“热带雨林” "Rainforest."
该词用来指覆盖中美洲和南美洲的大片丛林 The term given to a large portion of the jungle that covers Central and South America.
在这种温暖潮湿的环境中，生命繁盛，在你环顾的任何地方都迸发出来 In this warm, humid environment, life flourishes, bursting forth everywhere you turn.
野性拉丁美洲
雨林
袭击雨林的风暴威力强大，也非常丰富 The storms that batter the rainforest are powerful but generous.
这里每年有300多天下雨 It rains here more than 300 days a year.
在这片森林的每一层，每一平方米，都生活着数百种迷人的生物物种 In every stratum of this forest, in each square metre, hundreds of fascinating species live.
这使得这片雨林成为新大陆最丰富的生态系统之一 That makes this rainforest one of the richest ecosystems in the New World.
吼猴的叫声如此之大，以至于它们的叫声可能会被误认为是即将到来的让人不能忍受的雷声 Howler monkey shout so loud that their calls might be mistaken for the thunder of the approaching torment.
无论如何，它们都是一种警告 One way or another, they are a form of warning.
一只美洲豹在丛林深处巡逻 A jaguar patrols the depths of the jungle.
美洲豹尽其所能不被其他动物注意到，斑驳的皮毛成为它的伪装 The jaguar does its best to go unnoticed, its mottled fur serving as camouflage.
但这些金毛吼猴见过大猫，它们的尖叫声向四面八方宣告了美洲豹的存在 But these golden-mantled howler monkeys have seen the big cat and their screams announce its presence to the four winds.
在这样的情况下，猎杀并不容易 Hunting in these conditions is not easy.
大鬣蜥被猴子的尖叫吓到了 Giant iguanas are alarmed by the monkeys' screaming.
尽管它们外表可怕， Despite their own fearsome appearance,
它们鳞甲尖甲，其实绝对伤害不了其他动物 their scaly pointed armour, they are, in fact, absolutely harmless.
它们的生存技巧以逃避为基础 Their survival technique is based on flight.
有些跳进水里潜水 Some jump into the water and dive.
另一些则以全速爬上树冠以躲开 Others ascend into the canopy at full speed to get out of the way.
它们美味的肉是美洲豹永久的诱惑 Their tasty flesh is a permanent temptation for the jaguar.
当美洲豹经过时，所有动物群都消失了 As the jaguar passes by, all fauna disappears.
鹿躲在矮树丛里 Deer hide in the undergrowth.
鬣蜥在树叶顶端 Iguanas at the top of the foliage.
松鼠尽可能地快爬 Squirrels climb as fast as they can.
这些树是受欢迎的紧急出口 The trees serve as a welcome emergency exit.
即使是最虚弱的，生病的，也会试图爬上最高的树枝 Even the weakest, the sick, will try to climb the highest branches.
但美洲豹并没有放弃 But the jaguar does not give up.
最微弱的机会，它会毫不犹豫地抓住 Given the smallest opportunity, it will not hesitate to seize it.
美洲豹的敏捷和力量使它能像任何动物一样爬树 Its agility and strength allows it to climb the trees as well as anyone.
这里没有动物是安全的 No one is safe here.
尤其是身形不佳的 Especially anyone not in top shape.
被杀死的概率很高 The kill is consumed.
这就是弱肉强食 It's the law of the jungle.
体弱或患病的个体付出了最终的代价，从而让物种中最健康的个体得以存活 Weak or sick individuals pay the ultimate price, thus allowing the healthiest of the species to survive.
短短几分钟，石板被擦得一干二净 Within a matter of minutes, the slate is wiped clean.
一场风暴又重塑了整个森林 A storm resets the whole forest.
就像什么都没发生过一样，吼猴群又回到了树枝间寻找食物 As if nothing had happened, the troop of howler monkeys goes back to looking for food among the branches.
一旦风暴和美洲豹都过去了， Once both storm and jaguar have passed,
巨大的鬣蜥回到地面，收集成熟的、新鲜掉落的水果 the huge iguanas return to the ground to collect ripe, freshly fallen fruit.
