TEDWomen 2018
Lucy Cooke: Sloths! The strange life of the world's slowest mammal
露西‧庫克: 樹懶！全世界最慢最怪的哺乳動物
Filmed:
Readability: 4.7
506,629 views
樹懶在這個星球已經存活超過四千萬年了。牠們成功的秘密是什麼？動物學家露西‧庫克在這場詼諧的演講中，帶我們一窺這種世上最慢的哺乳動物奇特的生活，及我們能從牠們聰明的演化適應裡學到什麼。
Lucy Cooke - Zoologist, author, explorer
In books, TV shows and even an annual sloth calendar, Lucy Cooke shares unexpected truths about animals. Full bio
In books, TV shows and even an annual sloth calendar, Lucy Cooke shares unexpected truths about animals. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Hello.
0
992
1150
哈囉！
00:14
Well, I'm here to talk to you
about my animal muse:
about my animal muse:
1
2651
4642
我來跟大家談談我的動物繆思：
00:19
the sloth.
2
7317
1413
樹懶。
00:20
(Laughter)
3
8754
2466
（笑聲）
00:23
I've been documenting the strange lives
of the world's slowest mammal
of the world's slowest mammal
4
11244
3944
我一直在記錄這種史上最慢的
哺乳動物的奇特生活
哺乳動物的奇特生活
00:27
for the last 10 years.
5
15212
1588
已經十年了。
00:29
I still remember the first time I saw one.
6
17149
2714
我還記得我第一次看到
這種動物的樣子。
這種動物的樣子。
00:31
I was fascinated by their freaky biology.
7
19887
4097
我深深著迷於牠們怪異的生物學。
00:36
I mean, what's not to love
about an animal that's born
about an animal that's born
8
24008
3618
我是說，你怎麼能不愛
天生就有著一張大笑臉的動物？
00:39
with a fixed grin on its face?
9
27650
1992
00:41
(Laughter)
10
29666
2151
（笑聲）
00:43
And the need to hug.
11
31841
2039
而且需要抱抱。
00:45
Audience: Awww.
12
33904
1492
觀眾：喔～～
00:47
But sloths are massively misunderstood.
13
35967
4056
但是樹懶其實完全被誤解了。
00:52
They've been saddled with a name
that speaks of sin
that speaks of sin
14
40047
3251
牠們被安上罪的名字，
00:55
and damned for their languorous lifestyle,
15
43322
3192
譴責牠們倦怠的生活方式，
00:58
which people seem to think
has no place amongst the fittest
has no place amongst the fittest
16
46538
3579
因為大家似乎認為
牠們在快節奏的生存競賽中
不應該佔有一席之地。
不應該佔有一席之地。
01:02
in the fast-paced race for survival.
17
50141
2489
01:05
Well, I'm here to tell you
that we've got this animal all wrong --
that we've got this animal all wrong --
18
53268
5214
但是，我要在這裡告訴大家，
我們實在太冤枉這種動物了——
01:10
and how understanding
the truth about the sloth
the truth about the sloth
19
58506
3031
及為什麼了解樹懶的真相
01:13
may help save us and this planet
we both call home.
we both call home.
20
61561
4877
可以幫助拯救我們，
及我們兩者都稱為家的這個行星。
01:19
I traced sloth-based slander
21
67546
2483
我查考對樹懶的毀謗，
01:22
back to a Spanish
conquistador called Valdés,
conquistador called Valdés,
22
70053
4286
追溯到一位名叫瓦爾德斯的
西班牙征服者，
西班牙征服者，
01:26
who gave the first description of a sloth
in his encyclopedia of the New World.
in his encyclopedia of the New World.
23
74363
5238
他在他的新世界百科全書上
首次描述一隻樹懶。
首次描述一隻樹懶。
01:31
He said the sloth was
24
79625
1915
他說樹懶是
01:33
"the stupidest animal
that can be found in the world ...
that can be found in the world ...
25
81564
3283
「世上你能找到最愚蠢的動物，
01:36
I have never seen such an ugly animal
or one that is more useless."
or one that is more useless."
26
84871
5190
我從來沒有看過這麼醜的動物，
或這麼沒用的！」
或這麼沒用的！」
01:42
(Laughter)
27
90085
1150
（笑聲）
01:43
Tell us what you really think, Valdés.
28
91744
2122
你老實說吧！瓦爾德斯。
01:45
(Laughter)
29
93890
1150
（笑聲）
01:47
I'd like to have a word
about Valdés's drawing skills.
about Valdés's drawing skills.
