侏罗纪搏击俱乐部 第155期:天生适合追逐猎物

 　　The next key feature was a pair of short, but powerful arms.

　　下一个关键特征是它短而有力的前肢。

　　Although the arms of Albertosaurus were small compared to its overall body size, they were still packed in muscle.

　　尽管阿尔伯特龙的前肢与体型相比很小，它们也有发达的肌肉。

　　This meant that the arms were very strong, but their function is somewhat of a mystery.

　　这说明它的前肢非常强壮，不过其功能有点像个迷。

　　They may have been used to hold the prey¹ as their mouth and teeth did the dirty work or they may have been used during reproduction.

　　它们也许在巨口利齿来完成杀戮时被用来抓住猎物，或者在繁殖的过程中有用。

　　Two long muscular legs were built to chase down prey.

　　两条长而肌肉发达的腿天生适合追逐猎物。

　　Some biomechanical studies have estimated that Albertosaurus could have run at nearly 30 miles per hour - near the speed of a modern lion.

　　根据一些生物机械研究估计阿尔伯特龙能够跑到时速接近30英里，和现代狮子的速度相当。

　　Albertosaurus probably was quite fast.In fact, although they lived a little bit different times it could've potentially outrun T-Rex.

　　阿尔伯特龙很可能非常迅速。事实上，尽管生活的时期有点不同，它可能比霸王龙要快。

　　I mean, it had quite long tibiae and quite long metatarsals too in comparison to the length of the femur, so, you know, a pretty fast animal.

　　跟它的股骨长度相比它有着相当长的胫骨和跖骨，所以是很快的动物。

　　Albertosaurus also had a long, tapered² tail for easy maneuvering³.

　　阿尔伯特龙还有渐缩的长尾，用来轻松操控。

　　That tail works as a counter balance, so they can swing their tail one way or the other while running and that helps them turn.

　　尾巴能起到平衡作用，在它们跑动时把尾巴摆到一侧或另一侧来帮助它们转弯。

　　We even see that today in modern animals like big cats.

　　我们甚至能在现代动物比如大型猫科动物身上看到。

　　When big cats are running they swing their tail this way or that and that helps them turn much more quickly.

　　大型猫科动物奔跑时把尾巴甩到一边或另一边，这能让它们转弯的速度更快。

　　With these Tyrannosaur features, Albertosaurus was a master at adapting to different environments.

　　有了这些暴龙的特征，阿尔伯特龙成了适应不同环境的大师。

　　Most specimens⁴ of Albertosaurus we find are found only in one place in Alberta, which was a coastal⁵ plain.

　　我们发现的多数阿尔伯特龙标本都来自阿尔伯塔的一个地方，那里曾是海岸平原。

　　So we know that those dinosaurs⁶ lived in an environment very similar to what we see in the gulf⁷ states today or in northern Florida.

　　所以我们知道那些恐龙所生活的环境跟如今墨西哥湾的州或者弗罗里达北部都非常接近。

　　But we have other Albertosaurus specimens from Montana now that appear to be different species and they appear to have lived in environments that were much more inland.

　　不过我如今在蒙大拿也有另外的阿尔伯特龙标本，看起来像是另一物种，它们似乎生活的环境远要更加深入内陆。

　　Places that, at least seasonally⁸, were very dry.

　　这些地方，起码在某些季节，会非常干燥。

　　And so it may well be that although Albertosaurus lived in a wide variety of environments, in fact, it may have broken up into different species in those specific environments.

　　尽管阿尔伯特龙生活的环境各异，其实，它们可能在这些特定环境中分属不同种类。

　　But there's another clue to how this predator⁹ lived.

　　但是还有一条说明这种掠食者如何生活的线索。

　　At a site in Canada called Dry Island Bone Bed, the discovery of multiple Albertosaurus skeletons showed that this predator hunted in packs.

　　加拿大的一处地点叫做干岛骨床，这里发现了多具阿尔伯特龙骨架表明这种掠食者成群猎食。

1 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

2 tapered   

adj. 锥形的，尖削的，楔形的，渐缩的，斜的 动词taper的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The tail tapered to a rounded tip. 尾部越来越细，最后成了个圆尖。
• The organization tapered off in about half a year. 那个组织大约半年内就逐渐消失了。

3 maneuvering   

v.移动，用策略( maneuver的现在分词 )；操纵

参考例句：

• This Manstein did, with some brilliant maneuvering under the worse winter conditions. 曼施坦因在最恶劣的严冬条件下，出色地施展了灵活机动的战术，终于完成了任务。 来自辞典例句
• In short, large goals required farsighted policies, not tactical maneuvering. 一句话，大的目标需要有高瞻远瞩的政策，玩弄策略是不行的。 来自辞典例句

4 specimens   

n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人

参考例句：

• Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。
• The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

6 dinosaurs   

n.恐龙( dinosaur的名词复数 )；守旧落伍的人，过时落后的东西

参考例句：

• The brontosaurus was one of the largest of all dinosaurs. 雷龙是所有恐龙中最大的一种。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years. 恐龙绝种已有几百万年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

8 seasonally   

参考例句：

• The price of vegetables fluctuates seasonally. 蔬菜的价格随季节变动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They moved seasonally among various vegetation types to feed on plants that were flourishing. 它们还随着季节的变化而在各种类型植物之间迁移，以便吃那些茂盛的植物。 来自辞典例句

9 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。