I Discovered Three New Geckos in Cambodia's Limestone Caves – and That's Not All We FoundNew Geckos in Cambodian Caves
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#1
Scientists Discover Three New Gecko Species in Cambodia's Limestone Caves
科學家在柬埔寨的石灰岩洞穴中發現了三個壁虎新物種
#2
A team of researchers has discovered three new gecko species inside limestone caves in Cambodia.
一組研究團隊在柬埔寨的石灰岩洞穴中發現了三個壁虎新物種。
#3
The discovery was made during a seven-year scientific research project led by Fauna and Flora, a nature conservation charity.
這項發現是在一項由自然保育慈善機構 Fauna and Flora 領導的為期七年的科學研究計畫期間完成的。
#4
These caves contain a unique ecosystem that has never been fully explored before.
這些洞穴包含一個以前從未被完全探索過的獨特生態系統。
#5
Entering a cave can be a frightening experience because it is completely dark inside.
進入洞穴可能是一次可怕的經歷，因為裡面完全是黑暗的。
#6
The first thing visitors notice is the strong smell of guano, which is bat waste.
訪客注意到的第一件事是鳥糞的強烈氣味，也就是蝙蝠的排泄物。
#7
Some caves are home to millions of bats that hang in the darkness above.
有些洞穴是數百萬隻倒掛在上方黑暗中的蝙蝠的家園。
#8
The walls are covered in unusual creatures such as whip scorpions, millipedes, and centipedes.
牆上佈滿了不尋常的生物，例如鞭蠍、馬陸和蜈蚣。
#9
The whole cave ecosystem feeds off guano, dead bats, and other dead animals on the ground.
整個洞穴生態系統以蝙蝠糞便、死蝙蝠以及地面上的其他動物屍體為食。
#10
Water slowly passes through the cave walls, so visitors can hear the sound of dripping.
水緩慢地穿過洞穴岩壁，因此遊客可以聽到滴水的聲音。
#11
Narrow passages connect large galleries, and some passages are too narrow for a human to pass through.
狹窄的通道連接巨大的洞廳，有些通道則窄到人類無法通過。
#12
Researchers have described it as an alien and mostly silent place.
研究人員將其描述為一個陌生且大多安靜的地方。
#13
The lead researcher grew up in northern Spain and was always interested in wildlife.
這位首席研究員在西班牙北部長大，且一直對野生動物感興趣。
#14
He spent every day in the mountains looking for animals when he was young.
他年輕時每天都在山裡尋找動物。
#15
However, he did not know much about karst landscapes before he moved to Cambodia.
然而，在他搬到柬埔寨之前，他對喀斯特地形並不了解。
#16
Karst is a type of landscape where limestone rock has been shaped by water over thousands of years.
喀斯特是一種地貌類型，其中的石灰岩在數千年的時間裡被水雕琢而成。
#17
Because each cave is isolated from the others, every cave becomes its own island of evolution.
因為每個洞穴都與其他洞穴隔絕，所以每個洞穴都成為了自己獨立的演化島嶼。
#18
This is why different species have adapted to each specific cave habitat.
這就是為什麼不同的物種已經適應了每個特定的洞穴棲息地。
#19
"Each cave is like its own laboratory of evolution, and we are only beginning to understand the biodiversity inside them."
「每一座洞穴都像是一個獨立的演化實驗室，而我們才剛開始了解其中的生物多樣性。」
#20
He also noted that the species discovery highlights the importance of protecting these cave habitats.
他也指出，物種的發現突顯了保護這些洞穴棲息地的重要性。
#21
Scientists believe that many more species are waiting to be found in Cambodia's unexplored limestone caves.
科學家相信在柬埔寨尚未被探索的石灰岩洞穴中，還有更多物種正等待著被發現。
#22
This research has been published and has attracted attention from the global scientific community.
這項研究已經發表，並引起了全球科學界的關注。