新奇事件簿 新西兰发现巨型鹦鹉化石

Scientists have found fossils that once belonged to a giant parrot. They say the fossilized bones are from the biggest parrot that ever lived. It was probably as tall as a three-year-old child and weighed around eight kilograms. The researchers found the fossils in New Zealand. They have called the new parrot Hercules, after a strongman of ancient Greek mythology¹. The scientists studied the fossilized leg bones they found and said Hercules was around a metre tall. This means Hercules is twice the size of all other known parrots. The largest parrot scientists know of is the kakapo, a flightless bird that also lives in New Zealand. The kakapo is on the critically endangered species list.

科学家发现了一些属于一只巨型鹦鹉的化石。他们表示这些骨头化石来自有史以来最大的鹦鹉。这只鹦鹉可能和三岁小孩一样高，重约八公斤。研究人员在新西兰发现了这些化石。他们称这种新发现的鹦鹉为Hercules，这是古希腊神话中的大力神。科学家对他们发现的化石腿骨进行了研究并称Hercules有一米高。这意味着Hercules的体型是所有已知鹦鹉的两倍。科学家已知的最大鹦鹉是鸮鹦鹉，一种同样生活在新西兰的不会飞的鸟。鸮鹦鹉是极度濒危物种。

New Zealand is famous for its flightless birds. The kiwi is a symbol of the country. Scientists say these are vulnerable. This means they could become endangered if their environment stays the same. Another famous New Zealand bird is the 3.6-metre-tall moa. These flightless birds were the biggest birds that ever lived. They were overhunted to extinction² early in the 15th century. Hercules lived about 19 million years ago. A researcher said it probably ate nuts, fruit and seeds, and "perhaps even other parrots". A researcher said: "New Zealand is well known for its giant birds. Until now, no one has ever found an extinct giant parrot, anywhere. There are many more unexpected species yet to be discovered."

新西兰以其不会飞的鸟类而知名。几维鸟是这个国家的象征。科学家表示这些鸟很容易受到伤害。这意味着如果环境保持不变，它们可能会受到威胁。另一种新西兰知名鸟类是3.6米高的恐鸟。这类不会飞的鸟是现存最大的鸟。在15世纪早期，它们因过度捕猎而灭绝。Hercules生活在约1900万年前。一名研究人员表示它们可能以坚果、水果和种子，“甚至是其他鹦鹉”为食。一名研究人员称：“新西兰以其巨大的鸟类而闻名。直到现在都不曾有人在世界其他地方发现过灭绝的巨型鹦鹉。还有许多意想不到的物种有待发现。”

1 mythology   

n.神话，神话学，神话集

参考例句：

• In Greek mythology,Zeus was the ruler of Gods and men.在希腊神话中，宙斯是众神和人类的统治者。
• He is the hero of Greek mythology.他是希腊民间传说中的英雄。

2 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。