30
95522
4175
我要對瓦爾德斯的繪畫技巧
評頭論足一番。
評頭論足一番。
01:51
(Laughter)
31
99721
2071
（笑聲）
01:53
I mean, what is that?
32
101816
2447
你看看，這像話嗎？
01:56
(Laughter)
33
104287
1847
（笑聲）
01:58
I've never seen an illustration
of a sloth that's more useless.
of a sloth that's more useless.
34
106158
3537
我從來沒有看過
這麼沒用的樹懶圖示。
這麼沒用的樹懶圖示。
02:01
(Laughter)
35
109719
1231
（笑聲）
02:02
But I mean, on the plus side,
36
110974
1405
不過，從好處看，
02:04
he has given the sloth
a remarkably humanlike face,
a remarkably humanlike face,
37
112403
2451
他給了樹懶一張超像人類的臉，
02:06
and sloths do have remarkably
humanlike faces.
humanlike faces.
38
114878
3567
而樹懶的確有一張超像人類的臉。
02:10
This sloth I photographed in Costa Rica,
I think looks a lot like Ringo Starr.
I think looks a lot like Ringo Starr.
39
118966
5010
這是我在哥斯大黎加照的樹懶相片。
我認為牠真的很像
披頭四的林哥·史達。
披頭四的林哥·史達。
02:16
(Laughter)
40
124000
1895
（笑聲）
02:17
But then, sloths do bear an uncanny
resemblance to the The Beatles.
resemblance to the The Beatles.
41
125919
4849
不過，樹懶的確跟披頭四像得可怕。
02:22
(Laughter)
42
130792
3316
（笑聲）
02:26
Particularly pleased
with Paul, actually, on there.
with Paul, actually, on there.
43
134132
3676
跟保羅尤其像，就在那。
02:30
But like The Beatles,
sloths are also extremely successful.
sloths are also extremely successful.
44
138999
5150
但就像披頭四，樹懶也超成功。
02:36
They come from an ancient line of mammals,
and there were once dozens of species
and there were once dozens of species
45
144173
3949
牠們源自某種古代的哺乳類，
本來有很多種，
本來有很多種，
02:40
including the giant ground sloth,
which was the size of a small elephant
which was the size of a small elephant
46
148146
4542
包括大地懶，尺寸跟小型大象一樣，
02:44
and one of the only animals big enough
to eat avocado pits whole
to eat avocado pits whole
47
152712
4263
是唯一夠大的動物，
能吃下整顆酪梨果核並散播它。
02:48
and disperse them.
48
156999
1392
02:51
So ...
(Laughter)
(Laughter)
49
159384
1150
所以……（笑聲）
02:53
Some of you have worked it out already.
50
161330
1873
有人已經想通了喔。
02:55
(Laughter)
51
163227
1002
（笑聲）
02:56
That means that without sloths,
52
164253
1993
也就是說如果沒有樹懶，
02:58
there might be no avocado on toast today,
53
166270
3299
今天大概就沒有酪梨吐司可以烤了，
03:01
leaving hipsters everywhere
totally bereft at breakfast.
totally bereft at breakfast.
54
169593
4341
讓那些趕流行的人完全痛失早餐。
03:05
(Laughter)
55
173958
1811
（笑聲）
03:07
(Applause)
56
175793
5437
（掌聲）
03:13
Today, there are six surviving species,
and they fall into two groups.
and they fall into two groups.
57
181254
3890
目前有六個倖存的物種，分成兩群。
03:17
You've got your Bradypus
three-toed sloths,
three-toed sloths,
58
185168
2600
我們有樹懶屬三趾樹懶，
03:19
they're the ones with the Beatles haircuts
and the Mona Lisa smiles.
and the Mona Lisa smiles.
59
187792
3846
牠們就是有著披頭四的髮型
及蒙娜麗莎的微笑的那種。
及蒙娜麗莎的微笑的那種。
03:24
Then, there are the two-toed sloths.
60
192569
2333
然後，我們有二趾樹懶。
03:27
They look a little bit more like a cross
between a Wookiee and a pig.
between a Wookiee and a pig.
61
195495
3261
牠們比較像武技獸及豬的混種。
03:31
They live in the jungles
of Central and South America,
of Central and South America,
62
199891
2610
牠們在中美及南美的叢林中生活，
03:34
and they're extremely prolific.
