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In the forests of Southeast Asia, high up in the treetops, a mythical creature lives.
在东南亚的森林里，高高的树梢上生活着一种神秘的生物。
It turns out dragons are real.
原来，龙真的存在。
So I have to call a biologist.
我得打电话问问生物学家。
I'm Anthony Russell from the department of biological sciences at the University of Calgary in Alberta Canada.
我是来自加拿大阿尔伯塔省卡尔加里大学生物科学系的安东尼·拉塞尔。
We're talking about a species of flying lizards.
我们说的是一种会飞的蜥蜴。
So it's called Draco Volans, which means flying dragon.
它的名字叫“Draco Volans”，意思是“会飞的龙”。
Okay, these flying dragons, they are a little different from the dragons we see in movies.
好吧，这些飞龙和我们在电影里看到的是不大一样。
First starters, they're small.
首先，它们很小。
They are, they are.
是的，是的。
Only about eight inches long and they don't breathe fire.
它们身长只有八英寸，也不会喷火。
But they do fly, in a way.
但它们确实是会飞的，从某种程度上来讲。
They're gliders, which means they have control of their descent and trajectory, but they don't have any power in it.
它们会滑翔，也就是说它们可以控制自己的下降和轨迹，但并没有什么大本事。
For every one foot they go down in vertical distance, they'll be able to travel six feet alone.
它们在垂直的方向每飞一英尺，水平方向最多飞六英尺。
That's because they don't actually have wings,
这是因为它们并没有翅膀，
There are actually modifications of the ribs, so they're nothing to do with the legs and arms.
它们飞翔靠的是进化后的肋骨，所以它们飞翔的时候是完全用不上手脚的。
Evolutionarily speaking, this has helped the lizards survive.
从进化的角度来说，这种技能有助于蜥蜴的生存。
They can escape attacks and they have a broader living zone.
它们可以借此躲避攻击，还能获得更广阔的生存空间。
So they might not be dragon dragons.
总而言之，它们或许称不上龙中之龙……
Sometimes people name things because it's more dramatic effect.
有时候人们之所以那么命名是因为那么命名比较夸张。
Well, they're still incredible lizards.
但却算得上蜥蜴中的尤物。
