The deep waters off the coast of California are home to a bizarre creature: the flapjack octopus. This creature, known for its pancake-like appearance, spreads itself thin on the seabed as a clever survival strategy, making it difficult for predators to spot and capture it.
With its unique, umbrella-shaped body formed by webbed arms, the flapjack octopus moves through the water in a graceful manner. It propels itself forward by rhythmically moving its body and contracting its webbed arms. Its pair of ear-like fins, which move independently yet with remarkable coordination, also help it explore the deep-sea environment. These fins keep the flapjack octopus balanced while it is resting on the ocean floor and help control its direction during swimming.
One of the most interesting aspects of the flapjack octopus is its natural coloration. Unlike many octopuses that use chromatophores to rapidly change color and avoid detection by predators, the flapjack octopus lacks these specialized cells. Often appearing reddish or orange, the flapjack octopus effectively vanishes in the deep ocean in a different way. As sunlight decreases in deep waters, colors like red and orange will appear black to most ocean animals. This makes red- or orange-colored animals like the flapjack octopus nearly invisible to predators.
Photo: AFP 照片：法新社
If threatened, this master of disguise can make a quick escape. By forcefully pushing a large amount of water out of its body, the octopus creates a powerful jet of water to swiftly move away from danger. At the same time, its fins direct it towards currents that will aid in its escape.
加州外海的深水區是一種奇特生物的棲息地：煎餅章魚。這種生物以其煎餅般的外觀而聞名，牠將身體展開成薄片狀躺在海底，這是一種聰明的生存策略，使掠食者不容易發現牠，也難以捕捉到牠。
煎餅章魚獨特的傘狀身體是以其有蹼的手臂所形成，能在水中優雅地移動。牠透過有節奏地移動身體和收縮帶有蹼的手臂來推動自己前進。牠有一對像耳朵一樣的鰭，會各別進行動作但又非常協調，也能幫助煎餅章魚探索深海環境。這對鰭使煎餅章魚待在海底時得以保持平衡，並有助於在游泳時控制方向。
煎餅章魚最有趣的其中一個方面是牠天然的顏色。與許多使用色素細胞快速改變顏色來避免被掠食者發現的章魚不同，煎餅章魚缺乏這些特化細胞。通常呈現偏紅色或橙色的煎餅章魚是用不同的方式有效隱身於深海之中。隨著陽光照到深水區時逐漸減弱，紅色和橙色等顏色在大部分海洋動物的眼中會看起來一片黑。這使得掠食者幾乎看不見像煎餅章魚這樣的紅色或橙色動物。
如果煎餅章魚受到威脅，這位偽裝大師可以迅速逃脫。透過用力將大量的水排出體外，煎餅章魚能創造出強力的噴射水流，從而迅速逃離危險。同時，鰭會將牠引向有助於逃跑的水流。
Words in Use
1. strategy n. 策略
The manager devised a clever strategy to solve the complex problem.
經理想出了一項巧妙的策略來解決那個複雜的問題。
2. capture vt. 捕捉到，捕獲
The zookeepers used a net to capture the monkey that escaped.
動物園管理員用網子捕捉到那隻逃跑的猴子。
3. graceful a. 優雅的
The graceful swan glided across the lake.
優雅的天鵝在湖面上游移。
4. rhythmically adv. 有節奏地
The waves crashed rhythmically against the shore, providing a calming soundtrack.
海浪有節奏地拍打著海岸，奏出一曲祥和的背景音樂。
5. independently adv. 各自，獨立地
The two researchers conducted their experiments independently to avoid bias.
兩位研究人員各自進行實驗以避免偏差。
Practical Phrases
1. off the coast (of). . . 在……的外海
The small island lies just off the coast of the mainland, accessible by boat.
這個小島位於大陸外海，可乘船抵達。
2. be home to (N) 是……的棲息地∕故鄉
Australia is home to many unique species of animals.
澳洲是許多獨特動物物種的棲息地。
3. in a + Adj. + manner 以……的方式
The speaker presented the findings in a clear manner, ensuring everyone understood.
講者以清晰的方式介紹研究發現，確保大家都能理解。
4. make an escape 逃脫，逃跑
The prisoner planned to make an escape through a hidden tunnel.
那名囚犯計劃穿越一條隱藏的隧道來逃獄。
To be continued tomorrow（明日待續）
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
A: In addition to “Mission: Impossible 8,” what other new movies are in theaters? B: “Final Destination: Bloodlines” and “The Wedding Banquet” are out. The French film “Jane Austen Wrecked My Life” will also open soon. A: The Final Destination horror movie series is so scary that I don’t dare watch it. B: Then how about “The Wedding Banquet,” which is a 2025 remake of the 1993 classic of the same title? Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung’s performance in it is highly anticipated. A: But as a fan of British writer Jane Austen, I’m more interested to see how her works
US President Donald Trump on Monday last week signed the TAKE IT DOWN ACT (Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act), bipartisan legislation that enacts stricter penalties for the distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery, sometimes called “revenge porn,” as well as deepfakes created by artificial intelligence. The measure, which goes into effect immediately, was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, and later gained the support of First Lady Melania Trump. Critics of the measure, which addresses both real and artificial intelligence-generated imagery, say
Cats ruled in ancient Egypt—and not just in their own minds. These clever, graceful creatures were so deeply respected by the Egyptians that harming one could lead to severe punishment, even death. But why did the Egyptians hold cats in such high regard? It wasn’t just because they were cute; cats played a crucial role in protecting the country’s grain stores from pests. As guardians of Egypt’s food supply, they were seen as sacred animals. The Egyptians honored them through Bastet, the cat-headed goddess of protection, the home and fertility. Egyptians didn’t just love cats; they worshipped them. Cats lived in luxury,
A: Wanna go see a movie during the three-day weekend for the Dragon Boat Festival? B: Sure, I wanna see “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.” A: Rumor has it that this may be actor Tom Cruise’s last mission with the Mission: Impossible action movie franchise. B: Tom was only 34 when the first installment of the series was released in 1996. Now, he’s 63 and the eighth installment is out. A: I hope he’ll stay with the series. Let’s go see him fight against AI this weekend. A: 端午節三天連假週末要不要去看電影？ B: 好啊我想看 《不可能的任務：最終清算》！ A: 這有可能是湯姆克魯斯最後一次為動作片《不可能》系列出任務。 B:
RSS