Scientists found a prehistoric ancestor of an arrow worm among a group of fossils at two national parks in Canada. 

科學(xué)家在加拿大兩個(gè)國(guó)家級(jí)公園的一組化石中發(fā)現(xiàn)了一種箭蟲(chóng)的史前祖先。

The fossils were found in what is now British Columbia, but was once an ocean. 

這些化石是在不列顛哥倫比亞發(fā)現(xiàn)的，這個(gè)地方以前曾是片海。

The sea worm was 10 centimeters long and had 50 spines on its head.  

這種海蟲(chóng)有10厘米長(zhǎng)，頭部有50根脊刺。

The spines could close suddenly to capture smaller sea creatures, like shrimp. 

這些脊刺可以突然閉合，來(lái)捕捉比其體型更小的海洋生物，比如蝦。

The scientists reported their discovery in the journal Current Biology in early August. 

8月初，科學(xué)家將他們的發(fā)現(xiàn)發(fā)表在了《當(dāng)代生物學(xué)》期刊上。

They are calling the creature Capinatator praetermissus.  

這種生物的學(xué)名是Capinatator praetermissus。

They say it lived 500 million years ago and is very different from anything alive now.  

他們說(shuō)，這種蠕蟲(chóng)生活在5億年前，與現(xiàn)在存活下來(lái)的蟲(chóng)類非常不同。

Capinatator means "grasping swimmer." 

學(xué)名中Capinatator的意思是"抓住游泳的它。

Derek Briggs is a scientist from Yale University.  

德里克(Derek Briggs)是耶魯大學(xué)的科學(xué)家， 

He led the expedition.  

也是這次研究工作的牽頭者。

He said the creature was larger than today's similar worms.  

他表示，這種蠕蟲(chóng)比今天類似的蟲(chóng)類體型都要大。

The arrow worms of today have teeth instead of spines. 

今天的箭蟲(chóng)有牙齒，但是沒(méi)有脊刺。

Briggs said the worm was probably a good predator because it had so many spines. 

德里克表示，這種蟲(chóng)類很可能具備很強(qiáng)的捕食能力，因?yàn)樗L(zhǎng)了很多脊刺。

The scientists said it is difficult to find evidence of these prehistoric worms because their bodies decayed so quickly.  

科學(xué)家表示，這種史前蟲(chóng)類的蛛絲馬跡很難找到，因?yàn)樗麄兊氖w腐爛的太快。

But this discovery was in such good shape, they were able to make a good guess about how the worm looked. 

但這次發(fā)現(xiàn)的化石保存完好，科學(xué)家可以據(jù)此準(zhǔn)確猜測(cè)這種蟲(chóng)類的形態(tài)。

Researchers were able to make a detailed drawing and an animation of how they think the worm moved in the ocean. 

研究人員能畫(huà)出這種蟲(chóng)類的細(xì)節(jié)，并做出它在海洋中游動(dòng)的動(dòng)態(tài)圖。

Doug Erwin works for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.  

道格(Doug Erwin)是華盛頓史密斯學(xué)會(huì)的工作人員。

He was not involved in the research.  

他雖然沒(méi)有參與到這次研究中，

He said the discovery will help scientists better understand the worms and other life from this ancient period. 

但他表示，這次的發(fā)現(xiàn)將助力科學(xué)家更好地理解這種蟲(chóng)類和其他遠(yuǎn)古時(shí)期的生物。

I'm Dan Friedell. 

Dan Friedell為您播報(bào)VOA慢速新聞。

【詞匯解析】

1.fossil n.化石

But how do you find a fossil of a symbolic thought?

但你如何找到一塊象征性思維的化石呢？

2.grasp vt.抓住

Alan grasped the handle and pulled it.

艾倫抓住手柄一拉。

3.predator n.捕食者

Some residents and experts said the predator may be a bear, a wayward panther or cougar, or even a wolf because 3-inch paw tracks were found at the scene.

一些居民和專家認(rèn)為這種食肉動(dòng)物可能是一只熊，一頭任性的豹子或獅子，抑或是一頭狼，因?yàn)樵诂F(xiàn)場(chǎng)發(fā)現(xiàn)了3英寸長(zhǎng)的爪跡。

4.decay vi.腐爛，變質(zhì)

decaying organic matter

腐爛的有機(jī)物