Stonefish may not be the most impressive-looking animal in the sea. In fact, this fish is so skilled at camouflage that most people wouldn’t notice it if they swam past it. Despite their unremarkable appearance, stonefish are the most venomous fish in the ocean.
Stonefish come in various shades of brown, red, yellow, and orange. Their rough skin texture and blotchy color pattern give them a remarkable resemblance to stones, which is where their name comes from. This feature helps them blend in with their surroundings exceptionally well. Stonefish are notable for their 13 highly venomous spines which protrude from the dorsal fin on their backs, along with two pelvic and three anal spines hidden under their skin. If a person accidentally steps on a stonefish, the pressure applied to its spine activates the release of its venom, which can cause intense pain, breathing difficulties, and even death if not treated immediately.
石頭魚可能不是海中最引人注目的動物。事實上，這種魚很擅於偽裝，以至於大多數人游過牠時根本不會注意到。儘管石頭魚外觀平淡無奇，但牠其實是海洋中最毒的魚類。
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片：AdobeStock
石頭魚有棕色、紅色、黃色和橙色等幾種不同色調。牠們粗糙的皮膚質地和斑紋與石頭極度相似，這就是其名稱的由來。這個特徵有助於牠們格外順利地融入周圍環境。石頭魚最值得注意的是牠們背鰭上突出的十三根含劇毒的刺，還有隱藏在其皮膚下的兩根腹鰭刺和三根臀鰭刺。如果有人不小心踩到石頭魚，施加於刺上的壓力便會引起毒液釋放，可能會造成劇痛、呼吸困難，若未立即治療，甚至會致死。
Word in Use
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片：AdobeStock
1. camouflage n. 偽裝，掩飾
The chameleon’s camouflage made it nearly invisible. 變色龍的偽裝讓牠幾乎完全隱形。
2. texture n. 質地，觸感
This scarf is made of 100 percent cashmere and has a very smooth texture. 這條圍巾是百分之百喀什米爾毛料製成，觸感非常柔軟。
＊cashmere n. 喀什米爾羊毛絨（一種高級針織毛料）
3. resemblance n. 相似（程度）
There is a clear resemblance between the twins. 這對雙胞胎之間有明顯的相似之處。
Practical Phrases
1. be skilled at... 擅長∕精通……
= be skillful at...
The receptionist is highly skilled at dealing with difficult customers. 那位接待員對於應付難搞的顧客很有一套。
2. come in... 有……（顏色、形狀、尺寸等）
Our T-shirts come in a variety of colors and designs. 我們的T 恤有多種不同的顏色與設計。
3. blend in with... 融入……
The chameleon can change its color to blend in with its surroundings. 變色龍能夠改變其顏色來融入環境。
＊chameleon n. 變色龍
To be continued tomorrow（明日待續）
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本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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