A fish that lives in America can live out of water for months at a time, similar to how animals got used to land millions of years ago, a new study shows.
The Mangrove Rivulets, a kind of little fish, lives in small pools of water. When their living place dries up, they live on the land, said Scott Taylor, a researcher in Florida.
The fish can grow as large as three inches. They group together and breathe air through their skin before they can find water again.
The new scientific discovery came during a trip.
“We were travelling for fun. and one day I kicked over a log (圓木) and the fish came out.” Taylor told reporters by telephone. He said he would make his study on the fish known to the public in an American magazine early next year.
In lab tests, Taylor said he found the fish can live up to 66 days out of water without eating.
Some other fish can live out of water for a short period of time. The walking catfish found in Southeast Asia can stay on land for hours at a time, while lungfish (肺魚) found in Australia, Africa and South America can live out of water, but only in a not active (活波的) way. But no other known fish can be out of water as long as the Mangrove Rivulets and keep active, according to Patricia Wright, a biologist at a Canadian University.&科
More studies of the fish may tell how animals changed over time.
“These animals live in conditions similar to those millions of years ago, when animals began to move from water onto land.” Wright said.
小題1:. The Mangrove Rivulets is a type of fish that_________.
| A．lives on land in Africa |
| B．can stay alive for months out of water |
| C．prefers living in dry places |
| D．is the longest living fish on earth |
小題2:. Who will write a report on Mangrove Rivulets?
| A．Scott Taylor. | B．Some reporters. | C．Patricia Wright. | D．Scientists from Europe. |
小題3:. According to the passage, lungfish can___________.
| A．breathe through its skin | B．be found in Asia |
| C．keep alive out of water | D．keep alive and walk on land |
小題4:. Which one of the sentences below is not true?
| A．The Mangrove Rivulets fish can live out of water as long as other animals if it has something to eat. |
| B．Millions of years ago, animals began to live onto land from water. |
| C．Lungfish found in Australia, Africa and South America can live out of water in a not active way. |
| D．The walking catfish found in Southeast Asia can stay on land for hours at a time. |
小題5:. What can we say about the discovery of Mangrove Rivulets?
| A．ft was made by Scott Taylor, a researcher in New York. |
| B．It was helped by an American magazine. |
| C．It was helped by Patricia Wright. |
| D．It was made by a researcher while travelling. |
