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Sharks are fascinating to many people,but to others sharks are primitive,vicious eating machines to be killed at every opportunity.Many people mistakenly believe that sharks are a significant threat to human life.The majority of the 370 species of sharks are harmless,are less than 2 m long,and many species are less than 1 m long.The largest species,the whale and basking sharks,are plankton feeders,and no threat to humans.

Sharks and their relatives,the rays and the ghost sharks,belong to the class Chondrichthyes,the cartilaginous fishes.They are distinguished from the bony fishes by having only cartilage in the skeleton.A more easily seen feature is five to seven open gill slits on the side of the head in sharks (in rays the gill slits are underneath and the pectoral fins joined to the head),while bony fishes have their gill slits covered by an operculum or flap.The ghost sharks also have a cartilaginous skeleton,but their gill slits are covered by an operculum,or flap.

One hundred and sixty five shark species,slightly less than half the world total,are found in Australian waters.Those families with the largest number of Australian species are the dogfish family Squalidae (40 species),the catshark family Scyliorhinidae (32 species) and the water family Carcharhinidae (30 species).Our sharks range in size from the 27 cm Pygmy shark to the 12+ m Whale shark,largest of all fishes.Sharks are found in most parts of the ocean,from the surface to depths of more than 2,000 m and from mid-ocean waters to the shallows off almost every coast in the world.In some areas,notably Central America and Africa and even tropical Australia,sharks swim many kilometers into fresh water.

The oldest known fossil sharks are from the late Silurian more than 400 million years ago.Sharks are older than dinosaurs and are still successful as one of the top groups of predators in the ocean.They are highly adapted and play a vital role in the marine environment,similar to that of birds of prey or big cats.As well as sight,smell,hearing,touch and taste,sharks have a number of sophisticated prey locating sensory systems that include vibration detection and bioelectric reception.This latter sense,only discovered in the last 30 years,enables sharks to detect small electric fields given off by animals buried in the sand.

Sharks eat a variety of foods.The largest of sharks,the Whale and Basking sharks,eat plankton,while the Port Jackson shark often feeds on sea urchins that are crushed by flat teeth and account for the purple stain found around the mouth.Many of the larger,fast-swimming sharks are true carnivores and an astonishing variety and amount of food have been found in some.For example,a 3.5 m whaler shark taken near Sydney was reported to contain eight legs of mutton,half a ham,the hind quarters of a dog,135 kg of horseflesh,a ship’s scraper and a piece of sacking.This was in the days when abattoirs dumped remains in the water,a practice unthinkable today.The numerous accounts of indigestible items taken from sharks’ stomachs are probably the result of the feeding frenzy which occurs when a group of sharks indiscriminately attack anything that comes their way.

There is conflicting evidence concerning the digestive rates in sharks.The gastric juices of sharks are highly acidic and cases have been reported where the head of an eaten shark had been digested almost beyond recognition while the tail was still protruding from the mouth of the attacker.On the other hand,a large tiger shark died after a month in a Zoo in Sydney and at the autopsy,two 3 m dolphins were found in an almost perfect state of preservation in the stomach; they must have been eaten at least a month previously.There is also the famous Shark Arm Murder of Sydney,where a captive shark was found to have had a human arm in its stomach for between eight and eighteen days,so well preserved that the victim was identified by a still recognizable tattoo on the forearm.There is still much to be learned about shark biology.

When sharks use humans for food,a serious conflict arises.Sharks are undoubtedly important in the ecology of the oceans,acting as scavengers as well as top carnivores.(Reaction to shark attack often is not based on facts,but on emotion.) Figures clearly indicate that sharks are an insignificant cause of the approximately 120,000 annual deaths in Australia.Considering the number of sharks and the number of bathers in the water,shark attack on humans is an exceptionally rare occurrence.

Sharks and their cartilaginous relatives,skates and rays,are facing an increasing threat from humans.For every person killed by a shark,over 23,000 tonnes (that is 23 million kg) of sharks and rays are killed through commercial and recreational fishing and shark control programs such as meshing of swimming beaches.We target sharks commercially,both for their meat and for their fins.Sharks are also killed as bycatch,when some other species is the target.Enormous numbers of blue sharks are caught by driftnets set for tuna.

Sharks have a low reproductive capacity and are not replacing their numbers as fast as humans are killing them.The Grey Nurse shark has been a protected species in New South Wales since 1984 and its numbers are still low.Falling shark numbers throughout the world have prompted the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to establish as part of their Species Survival Programs a Shark Specialist Group to address the problems.A program of public education is underway,and in recent years the media have changed their “feeding frenzy” reporting about sharks.The White Shark was declared a protected species in South Africa in 1993 and in California,with widespread public support,in 1994.Tasmania,New South Wales and Queensland recently have protected this species in their state waters.

