Scientists found a prehistoric ancestor of an arrow worm among a group of fossils at two national parks in Canada.
科学家在加拿大两个国家级公园的一组化石中发现了一种箭虫的史前祖先。
The fossils were found in what is now British Columbia, but was once an ocean.
这些化石是在不列颠哥伦比亚发现的，这个地方以前曾是片海。
The sea worm was 10 centimeters long and had 50 spines on its head.
这种海虫有10厘米长，头部有50根脊刺。
The spines could close suddenly to capture smaller sea creatures, like shrimp.
这些脊刺可以突然闭合，来捕捉比其体型更小的海洋生物，比如虾。
The scientists reported their discovery in the journal Current Biology in early August.
8月初，科学家将他们的发现发表在了《当代生物学》期刊上。
They are calling the creature Capinatator praetermissus.
这种生物的学名是Capinatator praetermissus。
They say it lived 500 million years ago and is very different from anything alive now.
他们说，这种蠕虫生活在5亿年前，与现在存活下来的虫类非常不同。
Capinatator means "grasping swimmer."
学名中Capinatator的意思是"抓住游泳的它。
Derek Briggs is a scientist from Yale University.
德里克(Derek Briggs)是耶鲁大学的科学家，
He led the expedition.
也是这次研究工作的牵头者。
He said the creature was larger than today's similar worms.
他表示，这种蠕虫比今天类似的虫类体型都要大。
The arrow worms of today have teeth instead of spines.
今天的箭虫有牙齿，但是没有脊刺。
Briggs said the worm was probably a good predator because it had so many spines.
德里克表示，这种虫类很可能具备很强的捕食能力，因为它长了很多脊刺。
The scientists said it is difficult to find evidence of these prehistoric worms because their bodies decayed so quickly.
科学家表示，这种史前虫类的蛛丝马迹很难找到，因为他们的尸体腐烂的太快。
But this discovery was in such good shape, they were able to make a good guess about how the worm looked.
但这次发现的化石保存完好，科学家可以据此准确猜测这种虫类的形态。
Researchers were able to make a detailed drawing and an animation of how they think the worm moved in the ocean.
研究人员能画出这种虫类的细节，并做出它在海洋中游动的动态图。
Doug Erwin works for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
道格(Doug Erwin)是华盛顿史密斯学会的工作人员。
He was not involved in the research.
他虽然没有参与到这次研究中，
He said the discovery will help scientists better understand the worms and other life from this ancient period.
但他表示，这次的发现将助力科学家更好地理解这种虫类和其他远古时期的生物。
I'm Dan Friedell.
Dan Friedell为您播报VOA慢速新闻。
【词汇解析】
1.fossil n.化石
But how do you find a fossil of a symbolic thought?
但你如何找到一块象征性思维的化石呢？
2.grasp vt.抓住
Alan grasped the handle and pulled it.
艾伦抓住手柄一拉。
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.
一些居民和专家认为这种食肉动物可能是一只熊，一头任性的豹子或狮子，抑或是一头狼，因为在现场发现了3英寸长的爪迹。
4.decay vi.腐烂，变质
decaying organic matter
腐烂的有机物
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