63
202525
1496
而且非常多產。
03:36
There was a survey
that was done in the 1970s
that was done in the 1970s
64
204045
2953
1970 年代在巴拿馬的
熱帶林有過一項調查，
熱帶林有過一項調查，
03:39
in a Panamanian tropical forest
65
207022
2254
03:41
that found that sloths were the most
numerically abundant large animal.
numerically abundant large animal.
66
209300
4904
發現樹懶是數量最多的大型動物。
03:46
They took up one quarter
of the mammalian biomass.
of the mammalian biomass.
67
214228
3762
牠們占了哺乳動物生物量的四分之一。
03:50
Now, that's an awful lot of sloths
68
218014
3181
那可是超多量的樹懶，
03:53
and suggests they're doing
something very right indeed.
something very right indeed.
69
221219
4294
而且這意味著牠們
在某方面的確做得很好。
在某方面的確做得很好。
03:58
So what if, rather than deriding
the sloth for being different,
the sloth for being different,
70
226188
6791
所以，與其嘲笑樹懶的不同點，
04:05
we tried to learn from it instead?
71
233003
2475
我們要不要試著
從牠們身上學點什麼？
從牠們身上學點什麼？
04:09
We humans are obsessed with speed.
72
237085
3804
我們人類太癡迷於速度了。
04:13
Busyness is a badge of honor,
73
241236
2011
忙碌是榮譽標章，
04:15
and convenience trumps quality
in our quest for quick.
in our quest for quick.
74
243271
4535
在我們尋求快速的路上，
便利勝過品質。
便利勝過品質。
04:20
Our addiction to the express life
is choking us and the planet.
is choking us and the planet.
75
248553
5112
我們對快捷人生成癮，
而這正在使我們及地球窒息。
04:26
We idolize animals like the cheetah,
the "Ferrari of the animal kingdom,"
the "Ferrari of the animal kingdom,"
76
254773
5320
我們崇拜像獵豹一樣的動物，
說牠們是動物界的法拉利，
04:32
capable of doing naught to 60
in three seconds flat.
in three seconds flat.
77
260117
4220
只要三秒就可以從零飆到 60。
04:36
Well, so what?
78
264641
1300
那又怎樣？
04:38
(Laughter)
79
266339
3668
（笑聲）
04:42
(Applause)
80
270031
3736
（掌聲）
04:46
So what?
81
274109
1151
那又怎樣？
04:47
The sloth, on the other hand,
82
275284
1492
另一方面，
04:48
can reach a leisurely 17 feet a minute
83
276800
3960
樹懶可以悠閒地在
一分鐘內走 17 呎，
一分鐘內走 17 呎，
04:52
with the wind behind it.
84
280784
1611
後面還有風喔！
04:54
(Laughter)
85
282419
2102
（笑聲）
04:57
But being fast is costly.
86
285179
2216
但是快速的代價很高。
04:59
The cheetah is speedy,
but at the expense of strength.
but at the expense of strength.
87
287419
3984
獵豹是很快，但是代價就是力量。
05:03
They can't risk getting in a fight,
88
291427
1753
牠們不能冒險參戰，
05:05
so they lose one in nine kills
to tougher predators like hyenas.
to tougher predators like hyenas.
89
293204
4365
所以牠們跟鬃狗這種強壯的
獵食動物打架，每九場就要輸一場。
獵食動物打架，每九場就要輸一場。
05:09
No wonder they're laughing.
90
297593
1564
難怪牠們會笑。
05:11
(Laughter)
91
299181
1150
（笑聲）
05:12
The sloth, on the other hand,
92
300355
1397
反過來說，
05:13
has taken a more stealthy
approach to dinner.
approach to dinner.
93
301776
2928
樹懶用比較鬼鬼祟祟的方法
來享用晚餐。
來享用晚餐。
05:16
They survive by capturing and consuming
94
304728
3739
牠們靠抓取及吞嚥什麼維生呢？
05:20
static leaves.
95
308491
1837
靜葉！
05:22
(Laughter)
96
310352
2069
（笑聲）
05:24
But you see, leaves don't want
to be eaten any more than antelope do,
to be eaten any more than antelope do,
97
312445
3270
不過你也知道，
葉子就跟羚羊一樣不想被吃掉，
05:27
so they're loaded full of toxins
and very hard to digest.
and very hard to digest.
98
315739
3348
所以葉片充滿了毒素，
而且很難消化。
而且很難消化。
05:31
So in order to consume them,
99
319111
1635
所以為了吃葉子，
05:32
the sloth has also
had to become an athlete --
had to become an athlete --
100
320770
3460
樹懶也必須變成運動員，
05:36
a digesting athlete.
