Reptiles and amphibians must warm their bodies...
爬虫类和两栖类动物
before they can become active and until then...
要先让身体热起来才能活动
they are slow-moving and vulnerable.
它们在热身之前 行动迟缓,十分脆弱
The quickest way to gain heat, is to bask in the sun,
热身最快的方法是做日光浴
as this basilisk lizard from Central America is doing.
就像这只 中美洲的芒腹冠蜥一样
The trouble is that exposing yourself inevitably makes you easily seen.
问题是摊在阳光下 很容易被人发现
But a conspicuous perch over a river like this...
但大刺刺的 趴在这么抢眼的树枝上
seems to be making yourself unnecessarily prominent.
似乎有点太明显了
This basilisk's greatest threat comes from the sky.
这只蜥蜴最大的威胁来自空中
Dark shapes overhead make it nervous.
头顶上出现的阴影 搞得它紧张兮兮
A hunting bird might expect it to flee to the trees.
狩猎的猛禽 八成以为它会逃到树上
In fact, it does the opposite.
但它却反其道而行
This skitter across the surface of the water earns it precious seconds...
这种踏水前进的绝活 为它争取到宝贵的几秒钟
and the nickname, Jesus Christ lizard.
和耶稣蜥蜴的昵称