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T. rex Debate: One or Three?

时间:2022-08-25 02:31:15

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(单词翻译)

Tyrannosaurus Rex, or T. rex, has long been one of the most famous dinosaurs2. Now, researchers are debating whether the giant meat-eating tyrannosaurus should be considered as one species or three different species.

Since 1905, T. rex has been recognized as the single species of the genus Tyrannosaurus. A genus is a larger grouping of related organisms than a species.

But three researchers, led by independent paleontologist Gregory Paul of Baltimore, Maryland, argued in March 2022 that three T. rex species should be recognized.

In addition to the species T. rex, meaning "tyrant3 lizard4 king," they proposed two additional species: T. imperator, meaning "tyrant lizard emperor," and T. regina, meaning "tyrant lizard queen."

The researchers said their study was based on differences in the thickness of the thighbones and the shape of the lower front teeth. They based their claims on over thirty Tyrannosaurus specimens6.

Other paleontologists disagreed

In July, another group of paleontologists argued that the March study did not offer enough evidence to show that there were three Tyrannosaurus species. They suggested the previous study did not use correct mathematical methods or measurements.

University of Edinburgh paleontologist Steve Brusatte was a co-leader of the new study published in Evolutionary7 Biology in July.

"The evidence needs to be convincing, and to suddenly divide such an ... animal like T. rex, which has been known for over a hundred years, into different species requires a high burden of proof. It is true that there is variation in the size and shape of T. rex bones, but in our new study we show that this variation is minimal," Brusatte said.

Tyrannosaurus was part of a group called theropods that included all the meat-eating dinosaurs. It had a large head and powerful bite strength. It walked on two strong legs and had small arms with just two fingers.

The new study looked at differences in thighbone thickness in four other meat-eating dinosaurs and 112 species of living birds. They found that the Tyrannosaurus differences were normal or usual.

"It is normal for any species to be variable in size and shape. Just look at the range of height and waistlines and toothy grins in people today, all of whom are members of a single species...," Brusatte said.

Agree to disagree

Gregory Paul, however, criticized the new study as "not a proper scientific study." Proper is a term that means correct.

He added that there is something about T. rex that causes people to become concerned or worried to a degree not seen with other ancient organisms.

"Had our paper been about the species of, say, the also gigantic Argentinian theropod Giganotosaurus there very likely would not have been so much fuss and bother," Paul added.

"We are open-minded that there may be multiple species of Tyrannosaurus," Brusatte noted8. "We just need more and better fossils. The number of fossils in their dataset is so small that it's hard to find any consistent way to divide Tyrannosaurus into multiple species based on clear, easy-to-define, consistent differences."

Tyrannosaurus lived in western North America during the Cretaceous Period – a time near the end of the dinosaur1 age. Perhaps the largest-known Tyrannosaurus is one named Sue at the Field Museum in Chicago. Sue's skeleton is 12.3 meters long.

Words in This Story

species – n. biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus

paleontologist – n. the science that deals with the fossils of animals and plants that lived very long ago especially in the time of dinosaurs

specimen5 -- n. something (such as an animal or plant) collected as an example of a particular kind of thing

burden – n. someone or something that is very difficult to accept, do, or deal with

variation – n. something that is similar to something else but different in some way

fuss – n. activity or excitement that is unusual and that often is not wanted or necessary

bother – n. trouble or difficulty

fossil – n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 dinosaur xuSxp     
n.恐龙
参考例句:
  • Are you trying to tell me that David was attacked by a dinosaur?你是想要告诉我大卫被一支恐龙所攻击?
  • He stared at the faithful miniature of the dinosaur.他凝视著精确的恐龙缩小模型。
2 dinosaurs 87f9c39b9e3f358174d58a584c2727b4     
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》
3 tyrant vK9z9     
n.暴君,专制的君主,残暴的人
参考例句:
  • The country was ruled by a despotic tyrant.该国处在一个专制暴君的统治之下。
  • The tyrant was deaf to the entreaties of the slaves.暴君听不到奴隶们的哀鸣。
4 lizard P0Ex0     
n.蜥蜴,壁虎
参考例句:
  • A chameleon is a kind of lizard.变色龙是一种蜥蜴。
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect.蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。
5 specimen Xvtwm     
n.样本,标本
参考例句:
  • You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。
  • This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。
6 specimens 91fc365099a256001af897127174fcce     
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》
7 evolutionary Ctqz7m     
adj.进化的;演化的,演变的;[生]进化论的
参考例句:
  • Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
  • These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。
8 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

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