最大的雄性鬣蜥体长可达两米多， The largest males may reach lengths of over two metres,
但它们有很多敌人 but they have many enemies.
其中一个在暴风雨后从地里冒了出来 One of them emerges from the earth after the storm.
鬣蜥一刻也不能放松警惕 The iguanas cannot let their guard down for a moment.
一只丛林犬从窝里出来开始巡视 A brush dog emerging from its den to begin its rounds.
丛林犬和鬣蜥的体重可能差不多，但犬科动物是凶猛而危险的猎手 Brush dog and iguana may weigh about the same, but the canid is a fierce and dangerous hunter.
鬣蜥不得不再次逃离 The iguanas have to flee once more.
丛林犬是世界上最稀有、最奇怪的犬科动物之一 The brush dog is one of the rarest and strangest canids in the world.
它的身体扁平而细长，这使得它可以消失在最密集的植被中， Its body is flat and elongated, allowing it to disappear in the densest vegetation,
并嗅探丛林中最难以接近的角落 and to sniff around the most inaccessible corners of the jungle.
风暴过后，正是重建领地的好时机 After the storm, it's a good time to reestablish its territory.
通过嗅湿树叶，它确认了自己的气味标记 By sniffing the wet leaves, it confirms that its scent markings
都被雨水冲走了 have been washed away by the rain.
现在它发现了一些有趣的东西 And now it's found something interesting.
这根枯木头看起来可能藏着美味的零食 This old log looks like it might be hiding a delicious snack.
雨林是一个奇怪的地方 The rainforest is a strange place.
每个动物都必须在这里玩捉迷藏 Everyone must play hide and seek here.
一些最引人注目的动物，几乎总是不被注意到 Some of the most striking animals almost always go unnoticed.
在丛林的最高树枝上， Up in the highest branches of the jungle,
王秃鹫，这个星球上最美丽、最稀有的食腐动物，在这里定居 the king vulture, the most beautiful and rare scavenger on the planet, takes up residence.
就像它们的黑色堂兄弟一样， Just like their black cousins,
王秃鹫喜欢展开翅膀，长时间地晒太阳 king vultures like to spread their wings to bask in the sun for long periods of time.
这有助于晾干它们的羽毛，因为它们的羽毛经常被雨水浸湿 This helps dry their plumage, which often gets soaked by the rains.
太阳温暖光线的强光也会给它们的羽毛消毒 The strong light of the sun's warm rays also disinfect their feathers.
在那里，在树冠的顶端，远离不受欢迎的观察者，它们监视着，嗅着丛林的气息 There, at the top of the canopy, hidden from unwelcome observers, they watch over and smell the jungle.
一个巨物在下面徘徊 A colossus prowls down below.
中美洲貘，或称贝尔德貘，是这片丛林中无可争议的巨人 The Central American, or Baird's, tapir is the undisputed giant of this jungle.
美洲最大最重的动物 The largest and heaviest animal in America.
它是一种强大的哺乳动物，能够穿越最密集的丛林 It's a powerful mammal capable of traversing the densest jungles.
大小和健壮性的结合，让它得以清晰 The combination of size and robustness allow it to clear
一条穿过树叶寻找食物和水的路 a way through the foliage in search of food and water.
然而，尽管它的体型很大，它是一种天生害羞的动物，喜欢躲藏 And yet, despite its size, it's a naturally shy creature and prefers to hide.
它的脚步总是悄无声息的，它的动作总是小心翼翼的 Its steps are always stealthy, and its movements cautious.
当它在丛林中穿行时，它会嗅闻在人类环境中遇到的一切 As it tours the jungle, it sniffs at all it comes across in the human environment.
它的鼻子可以帮助选择每一口食物 Its trunk serves to help choose each mouthful.
这是丛林里的美食家，寻找最嫩的叶子和嫩芽来做美味的丛林沙拉 This is the gourmet of the jungle, looking for the tenderest leaves and shoots for a tasty jungle salad.
它长长的鼻子就像一台真空清洁器，能吸到最美味植物的香气 Its long snout acts like a vacuum cleaner, picking up the aromas of the most delicious plants.
但它敏锐的鼻子也能知道捕食者的临近 But its keen nose also informs of the proximity of predators.
