侏罗纪搏击俱乐部 第60期:恐龙和鸟类关系亲近?

 This was the site of one of the most gruesome and barbaric acts ever recorded in the fossil record.

这个化石场记录着最可怕最野蛮的行为之一。

The bodies were piled on top of each other and the earth literally¹ ran red with blood.

地面上尸体堆积如山而且血流成河。

In order to keep from sinking into the mud, I think the Allosaurus were actually standing² on their victims while they ripped them apart,

为了不陷进泥里，我觉得异特龙会站在猎物尸体上然后把它们撕扯开，

and that's why so many of the bones were crushed and broken.

而这就是为什么很多骨头断裂或是碎掉了。

Given that the Allosaurus was the dominant³ predator⁴, why were so many Allosaurus' bones found in the lakebed?

考虑到异特龙是占统治地位的掠食者，那为什么会在湖床上发现那么多异特龙的骨头呢？

It's likely that while drinking, many Allosaurus also became stranded⁵.

很可能是因为很多异特龙饮水的时候也会被困住。

But why would so many Allosaurus gather in the same place at the same time?

但为什么在同一时间同一地点会聚集那么多异特龙呢？

It's interesting that with Allosaurus, we find, in some cases, large accumulations of Allosaurus bone.

有件事情很有趣，我们发现有些情况下会发现大量异特龙骨头。

And so when we see large accumulations, it makes us wonder what's going on.

当我们看到有这么多骨头就想知道到底是怎么回事。

Did these animals live in large groups?

这些动物是否大群生活？

You might even call them flocks considering they're closer related to birds.

可能甚至跟鸟群相仿，要知道它们和鸟类亲缘关系较近。

Or were they together for some other reason?

还是它们因为其它原因聚在一起？

An interesting parallel that is compelling in many ways is what we see at the La Brea Tar⁶ pits in California.

从许多方面来说，有一个有趣的比较对象很扣人心弦，那就是加州的拉布雷亚沥青坑。

Many of the fossils that we find there are of predatory animals, of wolves and predatory birds and things like that.

我们在那里发现的很多化石都是掠食性动物，像是狼还有掠食性鸟类等等。

The La Brea Tar pits we regard as a baited trap. animals get stuck in there, and the predators⁷ are lured⁸ in.

我们认为拉布雷亚沥青坑是诱饵型陷阱。动物被困住里面然后引来了掠食者。

Hundreds of Allosaurus skeletons, but only a single Ceratosaurus.

数百具异特龙骨架但只有一具角鼻龙残骸。

There is no doubt which predator ruled this Jurassic lakebed.

谁是这片侏罗纪湖床上的霸主不言而喻。

This new evidence offers more information about what happened when Allosaurus arrived on the scene.

这个新证据给了我们更多信息，能了解异特龙来到现场时发生了些什么。

First, we look at whatever evidence we do have, and then we look at the behavior of modern animals and apply that to those prehistoric⁹ creatures.

首先，我们考虑已有的所有证据之后，再参考现代动物行为并将其应用到这些史前动物身上。

By doing this, it is gives a realistic version of things, with science to help back it up.

这样能给我们事物较真实的版本而且有科学依据。

A trapped baby Stegosaurus, eaten alive by the Ceratosaurus, The smell of fresh blood drifts downwind, into the path of approaching Allosaurus.

一头被困住的幼剑龙被角鼻龙活生生吃掉，鲜血的气味顺风飘到一群附近异特龙的行进路线上。

These Allosaurus hunt in packs because it allows them to bring down much larger prey¹⁰.

这些异特龙成群狩猎，因为这样能够干掉大得多的猎物。

They use their incredible sense of smell like a prehistoric homing device.

它们利用异常出色的嗅觉就像是史前追踪装置。

Their keen sense of smell tells them that there is an adult and juvenile¹¹ Stegosaurus about 100 yards ahead.

它们敏锐的嗅觉告诉它们，在前方一百码左右有一头成年剑龙和一头幼剑龙。

But they also pick up the very distinct scent¹² of a Ceratosaurus and this is the hated enemy of Allosaurus.

但是它们也闻到了角鼻龙非常独特的气味，这可是异特龙憎恨的敌人。

1 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

4 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。

5 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

6 tar   

n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于

参考例句：

• The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
• We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。

7 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》

8 lured   

吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The child was lured into a car but managed to escape. 那小孩被诱骗上了车，但又设法逃掉了。
• Lured by the lust of gold,the pioneers pushed onward. 开拓者在黄金的诱惑下，继续奋力向前。

9 prehistoric   

adj.（有记载的）历史以前的，史前的，古老的

参考例句：

• They have found prehistoric remains.他们发现了史前遗迹。
• It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment.这儿倒像是在展览古老的电子设备。

10 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。

11 juvenile   

n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的

参考例句：

• For a grown man he acted in a very juvenile manner.身为成年人，他的行为举止显得十分幼稚。
• Juvenile crime is increasing at a terrifying rate.青少年犯罪正在以惊人的速度增长。

12 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。