101
324254
2166
消化運動員。
05:38
(Laughter)
102
326444
1112
（笑聲）
05:39
The sloth's secret weapon
is a four-chambered stomach
is a four-chambered stomach
103
327580
2708
樹懶的秘密武器就是四個胃室
05:42
and plenty of time.
104
330312
2225
及很多時間。
05:44
They have the slowest
digestion rate of any mammal.
digestion rate of any mammal.
105
332561
2897
牠們的消化率是哺乳動物中最慢的。
05:47
And it can take up to a month
to process a single leaf,
to process a single leaf,
106
335482
3595
牠可以花上一個月的時間
來消磨一片葉子，
來消磨一片葉子，
05:51
which gives their liver plenty of time
to process those toxins.
to process those toxins.
107
339101
4314
這樣就讓肝臟有很多時間
處理那些毒素。
處理那些毒素。
05:55
So, sloths aren't lazy.
108
343876
3634
所以，樹懶一點都不懶。
06:00
No, they're busy.
109
348122
2155
不懶，牠們很忙。
06:02
Digesting.
110
350859
1174
忙著消化。
06:04
(Laughter)
111
352057
1496
（笑聲）
06:05
Yeah, really busy.
112
353577
2093
是的，真的很忙。
06:07
(Laughter)
113
355694
1780
（笑聲）
06:09
Hard at work, that sloth,
very hard at work.
very hard at work.
114
357498
3309
那隻樹懶很努力工作，
非常努力工作。
非常努力工作。
06:12
And of course, leaves
have little calorific value,
have little calorific value,
115
360831
2667
而且想當然爾，葉子的熱量很低，
06:15
so sloths have evolved to spend
as little energy as possible.
as little energy as possible.
116
363522
4214
所以樹懶演化到盡量不用能量。
06:19
They do about 10 percent of the work
of a similar-sized mammal
of a similar-sized mammal
117
367760
3365
牠們跟類似大小的哺乳動物比，
只做百分之十的工作，
只做百分之十的工作，
06:23
and survive on as little
as 100 calories a day,
as 100 calories a day,
118
371149
3833
每天只要一百卡就能生存，
06:27
thanks to some ingenious adaptations.
119
375006
3168
感謝那些巧妙的適應！
06:31
The Bradypus, three-toed sloths,
120
379053
1810
樹懶屬，三趾樹懶，
06:32
they've got more neck bones
than any other mammal,
than any other mammal,
121
380887
2468
牠們的頸骨是哺乳動物中最多的，
06:35
even a giraffe.
122
383379
1166
甚至比長頸鹿還多。
06:36
Which means they can turn their head
through 270 degrees
through 270 degrees
123
384569
4527
這代表牠們可以 270 度轉頭，
06:41
and graze all around them,
124
389120
2134
把四周的葉片全吃掉，
06:43
without having to actually bother
with the effort of moving their body.
with the effort of moving their body.
125
391278
4078
完全不用費心努力移動身體。
06:47
(Laughter)
126
395380
1953
（笑聲）
06:50
It also means that they are
surprisingly good swimmers.
surprisingly good swimmers.
127
398292
3634
這也代表牠們出奇地很會游泳。
06:53
Sloths can bob along in water
128
401950
2465
樹懶在水中上下躍動的速度，
06:56
three times faster
than they can move on land,
than they can move on land,
129
404439
3265
比在陸地上移動還要快三倍，
06:59
kept afloat by ...
130
407728
1970
牠們保持漂浮的方法是……
07:01
trapped wind.
131
409722
1538
腸胃積氣！
07:03
(Laughter)
132
411284
2062
（笑聲）
07:05
So --
133
413370
1174
所以——
07:06
(Laughter)
134
414568
1001
（笑聲）
07:07
sloths are the only mammal that we know of
that don't do flatulence.
that don't do flatulence.
135
415593
3911
樹懶是我們所知
唯一不會脹氣的動物。
唯一不會脹氣的動物。
07:11
When they need to expel gas,
136
419528
1682
牠們需要排氣的時候，
07:13
it's actually reabsorbed
into their bloodstream
into their bloodstream
137
421234
2818
就把氣體重新吸收進血液中，
07:16
and expelled orally
as a sort of mouth fart.
as a sort of mouth fart.
138
424076
3865
然後經由嘴部排放，
就像嘴巴放屁一樣。
07:19
(Laughter)
139
427965
3049
（笑聲）
07:23
Turning their lives upside down
saves further energy.
saves further energy.
