Chapter 818 Sahara Silver Ant

In Algeria.

"In spring, Tipasa is full of gods, who talk in the sunshine and the smell of wormwood, on the sea covered with silver armor, in the deep blue sky, on the ruins covered with flowers, and in the light boiling in the rocks."

"Camus's "The Wedding in Tipasa" depicts this ancient Roman city by the sea in a way that is full of fantasy."

Bifang rides on the back of a camel, and his body sways slightly to the left and right with the ups and downs.

From Burkina Faso to Mali and then to Algeria at this time, in less than a month, Bifang has crossed three countries.

"This country in northern Africa is very mysterious and has a natural isolation from the Internet. Apart from business and project visitors, there are only a few thousand tourists visiting each year."

"Unlike its neighboring internet celebrities Morocco and Egypt, Algeria keeps a low profile to the outside world. Even photography is not allowed in many areas, and even fewer outsiders have seen its true appearance."

"This is mainly due to cultural reasons. This is a very conservative country, especially in the south. Only men can be photographed with their consent."

"As for women, it is even more impossible, because women are regarded as private property in the local area. Only with the consent of their husbands or fathers can they be photographed."

"If you are caught taking pictures, the police will ask to check a Take a photo and spend an hour reviewing the castles, ancient temples and Ottoman palaces you photographed, as well as the Carthaginian trading post of the fourth century. "

"If there are residential groups in your photos, flying clothes are hung on the carved balconies between the roofs, the exterior walls are decorated with colored porcelain, the streets are vaguely gardened and fountains, and the low steps are piled with felt, tea sets, jewelry and other small things in front of the shop door. "

"The inspection will be very detailed, for fear that you will take pictures of married women without consent. "

"Perhaps only when you come to the uninhabited ancient Roman ruins in Tipasa, tourists can take pictures as much as they want. "

"Between the ruins, in front of the blue sea in the background, with the smell of dried sweat, this is the most common tourist photo in Algeria.

[Hiss, so serious?]

[Is it okay for Fang Shen to live broadcast like this? 】

【As long as no one is photographed, it's fine. Fang Shen has always been a place where no one is (dog head)】

"Indeed, Algeria spans the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean cultural circle, and is across the sea from France, and is closely connected to it. It is known as the sunset place in North Africa and the back garden of Europe, but I'm sorry, this time we probably won't be able to see its beautiful side."

Bifang said with a smile.

Algeria is actually more visible than it is on the Internet.

As the largest country in Africa, Algeria is also the tenth largest country in the world, ten times the size of China, and will be an important part of Bifang's journey.

"But although it is not close to cities and rural areas, we can also try to go to some junctions with dense vegetation, where the resources are more abundant, and maybe we can encounter some large animals."

Bifang used his legs to drive Alpha to speed up.

In the evening, the sand dunes had completely disappeared, and the ground under his feet returned to solidity. Although there was still gravel, it was very different from before.

Bifang got off Alpha's back and stood on a hillside looking into the distance. Under the setting sun, he was surprised to find that there were also animals looking at him in the distance.

It was a small animal, about the size of a forearm, with a pair of extremely large ears. It was quietly staring at Bifang, a strange visitor, from a hundred meters away, and seemed very curious.

The audience also noticed this mutual gaze and found it particularly interesting.

[What is that, a fox? ]

[So cute]

[It's staring at Fang Shen]

"It's a fennec fox."

Because it was facing the sun, the animal had almost only a black outline, but Bifang could recognize what animal it was just by looking at the outline.

"The fennec fox is the national animal of Algeria. Excluding the tail, its body length is only 30 to 40 centimeters, about the same size as a dog. It is one of the smallest canines in the world, but its ears are very long, with an average ear length of 15 centimeters, which may be its most easily recognizable feature."

"The climate of hot daytime and cold night is not uncommon in the North African desert, and the small fennec fox is very adapted to the harsh environment of the North African desert."

"Their paws are covered with soft and long fine hair to keep warm, which also makes it convenient to walk on the loose sand. The two open big ears are like radiators that constantly dissipate heat and help detect prey."