貘的敌人可能很少，但它们是一个严重的威胁 The tapir may have few enemies, but they are a serious threat.
美洲豹和美洲狮 The jaguar and the puma.
貘的蹄子陷进了泥里，它的脚步变得有点可怕 The tapir's hooves sink into the mud, it steps becoming a little more fearful.
附近还有动物在巡逻 Someone else is on patrol nearby.
假警报 False alarm.
这一次，它只是一只友好的邻居鹿 This time, it's just a friendly neighbouring deer.
白尾鹿非常害羞，甚至比貘还要害羞 Whitetail deer are very shy, even more so than tapirs.
它们比体型较大的邻居更脆弱，因为它们是更多猎手的食物之一， And they are more vulnerable than their larger neighbours as they form part of the diet of many more hunters,
从丛林犬到强大的美洲豹 from brush dogs to mighty jaguars.
因此，它们必须以更大的潜行 And so they must move with even greater stealth.
它们的大眼睛和不成比例的长耳朵总是对任何噪音、任何动作保持警惕 Their huge eyes and disproportionately long ears are always on alert for any noise, any movement.
它们甚至能在另一场风暴爆发之前就预感到它的到来 They can even sense the approach of another storm, well in advance of its breaking.
暴风雨在丛林中来了又去 The storms come and go over the jungle.
丛林创造了它们，丛林接受了它们的惩罚 The jungle creates them and the jungle receives their punishment.
天空再次在丛林居民上方打开， The skies open once more above the jungle dwellers,
它们别无选择，只能忍气吞声地忍受从上方倾泻而下的绵绵大雨 who have no other choice but to stoically endure the endless downpour from above.
有一段时间，丛林因洪水而陷入停滞 For a while, the jungle is brought to a standstill by the deluge.
而风暴也会造成悲剧 And the storm also causes tragedies.
再小心也不能防止闪电击中一只年轻的母鹿 No amount of caution can prevent lightning from striking a young female deer.
然而，在自然界中，有一个基本的规律 However, in nature, there is a fundamental rule.
每朵云都有一线光明，翻译过来就是“没有什么是浪费的” Every cloud has a silver lining, which translates as "nothing is wasted."
总有人从别人的不幸中受益 Someone always benefits from the misfortune of others.
美洲黑秃鹫忍受雨水的坚忍得到了回报 The stoicism with which the American black vultures endure the rain has its reward.
暴风雨为它们提供了一只受灾的鹿，一顿补充能量的好午餐 The storm has provided them with a stricken deer, a good lunch to replenish some energy.
但直到最后一位客人到来，宴会才真正开始 But the banquet can't really start until the last guest arrives.
秃鹰王是美洲丛林中最强大的凭证 The king vulture is the most powerful of the American jungles' vouchers.
它在丛林中的作用是完成工作 Its role in the jungle is to finish off the work
食肉动物已经开始并消灭猎物的残骸或尸体 that predators have begun and eliminate the remains of hunts or corpses.
它们是雨林的承担者 These are the undertakers of the rainforest.
它们强大的喙能让它们切断食物 Their powerful beak allows them to slice through their food.
这么多黑秃鹫的出现，让它们的皇家表亲们感到不舒服 The presence of so many black vultures makes their royal cousins uncomfortable.
因此，它们被开除几乎不考虑仪式 So they are dismissed with little regard to ceremony.
是王秃鹫负责打开尸体，这是所有人梦寐以求的宝藏 It's the king vultures who are responsible for opening up the corpse, the treasure coveted by all.
没有它们的办公，黑秃鹫就没有办法进入鹿的内部 Without their offices, the black vultures would have no means of accessing the interior of the deer.
但它们必须等待强大的国王填饱肚子，腾出宴会桌 But they must wait for the mighty kings to fill their stomachs and vacate the banquet table.
鹿的尸体很快就会消失， What's left the deer's cadaver will soon disappear,
变形成王秃鹫飞过丛林或云层， transformed into a king vulture flying over the jungle or among the clouds,
这将给雨林带来新的风暴 which will bring new storms to the rainforest.