140
431884
3468
把牠們的生活顛倒過來
也能進一步節省能量。
也能進一步節省能量。
07:27
They have about half the skeletal muscle
of a terrestrial mammal.
of a terrestrial mammal.
141
435376
4133
牠們的骨骼肌只有
陸生哺乳動物的一半左右。
陸生哺乳動物的一半左右。
07:31
They don't really have so many
of the extensor muscles
of the extensor muscles
142
439533
4252
牠們沒有很多可以負重物的伸肌；
07:35
that are the weight-bearing muscles;
143
443809
1739
相反地，牠們靠收縮肌來拉動自己。
07:37
instead, they rely on retractor muscles
to pull themselves along.
to pull themselves along.
144
445572
3503
07:41
They have long, hooked claws
and a high fatigue resistance,
and a high fatigue resistance,
145
449913
4044
牠們有長鉤型的爪子及高抗疲勞耐力，
07:45
so they can literally hook on and hang
like a happy, hairy hammock
like a happy, hairy hammock
146
453981
4984
所以牠們真的可以高掛在那裡，
像個快樂的毛茸茸吊床
07:50
for hours on end.
147
458989
1856
連續幾小時！
07:52
And sloths can do almost anything
in this inverted position.
in this inverted position.
148
460869
3565
樹懶用這個顛倒的姿勢
幾乎可以做任何事。
幾乎可以做任何事。
07:56
They sleep, eat and even give birth.
149
464458
2675
牠們可以這樣睡覺、
吃飯甚至生小孩。
吃飯甚至生小孩。
07:59
Their throat and blood vessels
are uniquely adapted
are uniquely adapted
150
467157
3349
牠們的喉嚨及血管已經特別適應
08:02
to pump blood and to swallow food
against the force of gravity.
against the force of gravity.
151
470530
3958
能抵抗重力以輸送血液及吞嚥食物。
08:06
They have sticky bits on their ribs
152
474512
2486
牠們的肋骨上有黏塊，
08:09
that prevent their enormous stomach
from crushing their lungs.
from crushing their lungs.
153
477022
3794
能防止牠們巨大的胃壓壞肺部。
08:13
And their fur grows
the opposite direction,
the opposite direction,
154
481258
2764
牠們的皮毛倒長，
08:16
so they can drip dry
after a tropical drenching.
after a tropical drenching.
155
484046
3444
所以可以在熱帶大雨浸透之後滴乾。
08:20
The only problem is,
if you turn a sloth the other way up,
if you turn a sloth the other way up,
156
488704
4963
唯一的問題是，
如果你把樹懶翻過來，
08:25
gravity removes its dignity.
157
493691
3092
重力會讓牠們失去尊嚴。
08:28
Audience: Awww.
158
496807
1210
觀眾：喔～～
08:30
They can't hold themselves upright.
159
498041
2798
牠們無法保持直立，
所以牠們得拖著身體，
08:32
And so they drag their bodies along
as if mountaineering on a flat surface.
as if mountaineering on a flat surface.
160
500863
4658
好像在平地登山一樣。
08:37
And I think this is why
the early explorers like Valdés
the early explorers like Valdés
161
505974
2921
我認為這就是為什麼
早期的探險家如瓦爾德斯
早期的探險家如瓦爾德斯
08:40
thought so poorly of them,
162
508919
1261
認為牠們這麼糟糕，
08:42
because they were observing sloths
the wrong way up and out of context.
the wrong way up and out of context.
163
510204
4427
因為他們觀察的是反過來的樹懶，
而且不在牠們的生活背景裡。
08:48
I've spent many happy hours
mesmerized by moving sloths.
mesmerized by moving sloths.
164
516251
5128
我曾目不轉睛盯著移動的樹懶，
快樂地看上好幾個小時，
快樂地看上好幾個小時，
08:53
Their lack of muscle hasn't impeded
their strength or agility.
their strength or agility.
165
521403
3925
牠們雖然缺乏肌肉，
但是力量及敏捷度都不受妨礙。
但是力量及敏捷度都不受妨礙。
08:57
Nature's zen masters of mellow
move like "Swan Lake" in slow mo --
move like "Swan Lake" in slow mo --
166
525703
5529
大自然的禪宗大師老成持重的動作，
像極了慢動作的《天鵝湖》——
09:03
(Laughter)
167
531256
1468
（笑聲）
09:04
with the core control of a tai chi master.
