纪录片《恐龙的战争》 顽强防御（7）（在线收听）

Small and low-slung, this vegetarian can not only survive a T. Rex attack,

矮小的甲龙不仅能抵御雷克斯霸王龙的攻击，

but sometimes it can even defeat one.

有时还能干掉一两个。

Its first line of defense is a tanklike body.

它的第一道防线，就是这个坦克一样的身躯。

Its primary form of defending itself might be hunkering down onto the ground,

它主要的自我防御手段也许就是将腹部紧贴地面，

letting its armored body protect from the teeth and the claws of the Tyrannosaurus.

用身上的护甲来抵御霸王龙的尖牙和利爪的攻击。

Ankylosaurus' specialized armor is designed to be strong and lightweight.

甲龙的这种特殊的护甲不但坚硬，而且还很轻巧。

Skeletal plates embedded in the skin are aligned in regular rows down the neck, back, and hips.

嵌在皮肤下的骨骼板沿着颈部，背部，臀部一路排列地整整齐齐。

Spaces between the plates allow this balky creature to move freely.

骨板之间的都留有空隙，可以让这个迟缓的生物行动自如。

While similar to scales found on today's crocodiles or alligators,

尽管在现在的鳄鱼身上也与之构造相类似的鳞片，

the way these plates are constructed makes them much tougher.

但是那些骨板的特殊构造使得甲龙更顽强。

Ankylosaurus has not one, not two, but three layers of armor.

甲龙的护甲不是一层，也不是两层而是三层。

And the head is so protected by thick bone that not even an adult female T. Rex could inflict a killing bite.

它的头部被厚重的骨骼保护得很好，就算是雌性的成年雷克斯霸王龙无法给其致命一咬。

The plates are totally unlike the bones of mammals.

其装甲与哺乳动物的骨骼截然不同。

They're made of crisscrossing layers of minerals and collagen

它们是由矿物质和胶原蛋白构成的交错网层，

fibers made of protein that strengthen bone the way steel rods reinforce concrete.

而胶原蛋白是一种蛋白质纤维，它能像钢筋强化混凝土一样强化骨质。

It's a design used today in bulletproof jackets.

这也是当今防弹衣的设计原理。

Interwoven layers can absorb the power of a plercing attack.

相互交织的层面能吸收强有力的攻击。

Ankylosaurus pretty much was not afraid of anything because it would be very difficult to kill this beast.

甲龙几乎无所畏惧，因为要想杀掉这头野兽可不容易。