近热带雨林横跨海峡 The near tropical rainforest stretches across the narrow
从中美洲的地峡和南部进入南锥形的北部，直到到达亚马逊盆地 isthmus of Central America and South into the north of the Southern Cone until it reaches the Amazon Basin.
这些温暖潮湿的森林占据了象西班牙那么大的领土 These warm, humid forests occupy a territory as large as Spain.
它们密不透水的内部蕴藏着世界上最丰富的生物多样性 Their impenetrable interiors house the greatest biodiversity in the world.
雨林肥沃、潮湿、多汁 The rainforest is fertile, moist, and succulent.
这就是丛林的定义 It is the very definition of a jungle.
这里的居民已经习惯了热带风暴来来往往的生活 Its inhabitants are accustomed to a life governed by the comings and goings of tropical storms.
云充满了天空，本身充满了水，很快就会落到下面的一切 Clouds fill the skies, themselves filled with water, which will soon fall on all below.
丛林是光与影的明暗对比 The jungle is a chiaroscuro of shadow and light.
就像最初的伊甸园一样，这些丛林中也有蛇， And like the original paradise of Eden, these jungles have their serpent,
或者更确切地说，许多不同种类的蛇， or rather many different species of snake,
它们充分利用了丛林提供的各种生态位 that take advantage of the variety of niches that the jungle offers them.
所以在这片丛林的每一个角落都能找到蛇 So snakes are found in every part of this jungle.
有些从来没有离开过相对安全的灌木丛 Some never leave the relative safety of the undergrowth.
另一些则是攀缘高手，很容易就能到达树冠的最顶端 Others are expert climbers, and easily reach the topmost branches of the canopy.
无论它们在哪里，所有的蛇都是猎手， Wherever they may be, all snakes are hunters,
因此，它们的存在在森林里的其它居民中引起了一定程度的关注 and so their presence generates a certain amount of concern among the other inhabitants of the forest.
最苗条、最轻的蛇在树枝和灌木丛中移动 The slenderest, most lightweight snakes move among the branches of trees and bushes
直到它们找到了一种“热带鱼子酱” until they find a kind of tropical caviar.
树蛙的水晶卵 The crystalline eggs of tree frogs.
许多热带青蛙利用雨水带来的湿气，而不是 Many tropical frogs take advantage of the moisture caused by the rains, and rather than deposit their spawn
把卵产在水坑和河流中，它们在树叶上进食，远离大量的水生捕食者 in puddles and rivers, they do so on leaves, away from the aquatic predators that abound.
但有些物种，如藤蛇，专门寻找并贪婪地吞食卵堆 But some species, such as vine snakes, have specialized in finding and greedily devouring the spawn.
这些外表娇嫩的雨林蛇是无毒的 These delicate-looking rainforest snakes are not poisonous.
其它被致命咬伤的则躲在丛林的地面上 Others with deadly bites hide on the jungle floor.
虽然它们并不都一样壮观 Although they're not all equally as imposing.
护路蛇是这片丛林中毒性最小、危险最小的蛇 The road guarder snake is the least venomous and the least dangerous of the snakes of this jungle.
即便如此，它的毒液也足以让它喜欢的猎物动弹不得 Even so, its venom is enough to immobilize its favourite prey.
然而，有些青蛙不会不战而降 Some frogs, however, don't give up without a fight.
幸运的是，雨林中充满了潜在的猎物， Luckily for the snake the rainforest is replete with potential prey,
虽然并不总是合人心意 although it's not always to one's liking.
有时候继续寻找更好 Sometimes it's better to keep looking.
道路守卫者似乎找到了一个合适的目标 The road guarder seems to have found a suitable target.
它逃跑了。坚定勇敢的青蛙可以抵御蛇的攻击 It escapes. A determined brave frog can resist the attack of a snake.
但蛇不会让它这么容易就溜走的 But the snake is not going to let it get away so easily.
鬼鬼祟祟的蛇直到最后一刻才被察觉， The surreptitious snake remains imperceptible until the last moment,
到那个时候，对小两栖动物来说已经太晚了 by which time it's too late for the little amphibian.
护路蛇这次成功了， The road guarder has been successful this time,
但它必须耐心等待，直到毒液起作用 but it will have to be patient until its venom takes effect.
