Sarada lizard's fight for love

Seven Worlds, One Planet｜Asia



Conditions are almost as harsh on the dry plains of northern India.



A male Sarada lizard does his best to get himself noticed. It's breeding time. The wide-open spaces are a good place to be seen. He's only seven centimetres tall, but a rock will help to make him conspicuous. And he's already been noticed by one female.



It's time for him to show off. The more healthy and virile he is, the brighter his colours are. And females like bright, flashy  colours. But he, it seems, is not as conspicuous as he might be.



In the neighbouring territory, there's another male who's found an even bigger rock. So the newcomer is not making quite such a good impression. The one on the big rock is attracting all the females. The newcomer will need a higher platform if he's to be seen by a female - and he'd better do something about it.



He only lives for a year. This is his one chance. He will have to fight if necessary. His rival isn't backing down. Sarada males can fight to the death.



The newcomer has won. Now, he can claim the high platform and the best territory. And the females will choose him for a partner as long as he can fight off the other claimants.



词汇表

harsh [hɑː(r)ʃ] 严酷的，恶劣的

plain [pleɪn] 平原，草原

Sarada lizard [səˈrɑːdə ˈlɪzəd] 华丽扇喉蜥（学名Sarada superba，主要分布于印度北部的干旱地区，繁殖季时，雄性会通过展示艳丽的喉扇、两腿奔跑、占据高地等行为吸引雌性）

breeding time [ˈbriːdɪŋ] 繁殖季

wide-open space 开阔的地带

conspicuous [kənˈspɪkjuəs] 显眼的，引人注目的

show off 展示，使突出；炫耀，卖弄

virile [ˈvɪraɪl] 有男子气概的，强壮的

flashy [ˈflæʃi] 艳丽的，耀眼的，显眼的

neighbouring territory [ˈneɪbərɪŋ ˈterətri] 相邻的领地

newcomer [ˈnjuːkʌmə(r)] 新来者，新手

rival [ˈraɪvl] 对手，竞争者

back down 退缩，放弃，让步

fight to the death 决一死战，斗争到底

claim [kleɪm] 占据，夺得

fight off 击退，抵抗

claimant [ˈkleɪmənt] 竞争者，争夺者



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