only sharks and sea turtles have the power to crack through 只有鲨鱼和海龟有能力突破
to get a tasty snack. 吃点好吃的小吃。
If the crab is getting away, 如果螃蟹逃走了，
their tail might be a last resort handle of sorts 他们的尾巴可能是最后的选择
for the predator to grab hold of. 让捕食者抓住。
But that pointy tail has given this creature a bad reputation. 但那尖尖的尾巴给了这个生物一个坏名声。
People think it's a dangerous weapon, 人们认为这是一种危险的武器，
but it's not. 但事实并非如此。
The horseshoe crab simply uses its tail 马蹄蟹只是用它的尾巴
to flip itself back over when caught upside down. 倒下时倒下。
Horseshoe crabs are incredibly useful to humans 马蹄蟹对人类非常有用
especially in the field of medical science. 尤其是在医学领域。
The famous hard shells contain a polymer called chitin, 著名的硬壳含有一种叫做甲壳素的聚合物，
which reduces wound healing time by up to 50% 可以减少50%的伤口愈合时间
when used as a coating on stitches. 当用作缝合处的涂层时。
It's not just that super armor that protects horseshoe crabs, 保护马蹄蟹的不仅仅是超级盔甲，
they can sense danger coming a mile away. 他们能感觉到一英里外的危险。
Cats may have 9 lives, but these guys have 9 eyes, 猫可能有9条命，但这些家伙有9只眼睛，
many of which run along the spine. 其中很多是沿着脊柱的。
Yet they are almost as blind as a bat. 但他们几乎和蝙蝠一样瞎。
But each of these eyes has a purpose, 但每一只眼睛都有一个目的，
whether it's to orient the crab while swimming, 不管是在游泳时给螃蟹定位，
detect ultraviolet light 探测紫外线
or to find that lucky mate when the time is right. 或者在合适的时候找到那个幸运的伴侣。
The rods and cones inside these eyes 眼睛里的视杆和视锥
are 100 times larger than humans, 比人类大100倍，
the largest of any known animal on the planet. 地球上已知的最大的动物。
Flip this creepy crawler over and it looks even more alien. 把这只毛骨悚然的爬虫翻过来，它看起来更像外星人。
The first pair of appendages are called the chelicerae. 第一对附属物被称为螯齿。
They are like little forks used to shovel food into the mouth. 它们就像用来把食物铲进嘴里的小叉子。
These fang-like feeding tools mean 这些尖牙状的喂食工具意味着
the horseshoe crab isn't really a true crab. 马蹄蟹不是真正的螃蟹。
It's been fooling everyone. 它一直在愚弄每个人。
In fact, its closest living relative is a scorpion. 事实上，它的近亲是蝎子。
The rest of its limbs are to help it scurry 它的其他四肢将帮助它快速奔跑
across the seafloor and scavenge crustaceans, 穿过海底和食腐甲壳类动物，
playing its part in the food chain. 在食物链中发挥作用。
They also contribute to the circle of life 它们也有助于生命的循环
with what comes out of them, and no, not their defecations. 从他们身上拿出来的，不，不是他们的大便。
Over the past 450 million years, 在过去四亿五千万年里，
horseshoe crabs have become an incredibly important part 马蹄蟹已经成为非常重要的一部分
of their ecosystems. 它们的生态系统。
And that's because they have tasty eggs. 那是因为他们有美味的鸡蛋。
Shore birds just love feasting on those eggs 岸鸟喜欢吃那些蛋
when the crabs lay them on shore in the spring. 当螃蟹在春天把它们放在岸边时。
Each bird can eat as many as 9,000 crab eggs per day. 每只鸟每天可以吃多达9000个蟹蛋。
Without this nutrient top-up during their migration, 如果它们在迁徙过程中没有这种营养物质的补充，
many birds can't make the trip. 许多鸟不能去旅行。
Horseshoe crabs give birds a boost. 马蹄蟹能给鸟带来刺激。
These helpful creatures might look strange, 这些有用的生物可能看起来很奇怪，
but they're actually just proof that Mother Nature got it right 但事实上它们只是证明大自然是对的
450 million years ago. 四亿五千万年前。
Don't let these creatures give you the chills. 别让这些生物给你带来寒意。
They may be kind of freaky-looking, 他们看起来有点怪，
but they're just keeping it interesting. 但他们只是让它保持有趣。
These creepy crawlers have hidden skills and strengths 这些令人毛骨悚然的爬虫有隐藏的技能和力量
that keep them thriving in the animal kingdom. 使它们在动物王国里繁荣昌盛。