热带雨林中种类繁多的蛇是这里富饶的完美象征 The huge diversity of snakes in these tropical rainforests is a perfect symbol of the richness that thrives here.
不管你是什么动物，在丛林里， And whatever animal you might be, in the jungle,
有一条写着你名字的蛇 there's a snake with your name on it.
就连丛林里的鸟都是蛇的受害者 Even the birds of the jungle are victims of snakes.
这种鸟蛇可以达到三米长， The puffing, or bird snake can reach three metres in length,
在最高的树枝中是一个专家级的猎手 and is an expert hunter among the highest branches.
它蜿蜒地穿过树叶 It moves sinuously through the foliage.
它可以从一根树枝滑到另一根树枝，甚至从一棵树滑到另一棵树，这要归功于它的极限能力 It can slip from branch to branch, and even from tree to tree, thanks to its extreme ability.
像空中飞人一样，鸟蛇无声地滑翔着寻找鸟类或它们的巢穴 Like a trapeze artist, the bird snake silently glides in search of birds, or their nests.
这只斑鸠坚持到最后一刻， This turtledove held fast until the last moment,
但最终它逃跑了，它留给了蛇一个重要的线索，知道它的巢穴在哪里 but finally fleeing in flight, it has given the snake a vital clue to where its nest is.
斑鸠挽救了自己的生命，但它的孤独的卵将遭受更糟糕的命运 The turtledove has saved its own life, but its solitary egg will suffer a worse fate.
鸟蛇为了把蛋整个吞下去，能够解锁它的下颚 The bird snake is capable of unhooking its lower jaw in order to swallow the egg whole.
一旦吞咽，来自其消化道的压力就会毫不费力地将其打破 Once swallowed, pressure from its digestive tract breaks it without difficulty.
今天，一份新鲜炒鸡蛋的早餐 Today, a breakfast of freshly scrambled egg.
鸟蛇与成千上万种不同的生物共享其热带美洲雨林栖息地 The bird snake shares its tropical American rainforest habitat with hundreds of thousands of different creatures.
永远活跃和勤奋的切叶蚁是它最令人印象深刻的邻居之一 Ever-active and industrious leaf-cutter ants are some of its most impressive neighbours.
它们高效的落叶工作有时甚至帮助了鸟蛇 Their efficient defoliation work sometimes even helps the bird snake.
通过剥去树上的叶子，它们暴露了原本精心隐藏的巢穴 By stripping the foliage from trees, they reveal otherwise carefully hidden nests.
切叶蚁非常认真地对待它们的工作 The leaf-cutters take their job very seriously.
成群的工蚁不停地修剪每一片树叶和每一根树枝 Squadrons of workers trim every leaf and every branch nonstop.
一棵大树不到24小时就能被切光 A large tree can be denuded in less than 24 hours.
一块块一小块的，它们每天把成吨的植物物质搬到自己的巢穴 Piece by tiny piece, every day they carry tons of vegetable matter to their nest.
这些新鲜茂盛的叶子是切叶虫生长赖以为生的真菌所需要的基质 These fresh and lush leaves are the substrate that the leaf-cutters need to grow the fungus they feed on.
到处都有切叶蚁工作的证据 There is evidence of the leaf-cutters' work everywhere.
蒙特祖玛拟椋鸟在一棵巨大的树上建立它们的聚居地并没有什么不便 Montezuma oropendolas are not inconvenienced in establishing their colonies in a gigantic tree
成群的昆虫留下了很少的叶子 that has been left with very few leaves by hordes of insects.
事实上，恰恰相反 In fact, it's just the reverse.
对拟椋鸟来说，没有树叶也有它的好处 For the oropendolas, the absence of foliage has its advantages.
首先，雄性喜欢从高处的瞭望台观察周围的敌人， Firstly, males like to survey the surroundings for enemies from high lookout posts,
而且植被的缺乏，消除了盲区 and the lack of vegetation eliminates blind spots.
更重要的是，雄性的求偶表现更加明显和有效，没有任何东西遮挡在仰慕的雌性面前 What's more, the males show he courtship displays are more visible and effective with nothing hidden from admiring onlooking females.