"In a water-scarce environment, it can survive for a long time by looking for edible plants near its habitat. Water-saving measures include staying in caves on hot days and going out only at night."

"Now the sun is about to set, and it will be its active time soon. Maybe it has never seen people like this, so it is very curious about me. Hey, look, it is still approaching."

Bifang stared at the fennec fox, reached out and touched the ground, and touched a stone, no, it should be said that it is a piece of soil, which began to break with a slight pinch.

After shaping the soil into a suitable shape, Bifang quietly waits for the other party to arrive.

[Others see cute animals, touch them, and hold food in their hands. When Laofang sees cute animals, he hits them, holding stones in his hands (covering his face)]

[Fangshen characteristics]

[Is this thing also a protected animal? ]

"Yes, and no." Bifang replied.

"Normally speaking, fennec foxes are only controlled, and their population is considered non-threatening in the world's protected species list. They can even be kept as pets, but we are in Algeria now."

There is no need for Bi Fang to explain the next words clearly, the audience will understand.

Bi Fang also said just now that the fennec fox is the national animal of Algeria and is naturally protected within the territory.

However, the situation seemed to be different from what Bi Fang imagined. When the distance was about fifty meters away, he heard the fennec fox's scream, which was quite rapid and had a hint of fierceness and inwardness.

Bi Fang rubbed his chin, a little unsure.

"Through frequent vocal changes to communicate, adult foxes and young foxes will make various sounds such as squeaking, whining, or screaming. The low-pitched roars are usually short and loud, repeated many times, and are used to convey information among similar species."

While talking, several fennec foxes also appeared in other directions, rushing towards the original one, and then roared at Bifang together, as if they were about to launch an attack next.

Bi Fang still didn't understand at this time. He dropped the clod of soil, touched the back of his head and laughed.

"It seems that I am being sentimental. I have intruded into their territory, so I came out to drive them away. It seems that their cave is near me."

Bi Fang looked down and saw a rather hidden cave more than ten meters away from him.

Through the cave, you can also see faintly alive things moving inside.

"The fennec fox is a highly social species. Parents and offspring form family groups of no more than 10 animals. Each family unit demarcates its own territory through urine and feces."

"The most important thing is that they have a strong sense of protecting their territory and their young. When their young are in danger, they will not be afraid of any incoming enemies."

"Forget it, let's go."

[It’s over, Fang Shen is hated]

[Hahahaha, I’m laughing so hard, Fang Shen will also be disliked one day]

[This is the first time, worth celebrating]

Bi Fang had no interest in staying to entertain the fennec fox, so he rode on Alpha and continued on the road. By this time, the sun had completely set, and it was time to find a suitable shelter to rest.

Almost every night, Bi Fang built a sand pit.

Just sleeping for one night, there is no need to build a shelter as perfect as the better the shelter, the more investment is required. For Bifang, building a shelter that is too good is not worth it.

There is nothing better than a sandpit, which is convenient and fast, and you can sleep softly. This time is no exception, but the digging tool does not seem to be as smooth as the previous month.

After throwing out the sand, Bifang suddenly felt a bit of pain in his fingers, and then there was a slight tingling sensation in the tiger's mouth. When he raised his hand, he could clearly see what had bitten him.

They were two ants made of pure silver, about less than a centimeter long. One was at the tip of his index finger, and the other was at the tiger's mouth. They were biting his flesh firmly.

Bi Fang quickly jumped out of the pit, picked off two ants, and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "It seems that we are really unlucky today, and we are driven away by animals every time we stop."

Under the moonlight, the ant's back shines with a dazzling silver light, truly like a mythical creature.

For a moment, everyone forgot about Bifang being bitten, and their attention was attracted by this little ant.

[Damn, silver ants! ! ! 】

【So handsome】

[What kind of ant is this? It’s too big, right? 】

"This is a Saharan silver ant."

Bi Fang looked at the deep pit underneath with regret.

