【精英翻譯】的部落格

Whale Tales

一鳴「鯨」人 ── 大自然的驚奇

精英翻譯社轉自https://www.ivy.com.tw/newsLetter/life_cont/2021051116295220706

Sperm whales have a history of close encounters with humankind.

抹香鯨長久以來一直都跟人類有著近距離的接觸。

Sperm whales are a remarkable species that can be found throughout the world’s oceans. They can live to be up to 70 years old, and the largest males can grow to be more than 20 meters in length. They have a large, square-shaped head and a long, narrow mouth with a row of sharp teeth on the lower jaw. Sperm whales are carnivores, and they feed mostly on giant squid, which they can swallow whole.

世界各地的海洋裡都能見到抹香鯨這個奇特的物種。牠們的壽命可長達七十歲，最大型的雄鯨體長可達二十公尺以上。牠們有著方形的巨大頭顱和狹長的嘴巴，下顎則有一排尖利的牙齒。抹香鯨為肉食動物，主要以大王烏賊為食，而且能夠一次整口吞下。

Sperm whales are also the world’s loudest animal. Their large heads hold an amazing biological system that can produce clicking sounds at a volume louder than jet engines. The whales use these sounds to communicate with each other and to find prey which they detect using sound waves. Inside their large forehead is the spermaceti organ, a balloon-like organ filled with a thick, waxy substance. Although scientists do not have a complete understanding of this organ, in theory, the whales can adjust the density and weight of the organ to help with dive control and protection during fights.

抹香鯨也是世界上聲音最大的生物。牠們極大的頭部有著不可思議的生物系統，能夠發出音量比噴射機引擎還大的卡嗒聲響。抹香鯨利用這些聲音來與同類溝通，並且透過音波偵測的方式來尋找獵物蹤跡。牠們的巨大前額中有著鯨腦油器官，這種器官狀如氣球，內部滿是一種如蠟般的濃稠物質。雖然科學家對這種器官並未有全盤了解，但理論上抹香鯨能夠調整該器官的密度和重量，用以幫助牠們控制潛水和打鬥時的防禦所需。

Sperm whales were hunted worldwide for centuries, and the situation was particularly grave after WWII. The high-quality oils made from spermaceti were used to make candles, lamps, cosmetics, and mechanical lubricant. Sperm whales also produce ambergris, a valuable substance formed in their digestive tract, which is used in the production of perfume.

全球的抹香鯨幾世紀以來不斷遭到獵殺，這樣的情況在二戰後特別嚴重。由鯨腦油中取得的高品質油脂可用來做成蠟燭、油燈、化妝品和機械潤滑油。抹香鯨體內也會產生龍涎香，這是一種在其消化道內所形成的珍貴物質，可用來製造香水。