More protection is needed.Marine ecology is complex and it is difficult to predict accurately the consequences of eradicating a top carnivore like the White Shark.

The conservation of large carnivorous animals that affect human populations,like tigers,crocodiles and sharks,is a contentious issue.Few informed people would urge that these species be slaughtered to extinction.Many of these species are endangered,and some like the tiger and crocodile,are protected.For sharks,what is required is enlightened public debate on the value of a species,the actual vs.perceived risk to humans,how best to minimize that risk and the methods and consequences of protecting threatened species.(1,111 words)

vicious　adj.恶的，不道德的

basking sharks　n.姥鲛，姥鲨

plankton　n.浮游生物

ghost shark　n.魔鬼鲨

Chondrichthyes　n.软骨鱼纲，脊椎动物亚门的一纲

cartilaginous　adj.（解剖）软骨的，软骨质的

bony fishes　n.硬骨鱼

slits　n.裂缝，狭长切口

pectoral　adj.胸的

operculum　n.（鱼）鳃盖

dogfish　n.角鲨鱼之一种

Squalidae　n.角鲨科

Scyliorhinidae　n.猫鲨科

Carcharhinidae　n.真鲨科

pygmy　adj.微小的，矮人的

predator　n.掠夺者，食肉动物

Port Jackson shark　n.杰克逊港鲨鱼

urchin　n.（动物）海胆

carnivore　n.食肉动物

horseflesh　n.马肉

sacking　n.制袋子用的粗麻布

abattoir　n.屠宰场

frenzy　n.狂暴，狂怒

indiscriminately　adv.不分清红皂白的，不加选择的

gastric　adj.胃的

autopsy　n.尸体解剖

captive　adj.被俘的

bather　n.入浴者，浴疗者

mesh　v.用网拦堵或用网捕捉

fin　n.鳍，鱼翅

bycatch　n.副渔获物

eradicate　v.根除

carnivorous　adj.食肉类的

contentious　adj.争论的，有异议的

slaughter　v.屠宰，残杀，屠杀

extinction　n.灭绝

International Union for the Conservation of Nature（IUCN）：国际自然保护联盟。全世界成立最早、规模最大的环境保护组织。目前包括1 000多个政府会员以及非政府组织会员，在160多个国家拥有总数超过11 000名的科学家志愿者。总部位于瑞士的格兰德。该组织的主要目的是为日益紧迫的环境及发展面临的挑战找到可行的解决方案。该组织支持科学研究，在世界各地实施一系列的项目，协调世界各地政府、非政府组织、联合国各机构、公司以及地方社团一起研究并施行自然保护方面的政策。

1.【原文】Many people mistakenly believe that sharks are a significant threat to human life.

【译文】很多人认为鲨鱼会对人类生命造成很大威胁。这种想法是错误的。

【解析】原句中，“mistakenly”作为状语修饰动词“believe”，翻译时，如直译为“很多人错误地以为……”，会使译文稍显拖沓。这里做分句处理，将其另外译为“……这种想法是错误的”，使译文更流畅，也更符合汉语行文的习惯。

2.【原文】The majority of the 370 species of sharks are harmless,are less than 2 m long,and many species are less than 1 m long.

【译文】现存的370种鲨鱼中，大多数都是无害的，它们的长度不到两米，很多种类甚至不到一米。

【解析】本句在翻译“The majority of the 370 species”时增加了“现存（的）”一词。此外，原文主语“The majority”后有两个谓语，考虑到汉语习惯，在翻译“…are less than 2 m long”时，增加了主语“它们（的）”。

3.【原文】A more easily seen feature is five to seven open gill slits on the side of the head in sharks (in rays the gill slits are underneath and the pectoral fins joined to the head),while bony fishes have their gill slits covered by an operculum or flap.

【译文】鲨鱼头部有另外一个更为明显的特征，其侧面有五到七个敞开的鱼鳃（鳐鱼类的鱼鳃在头的下方并且胸鳍会连接到头部），而硬骨鱼的鱼鳃则被鳃盖或薄片所遮盖。

【解析】本句在翻译时亦做了分句处理。原文主语“A more easily seen feature”如果直译，会使译文句式冗长，拆开来译，以分句形式译为“鲨鱼头部有另外一个更为明显的特征”，接着详述其特征。

4.【原文】Sharks are found in most parts of the ocean,from the surface to depths of more than 2,000m and from mid-ocean waters to the shallows off almost every coast in the world.

