据说，它外形像菌类，行动起来却像动物，无脑却有智慧，能自愈，还有720种性别。
当地时间周三，法国巴黎动物园（Paris Zoological Park）向媒体展示了一种奇特的生物。
图 via CNN
这种生物外形呈鲜亮的黄色黏液状，被称为“粘液菌”（slime mold）或叫“多头粘液”（the many headed slime）。它看起来像菌类，却有着动物的行为能力。它没有腿或翅膀，却能以每小时4厘米的速度爬行。假如被一分为二，它能在两分钟内自愈。它不止有两种性别，而是有着多达720种性别（科学家们怎么知道的？）最神奇的是，它没有大脑，却会解决问题。
图 via Reuters
"It surprises us because it has no brain but is able to learn (...) and if you merge two blobs, the one that has learned will transmit its knowledge to the other," aid Bruno David, director of the Paris Museum of Natural History, of which the Zoological Park is part.
“这让我们很惊讶，因为它没有大脑，但却能学习……如果你把两个粘液菌团合并起来，那个已经学会的粘液菌团就会把它的‘知识’传递给另一个粘液菌团，”巴黎自然历史博物馆馆长布鲁诺·大卫说道。
Researchers say the organism, which has been loosely identified as some kind of slime mold, is capable of a learning.
研究人员说，这种曾被粗略地定义为某种粘液霉菌的生物具有学习能力。
In an experiment from 2016, researchers found that they could teach the mold to cross a bridge lined with salt - a substance the mold was initially repulsed by.
在2016年的一项实验中，研究人员发现他们可以教会粘液菌通过一座撒了盐（粘液菌最初排斥的物质）的桥。
Furthermore, they found that when they combined a slime mold with another mold that had not been taught to cross the bridge, the learning transferred into the new organism.
此外，他们还发现，当他们把一个粘液菌团与另一个没有学过过桥的粘液菌团结合起来时，那个已经学过的粘液菌会把它的所学传授给新的粘液菌。
▲Meet the Blob: Organism with no brain and almost 720 sexes that regenerates in TWO MINUTES after being cut in-half is showcased at Paris zoo (via Daily Mail)
图 via Reuters
科学家们相信，这种单细胞生物距今大约已经生存了10亿年。不过它首次引起公众注意还是在1973年。
It first came to public's attention in May 1973, after a Texas woman discovered a rapidly-expanding yellow blob growing in her backyard. With its otherworldly, extraterrestrial appearance, the blob became a brief media sensation, even picking up a mention in the New York Times.
它第一次引起公众的注意是在1973年5月，当时一名美国德克萨斯州的妇女在她的后院发现了一个正在迅速膨胀的黄色团块。凭借其超凡脱俗、天外来客的外形，这团粘液菌一度在媒体上引起轰动，甚至被《纽约时报》提及。
The Texas blob died as quickly as it had appeared.
德州那一团粘液菌出现得快，死得也快。
Scientists initially grew the blob in petri dishes, feeding it oatmeal, its favorite food, according to a video published by the Zoological Park. Once it had reached a certain size, it was grafted onto tree bark -- which it feeds on -- and placed in a terrarium, where visitors will be able to view it from October 19.
根据巴黎动物园发布的一段视频，科学家们最初在培养皿中培育了这团粘液菌，喂它最喜欢的食物——麦片。一旦长到一定的尺寸，它就被嫁接到了树皮上——树皮是它的食物来源——并被放置在一个玻璃容器内，从10月19日起，游客们就可以看到它了。
"Acacia trees, oak bark and chestnut bark are its favorite places," said the zoo's Marlene Itan.
“金合欢树、橡树皮和栗树皮是它最喜欢的地方，”巴黎动物园的玛琳·伊坦说道。
The blob is normally found on forest floors in Europe, she added. "It thrives in temperatures oscillating between 19 and 25 degrees Celsius (66 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit) and when humidity levels reach 80% to 100%," she said.
伊坦补充说，这种粘液菌通常出现在欧洲的森林地面上。“当温度在19到25摄氏度（66到77华氏度）之间波动，湿度达到80%到100%时，它就会茁壮成长，”伊坦说道。
Almost immortal, its only foes are light and drought, according to the zoo's press release. But it can hibernate during several years when threatened, it added.
根据动物园称，它几乎是不朽的，唯一的敌人是光照和干旱。但它可以在受到威胁时，冬眠好几年。
▲The 'blob': Paris zoo unveils unusual organism which can heal itself and has 720 sexes (via CNN)
图 via Getty Images
你觉得这种神奇的生物有趣吗？整合：Du Qiongfang
资料：CNN, Daily Mail
图/题图：Reuters, Getty Images, CNN
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