168
532748
3364
卻有太極大師的核心控制。
09:08
This one has fallen asleep mid-move,
which is not uncommon.
which is not uncommon.
169
536537
5097
這隻動到一半就睡著了，
這情況不算罕見。
09:13
(Laughter)
170
541658
3486
（笑聲）
09:17
But you're probably wondering:
171
545728
1469
但是你們大概會想：
09:19
How does a dangling bag
of digesting leaves avoid being eaten?
of digesting leaves avoid being eaten?
172
547221
3880
吊在那裡吃葉片的大袋子
怎麼不會被吃掉？
怎麼不會被吃掉？
09:23
Good question.
173
551411
1158
好問題！
09:24
Well, this is one
of the sloth's main predators.
of the sloth's main predators.
174
552593
2325
這是樹懶的主要天敵。
09:26
It's the harpy eagle.
175
554942
1400
角鵰。
09:28
It can fly at speeds
of up to 50 miles per hour,
of up to 50 miles per hour,
176
556712
2579
牠每小時可以飛 50 哩，
09:31
has talons the size of a grizzly bear's,
177
559315
2691
爪子跟灰熊的爪一樣大，
09:34
razor-sharp eyesight,
178
562030
1611
目光銳利，
09:35
and that ring of feathers focuses sound
179
563665
2793
那一圈羽毛能集中聲音，
09:38
so that it can hear
the slightest leaf rustle.
the slightest leaf rustle.
180
566482
2706
所以牠能聽見極輕的樹葉悉簌聲。
09:41
The sloth, on the other hand,
has poor hearing, bad eyesight,
has poor hearing, bad eyesight,
181
569564
5087
另一方面，
樹懶的聽力很差，視力很糟，
09:46
and running from danger
is clearly not an option.
is clearly not an option.
182
574675
2931
碰到危險就逃之夭夭
也不是什麼好選項。
也不是什麼好選項。
09:50
No, they survive by wearing
an invisibility cloak
an invisibility cloak
183
578175
3972
不是，牠們靠著隱形披風逃生，
09:54
worthy of Harry Potter.
184
582171
1896
稱得上是哈利波特。
09:56
Their fur has grooves
that attract moisture
that attract moisture
185
584965
3128
牠們的皮毛上有溝會吸濕氣，
10:00
and act as tiny hydroponic
gardens for algae,
gardens for algae,
186
588117
3333
就像小小的水藻水耕園一樣，
10:03
and they also attract
a host of invertebrates.
a host of invertebrates.
187
591474
2627
它們同時也會吸引無脊椎動物寄生。
10:06
So they are their own slow-moving,
miniature ecosystem.
miniature ecosystem.
188
594125
4817
所以牠們自成一格，
形成慢動作的小型生態系統。
形成慢動作的小型生態系統。
10:10
They become one with the trees.
189
598966
2603
牠們與樹木合而為一。
10:13
And we think that
their movements are so slow,
their movements are so slow,
190
601593
2570
我們認為就是因為
牠們的動作其慢無比，
牠們的動作其慢無比，
10:16
they slip under the radar
of the monstrous harpy
of the monstrous harpy
191
604187
2652
才不會在角鵰飛過樹梢掃視獵物時，
被牠們可怕的雷達掃到。
被牠們可怕的雷達掃到。
10:18
as it's flying about the canopy,
scanning for action.
scanning for action.
192
606863
3373
樹懶是隱密的忍者，
10:23
Sloths are stealth ninjas,
193
611244
2659
10:25
and they rarely leave
the safety of the canopy --
the safety of the canopy --
194
613927
2610
牠們極少離開安全的樹梢——
10:28
except to defecate,
195
616561
1778
除非要排便，
10:30
which they do about once a week
at the base of a tree.
at the base of a tree.
196
618363
3341
牠們大約一個星期在樹下蹲一次。
10:34
Now, this risky and energetic behavior
has long been a mystery,
has long been a mystery,
197
622387
4476
這種冒險且充滿活力的行為
一直是個謎，
10:38
and there are lots of theories
as to why they do it.
as to why they do it.
198
626887
2889
有很多理論在說牠們為什麼這麼做。
10:41
But I think they're leaving surreptitious
scented messages for potential mates.
scented messages for potential mates.
199
629800
6488
不過我認為牠們是偷偷留下訊息
給可能的交配對象。
10:48
Because, you see, sloths are generally
silent, solitary creatures,
silent, solitary creatures,
200
636862
4993
因為，你知道嗎，
樹懶通常是安靜的獨居生物，
10:53
except for when the female is in heat.
