纪录片《巨龙的奥秘》 第09期 巨龙之间的较量（1）

Giganotosaurus is 10-15 percent more massive and longer than Tyrannosaurus rex, which for a long time was record holder¹.

南方巨兽龙比长久以来保持最大纪录的霸王龙还要大10～15%

Giganotosaurus was an incredible animal, around 13 meters in length.

南方巨兽龙是令人叹为观止的动物，全长约为13米

And the head was huge, around one meter and 80 centimeters.

它的头很大，大约有1.8米长

Giganotosaurus had a skull² the length of a man.

南方巨兽龙的头骨有一个人那么长

But this giant predator³ had one more thing to reveal.

但这种大型掠食动物，还包藏着更多的秘密

When the team dated the bones, they found Giganotosaurus lived in the Cretaceous, the time of the giant long-neck Argentinosaurus.

研究小组检测它的骨骼后发现，南方巨兽龙生活在白垩纪，与巨大的蜥脚类阿根廷龙生活在同一时代

And the two dinosaurs⁴ were found only 80 kilometers apart.

这两只恐龙的发现地点相距不过80公里

For the first time anywhere in the world,

这是全世界范围内的第一次

scientists had discovered mega-carnivores and huge plant-eaters living during the same time period and in the same place.

科学家们发现大型食肉恐龙与巨型植食恐龙生活在同一时代、同一地区

This is a peculiar⁵ ecological⁶ relationship that we found in Patagonia.

我们在巴塔哥尼亚发现的是一种奇特的生态关系

Big preys⁸ and big predators⁹.

大型猎物和大型掠食者

If we look at South America in the age of Giganotosaurus,

我们可以回瞰一下南美洲的南方巨兽龙时代

the main potential prey⁷ for this immense meat-eater is an even more immense plant-eater, the giant Argentinosaurus.

这种庞大的食肉恐龙的主要猎物是一种更庞大的植食恐龙——阿根廷龙

Could it be true that in Patagonia something unique happened?

巴塔哥尼亚是否真的会发生一些特别的事件呢

That the largest plant-eater ever came face-to-face with the largest known meat-eater in an extraordinary clash of the titans?

地球上有史以来最大的植食动物是否会与最大的食肉动物展开面对面的殊死较量呢？

1 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

2 skull   

n.头骨；颅骨

参考例句：

• The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
• He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。

3 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。

4 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》

5 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

6 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

7 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。

8 preys   

v.掠食( prey的第三人称单数 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生

参考例句：

• His misfortune preys upon his mind. 他的不幸使她心中苦恼。 来自辞典例句
• The owl preys on mice. 猫头鹰捕食老鼠。 来自辞典例句

9 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》