每隔一段时间，当雄性在树枝上做一个特别夸张的脚尖旋转时，可能会有摔倒的感觉 Every so often, whilst performing a particularly exaggerated pirouette on his branch, a male may seem to fall.
事实上，这个滑稽的翻跟头是它的战斗口号，用来巩固对领地的占有，吸引配偶 In fact, this comic somersault is his battle cry, serving to cement possession of his territory and attract a mate.
它甚至还给她送礼物 He even gives her gifts.
雄性继续着它们炫技的舞蹈伴随着雷声和叫声，形成了一种奇怪的杂音 The males continue their showy dance to a backtrack of thunder mixed with their calls, resulting in a strange cacophony.
似乎又一场风暴正在逼近 It seems that another storm is closing in.
雨林中丰富的水使河道变宽，产生了被洪水淹没的栖息地， The abundance of water in the rainforests swells the water courses and produces flooded habitats,
白尾鹿喜欢去的地方 which whitetail deer like to visit.
在这里，食物充足而新鲜，但丛林里的水很危险 Here, food is plentiful and fresh, but the water in the jungle is dangerous.
也许这就是为什么鹿群走路时似乎踮着脚尖，极其小心翼翼 Maybe that's why the deer seem to walk on tiptoe, with extreme caution.
它们有充分的理由如此谨慎 They have good reason to move so cautiously.
在美洲，一些最凶猛、最致命的食肉动物生活在雨林的河流和湿地中 Some of the fiercest and deadliest predators in America live in the rivers and wetlands of the rainforest.
当鹿把蹄子浸入浅水时， As the deer dip their hooves in the shallow water,
附近相对干燥的土地在蠕动，就像突发疾病一样 the relatively dry land nearby convulses, as if in a paroxysm.
从一小片土地之下， From beneath a small span of earth,
微小而凶残的生物即将出现，第一次看到光明 tiny and ferocious beings are about to emerge and see the light for the first time.
这些小鳄鱼刚刚孵化， These baby crocodiles have just hatched,
在生命的最初几分钟里，它们是完全毫无防御能力的 and for the first few minutes of their lives are utterly defenceless.
它们毫不浪费时间地爬到水里，在那里它们可以隐藏在植被中 They waste no time in getting to the water, where they can hide among the vegetation.
刚出生的前几年，小鳄鱼只对昆虫、两栖动物和小鱼构成威胁 For a few years, small crocodiles only pose a threat to insects, amphibians, and small fish.
但随着时间的推移，它们会成长为整个大陆上最强大的食肉动物 But over time, they will grow to become the most powerful carnivores on the entire continent.
任何潜入这片水域的动物都可能进入它的菜单，从巨大的貘到时刻警惕的鹿 Any animal that dives into these waters may end up on its menu, from gigantic tapirs to ever vigilant deer.
一头口渴的鹿最终会为一时的粗心付出高昂的代价 A thirsty deer ends up paying dearly for a brief moment of recklessness.
但对于抓到它的动物来说，它太大了 But it's too large for the individual who caught it.
由于实在较大原因，鳄鱼的受害者成为鳄鱼社区的财产 A crocodile's victim becomes property of the community for practical reasons.
当一具尸体体积庞大时，猎手无法将其整具吞下，甚至无法咬下它能吞下的部分 When a corpse is bulky, the hunter is unable to swallow it whole or even bite off pieces that it can swallow.
只有在其它鳄鱼的一致帮助下，鹿才会被撕成小到可以吃的小块 Only with the concerted help of other crocodiles will the deer be torn up into pieces that are small enough to eat.
最后，每条鳄鱼都得到了自己的那份 In the end, everyone gets their share.
蜘蛛猴从高处小心翼翼地观察着鳄鱼的盛宴 The feast of the crocodiles is prudently observed by spider monkeys from the heights.
蜘蛛猴没什么好害怕的 Spider monkeys have little cause to be afraid.
它们极其敏捷，完全以草食为食， They're extremely agile and have an exclusively herbivorous diet,
这为它们提供了足够的液体，使它们不必去有鳄鱼的河里喝水 which supplies them with enough liquids for them not to have to go down to the crocodiles' river to drink.
