VOA慢速英语2020 研究表明恐龙可能由极小生物进化而来（在线收听）

A new study adds to growing evidence that dinosaurs may have developed from very small animals.

一项新研究为恐龙可能是由极小的动物进化而来增添了新证据。 

Scientists have studied the fossil of a small animal, called Kongonaphon kely,which is believed to be an ancestor of the dinosaurs.The name given the reptile means "tiny bug slayer," or very small killer of insects.

科学家们研究了一种叫做Kongonaphon kely的小动物化石，这种动物被认为是恐龙的祖先。这种爬行动物的名字意为“小虫子杀手”，或者极小的昆虫杀手。

The four-legged animal is believed to have been just 10 centimeters tall and about 40 centimeters long.Researchers say it lived about 237 million years ago in what is now Madagascar.

据信这种四条腿的动物仅高约10厘米，长约40厘米。研究人员称，大约2.37亿年前，它生活在现在的马达加斯加。

Scientists described examinations of the fossil in a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

科学家们在最近发表于《美国国家科学院院刊》上的一项研究中描述了对该化石的检测。 

The researchers believe the animal came before dinosaurs, which developed in the Mesozoic Era.It ended about 66 million years ago.The study notes that much remains unknown about the history of dinosaurs and their winged relatives, pterosaurs.

研究人员认为，这种动物出现在中生代恐龙之前。它灭绝于6600万年前。该项研究指出，关于恐龙及其亲缘物种翼龙的历史还有很多未知之处。

Scientist Christian Kammerer of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, led the study.Kammerer told Reuters news agency that based on the body size suggested by the fossil,"we argue that dinosaurs and pterosaurs evolved from a miniaturized ancestor."

北卡罗来纳自然科学博物馆的科学家克里斯蒂安·卡默勒领导了这项研究。卡默勒告诉路透社，根据该化石所表明的体型，“我们认为恐龙和翼龙是从一种小型祖先进化而来。”

John Flynn, of New Yorks American Museum of Natural History, was a co-writer of the study.He said earlier studies have also supported the argument."Evolution of gigantism from tiny ancestors is not uncommon in the fossil record," Flynn said.

纽约美国自然历史博物馆的约翰·弗林是这项研究的合著者。他说，早期的研究也支持这一论点。弗林说：“在化石记录中，巨型动物由较小体型的祖先进化而来并不罕见。”

The scientists said the Kongonaphons teeth showed signs of use in a way that suggested the small reptile ate insects.

科学家们称，该化石牙齿部分的磨损痕迹表明这种小型爬行动物以昆虫为食。 

The team examining the fossil also found evidence of "fuzzy skin coverings," including feathers.The researchers said the feathers may have developed in the small-bodied creature to help control body temperature.This would have been especially important in the extreme climate of the early part of the Mesozoic Era.The days were hot, the nights, cold.

该化石研究小组还发现证据证明这种生物有着包括羽毛在内的“绒毛”。研究人员说，这种小体型生物身上长出羽毛可能是为了帮助控制体温。这在中生代早期的极端气候条件下尤其重要。那时候白天很热，晚上很冷。

"Recent discoveries like Kongonaphon have given us a much better understanding of the early evolution of ornithodirans," Kammerer said.The ornithodiran group includes animals in the evolutionary lineage that led to dinosaurs and pterosaurs.He added that the research provides strong evidence that the creature "decreased sharply early in the history of the dinosaur-pterosaur lineage."

“像Kongonaphon这样的最近发现让我们更好地了解了鸟鼻龙的早期进化，”卡默勒说。鸟鼻龙群包括演化谱系中进化为恐龙和翼龙的生物。他补充说，这项研究提供了强有力的证据，证明这种生物“在恐龙翼龙谱系早期急剧减少”。

On the lighter side, Kammerer told The Associated Press he thinks the tiny creatures "would have been quite cute animals."He said an animal that looks like a dinosaur and can fit in your hand, "would probably make a great pet."

卡默勒对美联社说，从乐观的一面看，他认为这种生物“应该是相当可爱的动物。”他说，一种看起来像恐龙并能握在你手中的动物，“可能是很棒的宠物。”

Im Bryan Lynn.

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