201
641879
2412
除非雌性在發情。
10:56
She will climb to the top of a tree
and scream for sex.
and scream for sex.
202
644315
4512
她會爬上樹頂大聲叫春。
11:01
In D-sharp.
203
649498
1229
用 D♯ 音 。
11:02
(Laughter)
204
650751
1977
（笑聲）
11:04
Don't believe me?
205
652752
1150
你們不信？
11:07
(Sound of sloth scream)
206
655292
1533
（樹懶叫聲）
11:09
D-sharp.
207
657300
1150
D♯ 音。
11:11
This and only this note
will get the male's attention.
will get the male's attention.
208
659085
3269
只有這個音會吸引雄性的注意。
11:14
It mimics the sound
of the kiskadee flycatcher.
of the kiskadee flycatcher.
209
662378
2506
它很像霸鶲的聲音。
11:16
So the female remains covert,
210
664908
1951
所以母樹懶能維持掩護，
11:18
even when yodeling for sex
at the top of her lungs.
at the top of her lungs.
211
666883
3263
即使她用最大的肺活量
以真假音交替叫春。
以真假音交替叫春。
11:22
Her clandestine booty calls
will carry for miles across the canopy,
will carry for miles across the canopy,
212
670825
4587
她秘密的情郎召喚聲
可以在樹梢之間傳好幾哩，
可以在樹梢之間傳好幾哩，
11:27
and males will beat
a slow path towards her.
a slow path towards her.
213
675436
3486
公樹懶會很慢很慢地朝她而去。
11:30
(Laughter)
214
678946
4293
（笑聲）
11:35
I think scented messages in her dung
will help send Romeo up the right tree
will help send Romeo up the right tree
215
683263
4715
我認為她糞中的氣味
可以幫助羅密歐爬上對的樹，
11:40
so that he doesn't waste precious energy
scaling the wrong one.
scaling the wrong one.
216
688002
3857
所以他不會浪費寶貴的能量
去爬不對的樹。
11:44
Sex, by the way, is the only thing
that sloths do swiftly.
that sloths do swiftly.
217
692807
3437
順帶一題，
性是樹懶唯一做得很快的事。
11:48
I've seen them do it in the wild,
218
696268
1611
我曾在野外看過牠們交配，
11:49
and it's over and done
with in a matter of seconds.
with in a matter of seconds.
219
697903
3436
只要幾秒鐘就結束了。
11:53
But then, why waste precious energy on it,
220
701363
2698
不過話說回來，為什麼
要浪費寶貴的能量做愛呢？
要浪費寶貴的能量做愛呢？
11:56
particularly after that journey?
221
704085
2008
特別是爬了那麼久之後？
11:58
(Laughter)
222
706117
1682
（笑聲）
11:59
Unlike other mammals,
223
707823
1278
不像其他的哺乳類，
12:01
sloths don't also waste time maintaining
a constant warm body temperature.
a constant warm body temperature.
224
709125
5143
樹懶也不會浪費時間
維持恆定的體溫。
12:06
Energy from the sun is free,
225
714292
1690
從太陽來的能源是免費的，
12:08
so they bask in the sun like lizards
226
716006
2270
所以牠們像蜥蜴一樣曬太陽，
12:10
and wear an unusually thick coat
for the tropics to keep that heat in.
for the tropics to keep that heat in.
227
718300
5166
並且還在熱帶穿著
異常厚的外套以保持熱量。
異常厚的外套以保持熱量。
12:15
Sloths have a freakishly low metabolism.
228
723490
4071
樹懶的新陳代謝慢得出奇。
12:19
And we think that this might be
one of the reasons
one of the reasons
229
727585
2572
我們認為這可能是一個原因，
12:22
that they can sometimes
recover from injuries
recover from injuries
230
730181
2465
讓牠們有時可以從對大多動物來說
會致命的創傷中痊癒。
會致命的創傷中痊癒。
12:24
that would kill most animals.
231
732670
1962
12:27
This sloth recovered
from a double amputation,
from a double amputation,
232
735300
3031
這隻樹懶從雙截肢中痊癒，
12:30
and I've known sloths
that have managed to survive
that have managed to survive
233
738355
3627
我也知道某些樹懶
可以設法在電纜線觸電後存活。
12:34
even power line electrocutions.
234
742006
2373
12:36
And we now think that a low metabolism
may well be key to surviving extinction.
may well be key to surviving extinction.