Every time he looks for shelter, he will pay attention to whether there are poisonous insects, snakes and ants, but unfortunately this time there are some exceptions.

The reason is naturally that the slope where the fennec fox built its nest was originally chosen by Bi Fang, but was driven away. When he found a suitable place again, the sun had already set, and he could not see clearly whether there was any The creature is here.

"It's so beautiful. It's the most beautiful ant I've ever seen."

Although he was bitten, Bi Fang was not angry at all. Instead, he put the ant in the palm of his hand and observed it carefully with the help of moonlight.

This is real pure silver, shining brightly under the moonlight. It is hard to imagine how brilliant it will be under the sunlight.

【This ant is really beautiful】

[I have never seen such a beautiful creature]

[Extremely noble]

"The year-round scorching sun and less than 80 millimeters of precipitation throughout the year make the Sahara Desert a forbidden area for life. If it weren't for the sound of wind, or only the deathly silence could describe the desolation here."

"But miracles always appear in unexpected ways. Even in the face of such a bad situation, there is still life blooming with unyielding attitude and extreme stubbornness."

"If camels are the representatives of the Mammalia class, then the Saharan silver ants are the pride of the Insecta class."

"One of the most lethal factors affecting survival in the Sahara Desert is undoubtedly high temperature. The unobstructed reality makes the temperature in the Sahara easily rise to a level during the day that is enough to make life on the ground disappear."

"After all, 50℃ is far beyond the scope of 'suitable'."

"However, in the eyes of Saharan silver ants, this is an excellent opportunity to go out. In their survival philosophy, the most dangerous times are often the safest. The concept of 'thinking that others dare not think and doing that others dare not do' has served them well." Won a chance of survival.”

"And it's not just 50 degrees, it's miraculous that these little guys can even move around in the desert in 70-degree temperatures."

Surface temperature and air temperature are two completely different concepts.

Fifty degrees is not uncommon in the Sahara, but it is impossible to reach seventy degrees.

The only place that can reach seventy degrees is the surface.

There are heat-resistant bacteria in nature that can withstand a high temperature of 100 degrees, but they are simple microorganisms, not animals.

Animals will only become a piece of cooked meat in an environment of 100 degrees.

But for ants living on the ground, the surface temperature is their survival temperature.

"Silver ants are covered with orderly arranged fine hairs. These fine hairs are not cylindrical like hair, but more like prisms."

"In this way, each surface can effectively reflect visible light and near-infrared light from different incident angles."

"In addition, these fine hairs can also radiate mid-infrared light to dissipate heat and continue to cool down."

"In addition to reflecting light and dissipating heat, they are also very fast. Up to 0.7 meters per second, if converted to human size, it can reach an ultra-high speed of 450 kilometers per hour."

"Such a high speed can help them fight quickly and reduce the risk of being sunburned."

[Diao]

[Strange knowledge has increased]

[I saw the miracle of nature again]

[I watched the penguins of Madagascar two days ago, and there was a sentence in it that touched me particularly]

[Detailed]

[There is a 95% chance that we are finished.

What about the other 5%?

It is the unknown adventure and endless glory that other penguins do not have.

Then I will choose this path. ]

[Cool! ]

[Fang Shen is the 5% penguin! ]

[Although I don't have much money, I really learned a lot from following Lao Fang. Otherwise, I might not have seen silver ants in my life.]

[I really want to raise a nest]

"The eyes of deep-sea fish can help them hunt in the dark deep sea, bees can sense ultraviolet light, many beetles and butterflies can use changes in the microscopic structure of their wings to change color, and fireflies can use the bioluminescence they produce to communicate..."

"There are always some creatures whose abilities are unexpected and surprising, making you have to admire the tenacity and strength of life."

Although there was nothing to gain today, Bifang was still happy to meet two creatures that he had never dealt with before at close range.

Bifang carefully put the ant in his hand back on the ground and watched it flee quickly in a certain direction.

Following its route, Bifang saw more Saharan silver ants, which were like mercury exposed to the air, converging in a certain direction.

"It seems we have to change places again."