太平洋发现三种新鱼类

Three New Fish Species¹ Found in Pacific Ocean

Scientists say they have discovered three new species of fish in one of the deepest places on Earth.

All three species were found in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chile and Peru. They were deep in the Atacama Trench² -- 7,500 meters below the surface.

Researchers from Britain’s Newcastle University say the new species have been given temporary names based on their coloring. They are known as ‘the pink, the blue and the purple Atacama Snailfish.’

The three snailfish species are different from most other fish. Their unusual bodies are built to deal with the cold water and extreme pressure deep in the ocean.

All three are small and translucent³, meaning light can pass through their skin. They also have no scales on the skin for protection.

Thomas Linley is with Newscastle University. He said in a statement, “the hardest structures in their bodies are the bones in their inner ear which give them balance and their teeth. Without the extreme pressure and cold to support their bodies they are extremely fragile⁴ and melt rapidly when brought to the surface.”

A team of 40 scientists from 17 nations captured video of the fish in their natural environment.

Other scientists say the “blue” Atacama Snailfish appeared to be a rare “winged” snailfish. But it has long fin⁵ and big head similar to the Ethereal Snailfish off the coast of Mariana Islands.

The “pink” was closer in appearance to the Mariana Snailfish, a species found in the deepest part of Mariana Trench on the other side of the Pacific.

The third species is a small purple snailfish. It is similar to fish living at the depth of 3,500 meters. One of the purple snailfish, about 9 centimeters long, was brought to the surface for further study.

In addition to the discovery of the new species of snailfish, scientists also captured rare video of long-legged isopods, known as Munnopsids. The shellfish has a small body, about the size of a human hand. It can swim backwards⁶ and upside down using its extremely long legs.

The scientists say what they have found in the deep sea is an environment rich with many species in large numbers.

From the video shot by the Newcastle scientists, Linley said, “There is something about the snailfish that allows them to adapt to living very deep. Beyond the reach of other fish they are free of competitors and predators⁸.”

He added, “they seem to be quite active and look very well-fed.”

I'm Anna Matteo.

Words in This Story

species - n. a group of plants or animals that are similar and can produce young plants or animals

translucent - adj. not completely clear, like transparent⁹, but clear enough to allow light to pass through

scale - n. one of many small thin plates that cover the bodies of fish or snakes

teeth - n. plural¹⁰ of tooth, hard white objects inside the mouth that are used for biting and chewing

fragile - adj. easily broken or damaged

winged - adj. having wings

fin - n. a thin flat part that sticks out from the body of a fish and is used for moving through water

adapt - v. to change so that it functions better or is better suited for a purpose

predator⁷ - n. an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals

1 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

2 trench   

n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕

参考例句：

• The soldiers recaptured their trench.兵士夺回了战壕。
• The troops received orders to trench the outpost.部队接到命令在前哨周围筑壕加强防卫。

3 translucent   

adj.半透明的；透明的

参考例句：

• The building is roofed entirely with translucent corrugated plastic.这座建筑完全用半透明瓦楞塑料封顶。
• A small difference between them will render the composite translucent.微小的差别,也会使复合材料变成半透明。

4 fragile   

adj.易碎的，脆的，易损坏的，虚弱的，脆弱的

参考例句：

• The old lady was increasingly fragile after her operation.那位老太太手术后身体越来越虚弱。
• This glass disc looks very fragile.这个玻璃盘子看起来很容易碎。

5 fin   

n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼

参考例句：

• They swim using a small fin on their back.它们用背上的小鳍游动。
• The aircraft has a long tail fin.那架飞机有一个长长的尾翼。

6 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

7 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。

8 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

10 plural   

n.复数；复数形式；adj.复数的

参考例句：

• Most plural nouns in English end in's '.英语的复数名词多以s结尾。
• Here you should use plural pronoun.这里你应该用复数代词。