235
744680
5516
我們現在認為低新陳代謝
可能是滅絕倖存的關鍵。
12:42
Researchers at Kansas University
who were studying mollusks
who were studying mollusks
236
750631
3470
堪薩斯大學的研究人員
研究軟體動物，
12:46
found that a high metabolism
predicted which species of mollusk
predicted which species of mollusk
237
754125
4428
發現高新陳代謝預測了
哪種軟體動物會絕種。
12:50
had gone extinct.
238
758577
1381
12:53
Sloths have been around on this planet
in one shape or another
in one shape or another
239
761609
2976
樹懶用不同的樣子
12:56
for over 40 million years.
240
764609
2642
已經在這個星球上生存
超過四千萬年。
超過四千萬年。
12:59
The secret to their success
is their slothful nature.
is their slothful nature.
241
767768
4388
牠們成功的秘密
就是牠們懶惰的天性。
就是牠們懶惰的天性。
13:04
They are energy-saving icons.
242
772490
3849
牠們是節能的典範。
13:09
And I founded the Sloth
Appreciation Society
Appreciation Society
243
777022
2405
我創辦了「樹懶讚賞協會」，
13:11
to both promote and protect
their slow, steady, sustainable lives.
their slow, steady, sustainable lives.
244
779451
5832
發揚及保護牠們緩慢、
穩定及永續的生活。
穩定及永續的生活。
13:18
I'm a pretty speedy character.
245
786712
2000
我是急性子的人。
13:21
I'm sure you've guessed.
246
789529
1437
我相信你們都猜到了。
13:22
And the sloths have taught me
a lot about slowing down.
a lot about slowing down.
247
790990
3738
樹懶教了我很多要放慢速度的事。
13:26
And I think that the planet would benefit
248
794752
2397
我認為地球可以受惠，
13:29
if we all took a slowly digested
leaf out of their book.
leaf out of their book.
249
797173
4952
如果我們拿牠們的慢動作
做學習的例子。
做學習的例子。
13:34
How about we all embrace our inner sloth
250
802752
4031
這樣好不好？我們都來擁抱
我們內心的樹懶，
我們內心的樹懶，
13:38
by slowing down,
251
806807
1563
放慢速度，
13:40
being more mindful,
252
808394
1515
更用心，
13:41
reducing wasteful convenience,
253
809933
2468
減少造成浪費的便利，
13:44
being economical with our energy,
254
812425
2703
節約能源，
13:47
recycling creatively
255
815152
2019
更有創意地回收，
13:49
and reconnecting with nature.
256
817195
2674
並與大自然重新連結。
13:52
Otherwise, I fear,
257
820520
2570
不然，我怕
13:55
it will be us humans that turn out to be
258
823114
3324
會是我們人類變成
13:58
"the stupidest animals
that can be found in the world."
that can be found in the world."
259
826462
3647
「世上你能找到最愚蠢的動物。」
14:03
Thank you very much.
260
831622
1624
謝謝大家。
14:05
May the sloth be with you!
261
833270
1398
願樹懶與你同在！
14:06
(Applause)
262
834692
3355
（掌聲）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lucy Cooke - Zoologist, author, explorerIn books, TV shows and even an annual sloth calendar, Lucy Cooke shares unexpected truths about animals.
Why you should listen
Lucy Cooke is a New York Times best-selling author, award-winning documentary producer, presenter and National Geographic explorer with a master's in zoology from Oxford University. She is a passionate conservationist and champion of animal species that are often misunderstood. Her style is immersive, journalistic and unashamedly populist, mixing expert storytelling with a dash of humor to reach the widest possible audience. She began her presenting career hosting Freaks and Creeps for National Geographic, a show about strange species that get overlooked in favor of charismatic megafauna, and has hosted numerous shows for the BBC.
Cooke has a particular soft spot for sloths and founded the Sloth Appreciation Society to promote a greater understanding of their lazy lifestyle. She has produced a number of iconic viral sloth videos, Meet the Sloths, an award-winning international series for Animal Planet, two best-selling books -- A Little Book of Sloth and Life in the Sloth Lane -- and an annual calendar featuring her sloth photographs.
Cooke's latest book, The Truth About Animals, was shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Society prize and the AAAS young adult science prize. Nature calls it a "deeply researched, sassily written history of the biggest misconceptions, mistakes and myths we've concocted about the animal kingdom, spread by figures from Aristotle to Walt Disney."
Lucy Cooke | Speaker | TED.com