纪录片《巨龙的奥秘》 第10期 巨龙之间的较量(2)

Could this really ever have happened?

这种事真的会发生吗

As paleontologists considered the idea of such an epic¹ battle, they immediately saw a problem.

古生物学家认为这种想法是荒谬的，他们立刻指出了其中的破绽

The giant meat-eater, Giganotosaurus, may have been large, but he was still no match for Argentinosaurus.

巨大的食肉恐龙——南方巨兽龙，的确是庞然大物，但它仍无法与阿根廷龙抗衡

There was no way even this big meat-eater could been able to kill such a huge animal.

即使这种大型食肉动物也无法，杀死一只如此巨大的动物

No way, that is, unless Giganotosaurus did what many other predators² do when faced with a much bigger prey³.

除非南方巨兽龙，能像许多其它掠食动物那样对付大型猎物

For these hyenas⁴, hunting together is the only way they can bring down this wildebeest.

对于这些鬣狗来说，集体狩猎是制服这只角马的唯一方法

Could this have been what the clash of titans was really like?

这种情况会发生在巨型恐龙身上吗

Not with two solitary⁵ dinosaurs⁶ battling it out by themselves,

不是两只恐龙展开一对一的较量

but with a pack of marauding Giganotosaurus hunting one enormous Argentinosaurus?

而是一群残暴的南方巨兽龙围捕一只庞大的阿根廷龙

Unfortunately, there was a fundamental problem with this idea.

可惜的是，这种观点犯了一个最基本的错误

Paleontologists have traditionally believed that large carnivorous dinosaurs lived and hunted alone.

古生物学家们一向认为大型食肉恐龙都是独自生活与狩猎

There was no evidence to support the idea of them as pack hunters.

没有任何证据能证明它们是群体狩猎

If they weren't pack hunters, they could never have attacked the massive long-necked Argentinosaurus.

如果它们不是群体掠食者，它们就不可能攻击庞大的阿根廷龙

1 epic   

n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的

参考例句：

• I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
• They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

2 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》

3 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。

4 hyenas   

n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These animals were the prey of hyenas. 这些动物是鬣狗的猎物。 来自辞典例句
• We detest with horror the duplicity and villainy of the murderous hyenas of Bukharinite wreckers. 我们非常憎恨布哈林那帮两面三刀、杀人破坏，干尽坏事的豺狼。 来自辞典例句

5 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

6 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》