【译文】世界上大部分海域都有鲨鱼，不管是海洋表面还是深达2 000米的海底深处，不管是海洋中央还是海岸线附近的浅海，都可以找到鲨鱼的踪迹。

【解析】原句为被动句。如直译为“鲨鱼在世界大部分海域被找到”显然不符合汉语的习惯。故翻译时有必要将被动句改译为主动句：“世界上大部分海域都有鲨鱼”。此外，译文中增加了“不管……还是”，也使译文更流畅。

5.【原文】As well as sight,smell,hearing,touch and taste,sharks have a number of sophisticated prey locating sensory systems that include vibration detection and bio-electric reception.

【译文】除了视觉、嗅觉、听觉、触觉及味觉外，鲨鱼还有许多先进的猎食定位感官系统，包括震动探测和生物电接受系统。

【解析】原文定语从句“…that include vibration detection and bio-electric reception”，如直译为“包括震动探测和生物电接受系统在内的许多先进的猎食定位感官系统”，读起来会给读者带来压迫感。因此，在译文中独立译出“包括……”，这样处理译文比较利索。

6.【原文】This latter sense,only discovered in the last 30 years,enables sharks to detect small electric fields given off by animals buried in the sand.

【译文】这种感官系统是最近30年才被人类所发现的。有了这种系统，鲨鱼就可以探测到埋于沙中的动物所释放的微弱电磁场。

【解析】原文中插入式定语“only discovered in the last years”在译文中作为分句单独译出：“这种感官系统是在最近30年才被人类所发现的”。因此，原句后半部分也做了改变，译成了独立的句子，并增加“有了这种系统”。这种译法是符合汉语的表达习惯的。

7.【原文】Many of the larger,fast-swimming sharks are true carnivores and an astonishing variety and amount of food have been found in some.

【译文】很多大型鲨鱼游水速度很快，是真正的食肉动物。人们在它们身体内找到了各种食物，种类之多数量之大令人惊奇。

【解析】本句翻译涉及被动语态的处理及分句手法的使用。原文被动句式“an astonishing… have been found in some.”改译为主动句“人们在它们体内找到了各种食物”。此外，译文将“an astonishing variety and amount of…”单独译出，并增加了形容词“多、大”，使译文更符合情理。

8.【原文】The gastric juices of sharks are highly acidic and cases have been reported where the head of an eaten shark had been digested almost beyond recognition while the tail was still protruding from the mouth of the attacker.

【译文】鲨鱼的胃液酸性很高。据有关报道，一个被捕食的鲨鱼头部已经被消化得难以分辨，而其尾部居然还突出在捕食者的嘴外。

【解析】原文“cases have been reported…”在翻译时单独译出：“据有关报道……”。本技巧在“被动语态的翻译”中有专门论述。

9.【原文】Sharks are undoubtedly important in the ecology of the oceans,acting as scavengers as well as top carnivores.

【译文】毫无疑问，鲨鱼在海洋生态中的作用是很重要的，它们既是清道夫，又是高级食肉动物。

【解析】本句在翻译时做了分句处理，“undoubtedly”在译文中被提到了句首；原文伴随状语从句“acting as scavengers as well as top carnivores”，在译文后半部分作为独立分句译出：“他们既是清道夫，又是高级食肉动物”。

很多人对鲨鱼非常着迷，但也有些人认为鲨鱼是原始凶恶的吃人机器，一旦机会出现，就要把它们杀掉。很多人认为鲨鱼会对人类生命造成很大威胁。这种想法是错误的。现存的370种鲨鱼中，大多数都是无害的，它们的长度不到两米，很多种类甚至不到一米。鲸和姥鲨是鲨鱼中最大的两种，它们以浮游生物为食，不会威胁到人类。

鲨鱼与其近亲鳐鱼以及魔鬼鲨同属于软骨鱼纲。它们同硬骨鱼的区别在于其骨架是软骨。鲨鱼头部有另外一个更为明显的特征，其侧面有五到七个敞开的鱼鳃（鳐鱼类的鱼鳃在头的下方并且胸鳍会连接到头部），而硬骨鱼的鱼鳃则被鳃盖或薄片所遮盖。魔鬼鲨也有一副软骨骨架，但是它们的鳃裂被鳃盖所覆盖。

澳大利亚水域有165种鲨鱼，稍少于世界鲨鱼种类的一半。数量最多的是角鲨鱼类角鲨科（40余种），猫鲨类猫鲨科（32余种）以及水族真鲨科（30余种）；最小的有身长27厘米的俾格米鲨，最大的有身长超过12米的鲸鱼，属于全世界最大的鱼类。世界上大部分海域都有鲨鱼，不管是海洋表面还是深达2 000米的海底深处，不管是海洋中央还是海岸线附近的浅海，都可以找到鲨鱼的踪迹。在有些地区，尤其是中美洲以及非洲，甚至位于热带的澳洲，鲨鱼还会长距离游到淡水区域。

