【英语时差8,16】独角鲸（下）

 Researchers from Harvard’s School of Dental Medicine think the giant tooth might also act as a sensory¹ organ. With an electron microscope they discovered that the surface of a narwhal tusk² is covered with millions of tiny nerve endings. These nerves connect to the narwhal’s brain through a network of tiny tubes in the tooth. The scientists believe that the narwhal use the sensitive tusks³ to detect changes in temperature, salt content, and flow patterns in the environment around them. But since only males grow tusks, it’s likely that the tusks did not evolve primarily as a sensory organ. More research is needed to really understand why narwhals have tusks and how they use them.

1 sensory   

adj.知觉的，感觉的，知觉器官的

参考例句：

• Human powers of sensory discrimination are limited.人类感官分辨能力有限。
• The sensory system may undergo long-term adaptation in alien environments.感觉系统对陌生的环境可能经过长时期才能适应。

2 tusk   

n.獠牙，长牙，象牙

参考例句：

• The wild boar had its tusk sunk deeply into a tree and howled desperately.野猪的獠牙陷在了树里，绝望地嗥叫着。
• A huge tusk decorated the wall of his study.他书房的墙上装饰着一支巨大的象牙。

3 tusks   

n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头

参考例句：

• The elephants are poached for their tusks. 为获取象牙而偷猎大象。
• Elephant tusks, monkey tails and salt were used in some parts of Africa. 非洲的一些地区则使用象牙、猴尾和盐。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）