这些是新大陆最大的猴子之一 These are among the largest monkeys in the New World.
它们的身体细长，四肢修长，肌肉发达 Their bodies are slender, and their limbs long and muscular.
这种流线型的身体是一种理想的进化设计， That streamlined body is an ideal evolutionary design,
让它们可以在雨林的最高枝干之间移动 allowing them to move between the highest branches of the rainforest.
它们的前爪没有大拇指，这有助于它们在高速摆动和从树枝上跳下时， Their front paws have no thumb, which helps when swinging at high speed and jumping off branches,
它们的手就像结实的钩子，而不是紧紧抓住 as rather than gripping, they use their hands like strong hooks.
蜘蛛猴生活在丛林中， Spider monkeys live throughout the jungle,
它们不停地在自己的领地周围移动，寻找林地提供的各种各样的食物 continually on the move around their territories in search of the very diverse food the woodland offers.
因为这种非季节性的迁徙， Because of this non-seasonal migration,
这些猴子在传播赖以为生的植物种子方面，发挥着重要作用 these monkeys have an important role to play as disperses of the seeds of the plant species they feed on.
因此，蜘蛛猴帮助维持了中美洲雨林中树木和其它植物的多样性 Thus, spider monkeys help maintain the diversity of the trees and other plants in the Central American rainforest.
但它们并不是唯一参与这一复杂生态循环的动物 But they are not the only animals to participate in this complex ecological cycle.
也许令人惊讶的是，雨水本身也站在了种子的一边 Perhaps surprisingly, the rain itself is also on the side of the seeds.
在大多数日子的某个时刻， At some point during most days,
并且以不同程度的强度，树叶、花朵和苔藓从上面浇水， and with varying degrees of intensity, leaves, flowers, and mosses are watered from above,
这显然有助于它们的发芽 and this obviously contributes to their germinating.
一场温和的风暴过后，一只缓慢而安静的动物登上了丛林的高处 After a mild storm, a slow and silent animal ascends the heights of the jungle.
它的眼睛似乎在暗示，这片永远潮湿的丛林是这个星球上最好的地方 Its eyes seem to suggest that this ever humid jungle is the best place on the planet.
一个树懒 A sloth.
它在雨林中生存的策略是它的缓慢和耐力 Its strategy for surviving in the rainforest is its slowness and powers of endurance.
与绝大多数丛林生物不同， Unlike the immense majority of jungle creatures,
树懒的行为通常倾向于快速，但它对生活有着不同的看法 whose behaviour generally tends to the quick, the sloth has a different take on life.
一种令人恼怒的吝啬 One of irritating parsimony.
就连雨水对它来说也没什么意义， Even the rain means little to it,
而且它浓密的皮毛保留了如此多的水分，以至于藻类在它的皮毛中生长， and its dense coat retains so much moisture that algae grow in its fur,
这就解释了 为什么树懒会让树叶看起来像在穿过自己 which explains why sloths make it appear that the foliage is making its way through itself.
树枝间缓缓移动的灌木 A slow-moving bush among the branches.
树懒身上毛茸茸的绿色杂草是持续的热带降雨的另一个后果 The shaggy green weeds that the sloth wear a yet another consequence of the persistent tropical rains.
雨水真的是这片丛林的生命之源 The rainwater really is the source of life in this jungle.
它允许种子生长 It allows seeds to grow.
它浇灌，甚至祝福它命名的森林的每一个角落 It waters, indeed blesses, every corner of the forest it gives its name to.
它为树懒的皮毛增添色彩，并使树蛙的卵保持湿润 It lends colour to the sloths' fur and keeps the tree frogs' eggs moist.
在这些神秘的美洲风景中， In these mythical American landscapes,
天空就像一幅巨大的幕布，在一场同样伟大的戏剧中不断地打开、关闭、再打开， the skies, like a great curtain, constantly open and close and open again on an equally great drama,
而在背景中，是暴风雨不断的、有节奏的打击乐 while in the background, the unceasing, rhythmical percussive music of the storms.
时间轴调整 校对 chenym