Each melon is a valuable package of moisture and seeds. The plant also benefits from this plunder as its seeds may be carried for fifty kilometers in the elephant's stomach before being dropped in a pile of fertilizing dung.

But the Nara needs more than a passing trade with elephants to spread its seeds. Under the cover of darkness, the nutritious melons also pull in the locals, like Cape porcupines. Porcupines may wander up to fifteen kilometers a night in search of ripe melons. They rely on a sharp sense of smell.

Nara melons have a tough outer shell, but the porcupines' large incisors make short work of them. Like elephants, porcupines help the Nara to spread its seeds. By opening up fruits, they also create opportunities for other dune creatures.

Hairy-footed gerbils are hot on their heels. In the cool of the desert night, these little rodents burn up energy quickly, and so must gather food fast. Though plentiful, the Nara seeds take some plucking. The gerbils provision for leaner times ahead, but they must also keep alert.

Cave foxes patrol the Nara bushes, looking for gerbils. Surprisingly, the foxes are also partial to the thirst-quenching melons. But there is a great mystery here. This is the most extreme African environment; it may not rain for ten years at a stretch. So how does the Namib support so much life?

words:
1.dung:粪便

2.porcupine:豪猪

3.incisor:切齿

4.gerbil:沙鼠

5.provision: (v.)提供provision a boat for grains during a long voyage

6.lean:收成不好的:a lean year

7.partial to:喜欢