人类发现的最古老的鲨鱼化石来自4亿多年前的志留纪。鲨鱼比恐龙还要古老，而且现在仍然是活跃在海洋中的食肉动物。它们的适应能力非常强，在海洋环境中起着至关重要的作用，类似于食肉鸟或大型猫科动物。除了视觉、嗅觉、听觉、触觉及味觉外，鲨鱼还有许多先进的猎食定位感官系统，包括震动探测和生物电接受系统。这种感官系统是最近30年才被人类所发现的。有了这种系统，鲨鱼就可以探测到埋于沙中的动物所释放的微弱电磁场。

鲨鱼的食物多种多样。最大的鲨鱼——鲸鱼和姥鲨，以浮游动物为食，澳大利亚虎鲨常以海胆为食。它们用平整的牙齿把海胆咬碎，所以在其嘴部常会发现紫色的印记。很多大型鲨鱼游水速度很快，是真正的食肉动物。人们在它们身体内找到了各种食物，种类之多数量之大令人惊奇。比如，有报道称，在澳大利亚悉尼附近海域抓到的一只3.5米长的鲸鲨，其胃中有八条羊腿，半条猪腿，一只狗的后半身，135公斤的马肉，一个船上用的刮刀以及一块粗麻布。因为当时屠宰场通常把动物内脏倾倒入海中（现在这种行为已经不可想象了）。鲨鱼胃中发现的这众多未经消化的东西可能是疯狂猎食的结果，而这种情况发生在鲨鱼群不加分辨地攻击任何撞到的东西的时候。

关于鲨鱼的消化速度有相互矛盾的一些证据。鲨鱼的胃液酸性很高。据有关报道，一个被捕食的鲨鱼头部已经被消化得难以分辨，而其尾部居然还突出在捕食者的嘴外。而一只大型虎鲨在悉尼一家动物园待了一个月后死掉了。尸检时人们在其胃中发现了两只3米长的海豚，保存完好，肯定是至少一个月前被吃掉的。还有著名的悉尼鲨鱼手臂谋杀案。人们在捕获的鲨鱼胃中发现了一只人的手臂，这只手臂在鲨鱼胃中已经存在了8至18天，但保存完好，前臂上的刺青仍清晰可辨，受害人据此被找到。所以关于鲨鱼还有很多需要我们去研究。

如果鲨鱼以人类为食，人鲨之间就会有很严重的冲突了。毫无疑问，鲨鱼在海洋生态中的作用是很重要的，它们既是清道夫，又是高级食肉动物。（人们对于鲨鱼攻击性的反感更多是感情方面的，和事实关系不大。）数据显示，澳大利亚每年12万死亡人数中，受鲨鱼攻击而死只是非常微不足道的一个原因。从鲨鱼以及游泳者的数量来看，鲨鱼对人类的攻击极少发生。

鲨鱼及其软骨科的近亲鳐鱼和魟鱼正面临着来自人类的越来越多的威胁。鲨鱼每杀死一个人，人类为了商贸娱乐原因以及在游泳海岸拦网等控制鲨鱼的方式杀死的鲨鱼和魟鱼就会超过23 000公吨（2千3百万公斤）。人们为了商业目的猎杀鲨鱼，既为得到鲨鱼肉也为得到鱼翅。人们还有可能为了捕捉其他鱼类而误杀鲨鱼。大量的蓝鲨死于为捕获金枪鱼而设下的漂网。

鲨鱼的繁殖率很低，其生育速度赶不上人类对它们的屠杀速度。尽管从1984年起澳大利亚新南威尔士州已经把沙虎鲨列为保护动物，其数量仍然很少。全世界鲨鱼数量不断降低促使国际自然保护联盟建立了专门的鲨鱼专家小组，分属于其物种生存计划。此外公众教育计划也在进行中。近年来，媒体一改其以往针对鲨鱼的“残忍吞食”的报道。1993年南非宣布把白鲨列为保护物种；1994年加利福尼亚州紧随其后，这一举动得到了公众广泛的支持。澳大利亚的塔斯马尼亚岛、新南威尔士州以及昆士兰州也分别于近期将大白鲨列为其管辖海域内的保护物种。

然而这些还远远不够。海洋生态很复杂，而且很难准确预测高级食肉动物，如白鲨，灭绝后会产生的后果。

对影响人类的大型食肉动物，如老虎、鳄鱼和鲨鱼的保护是一个有争议的话题。见多识广的人很少建议屠杀这些物种使其灭绝。这些物种中很多已濒临灭绝，也有一些被列为保护动物，比如老虎和鳄鱼。对鲨鱼而言，现在人们需要做的是明确讨论其价值，判断它对人类到底会造成多少危险，如何将危险降至最低，以及保护濒危鲨鱼种类的方式和后果。