In the world’s wide-open spaces some animals use their massive size to rule, while others use potent venom. Some strike with blinding speed, while others use teamwork. But all have ingenious methods to hunt, defend and kill. Sometimes when we enter their worlds, we get too close with fatal results. Now we come face-to-face with the desert and grassland’s deadliest animals.
在全球曠野之地，有些動物以巨大體型稱霸，有些則利用強力毒液，有些能迅雷不及掩耳地發動攻擊，有些則會運用團隊合作。但牠們都能以巧妙的方法獵食、防衛與殺戮。有時當踏入牠們的世界，太靠近會招來致命後果。現在就讓我們跟沙漠和草原的動物殺手面對面。
From the scorched sands of the Sahara to the fertile plains of the American heartland, deserts and grasslands cover about half of the earth’s land, and over a billion people call them home. But only the toughest survive in deserts, including some of the deadliest animals on the planet. For three of the venomous creatures living here, making a killing means mastering the art of the ambush. In the American southwest, a hiker takes in the desert’s stark beauty. But this beauty hides a dangerous predator: the sidewinder rattlesnake. The sidewinder inhabits the southwest desert, from Sonora, Mexico up to California’s Mojave Desert. It is the world’s fastest rattler. The desert’s surface poses two problems for serpents: traction and intense heat. The sidewinder’s simple solution for both is a unique form of locomotion. As it undulates, the serpent lifts its coils so only two segments touch the scorched ground at one time. This snake is perfectly suited for desert life. It doesn’t need any water sources, only prey.
從酷熱的撒哈拉沙漠到美國心臟地帶的肥沃平原，沙漠和草原約佔地球陸地面積的一半，居住人口超過十億。但只有最強韌的生物能在沙漠生存，包括部分世上最致命的動物。對住在沙漠的三種有毒生物來說，，想成功獵食必須成為突襲高手。在美洲西南部，炫目的沙漠之美讓一名健行者沉醉，但這片美景藏有危險掠食動物「角響尾蛇」。角響尾蛇的棲地在西南部沙漠，從墨西哥索諾拉上至加州莫哈未沙漠。牠是世上速度最快的響尾蛇。沙漠表面對蛇類造成兩大問題：摩擦力和高溫。角響尾蛇用一個簡單方法解決這兩個問題，那就是採取獨特的移動方法。牠抬起身體上下移動，每次只有兩小段身體碰到炙熱地面。牠最適合在沙漠生活，不需要任何水源，只要有獵物就夠了。
It finds a shaded spot for the ambush and settles in. The rattler’s tail is silent and its muted desert colors allow it to blend in with the dry surroundings. The ambush spot attracts an unsuspecting mouse. The serpent’s special pit organs detect changes of temperature within three-thousandths of a degree homing in on the warm body of its prey. The sidewinder has one chance to strike before blowing its cover. Switchblade fangs inject hemotoxic venom, which breaks down blood cells and prevents clotting. The venom starts digesting it from the inside. The viper then walks its fangs down the mouse’s body. The sidewinder avoids humans when possible and uses its tail to warn away intruders. New rungs form on the serpent’s rattle each time it sheds its skin. When shaken, these ridges knock into each other to make the distinctive rattling sound. If the warning fails or the approach is too sudden, the sidewinder will strike. The bite packs a painful punch, but it isn’t a knockout blow. Sidewinder bites are seldom fatal with proper treatment.
牠找到可供突襲的遮蔽處，進入做好準備。角響尾蛇的尾巴安靜無聲，不顯眼的棕黃體色讓牠能融入周圍的沙漠，突襲地點吸引了一隻不疑有他的老鼠。角響尾蛇的特殊窩器能偵測小於千分之三度的溫度變化，讓牠鎖定獵物的溫暖身軀。在掩護曝光前牠只有一次攻擊機會，如彈簧刀般彈出的毒牙注入血毒素毒液，破壞血球細胞，阻止血液凝固。蛇毒開始從體內消化獵物，牠接著用毒牙把老鼠推進口中。牠會盡量避開人類，並用尾巴嚇退入侵者。角響尾蛇每次脫皮都會形成新的角質輪，晃動尾巴時突起的角質會彼此撞擊，形成獨特的嘎嘎聲響。如果警告無效或有人突然接近，牠就會發動攻擊。被牠咬到會痛苦不堪，但不至於致死，只要有適當治療，遭角響尾蛇咬傷很少致命。
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