多米尼加发现古猴化石

时间：2010-07-23 07:03:22

（单词翻译:单击）

Scientists have examined fossilised remains1 of a tiny, extinct monkey that were retrieved3 from an underwater cave in the Dominican Republic.

多米尼加共和国的科学家检测了从一处水下洞穴取回的一只微小的、绝迹猴子化石。

Scientists believe the creature went extinct <a href=relatively4 recently, but may have been very ancient" width="304" height="228" src="http://www.enread.com/upimg/100723/4_071315_1.jpg" />
Scientists believe the creature went extinct relatively recently, but may have been very ancient

The researchers believe the fossil to be around 3,000 years old, but say the species itself could be very ancient.

This reveals clues about the origin of primates5 in the region.

It also suggests that many ecologically（生态学地） valuable treasures could be discovered by the unusual field of "underwater palaeontology（古生物学） ".

Dr Alfred Rosenberger from Brooklyn College in New York, US, led the examination of the creature's bones, the results of which were published in the Royal Society journal Proceedings6 B.

He explained that the bones, which included a skull7 that was almost complete, were found by a team of scuba8 divers9（戴水肺的潜水员） who were exploring an underwater cave in the area.

"It's miraculous10（不可思议的，奇迹的） that they even saw it," he told BBC News.

"When they discovered it, they were fearful the bones were exposed, so they moved the material to a little nook（角落，隐匿处） to protect it."

Having sought official permission to remove the fossil from the cave, Dr Rosenberger returned to with the scuba divers to retrieve2 it in October of last year.

The divers packed the skeleton into tupperware（特百惠，保鲜盒） boxes in order to bring it safely to the surface.


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1 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
2 retrieve ZsYyp     
vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索
参考例句：
  • He was determined to retrieve his honor.他决心恢复名誉。
  • The men were trying to retrieve weapons left when the army abandoned the island.士兵们正试图找回军队从该岛撤退时留下的武器。
3 retrieved 1f81ff822b0877397035890c32e35843     
v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息）
参考例句：
  • Yesterday I retrieved the bag I left in the train. 昨天我取回了遗留在火车上的包。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He reached over and retrieved his jacket from the back seat. 他伸手从后座上取回了自己的夹克。 来自辞典例句
4 relatively bkqzS3     
adv.比较...地，相对地
参考例句：
  • The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
  • The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。
5 primates 9536f12c27d026e37c108bd6fc53dbba     
primate的复数
参考例句：
  • Primates are alert, inquisitive animals. 灵长目动物是机灵、好奇的动物。
  • Consciousness or cerebration has been said to have emerged in the evolution of higher primates. 据说意识或思考在较高级灵长类的进化中已出现。
6 proceedings Wk2zvX     
n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报
参考例句：
  • He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
  • to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼
7 skull CETyO     
n.头骨；颅骨
参考例句：
  • The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
  • He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。
8 scuba YjDzRf     
n.水中呼吸器
参考例句：
  • I first got hooked on scuba diving when I was twelve.12岁时我开始迷上了带水中呼吸器潜水。
  • While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
9 divers hu9z23     
adj.不同的；种种的
参考例句：
  • He chose divers of them,who were asked to accompany him.他选择他们当中的几个人，要他们和他作伴。
  • Two divers work together while a standby diver remains on the surface.两名潜水员协同工作，同时有一名候补潜水员留在水面上。
10 miraculous DDdxA     
adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的
参考例句：
  • The wounded man made a miraculous recovery.伤员奇迹般地痊愈了。
  • They won a miraculous victory over much stronger enemy.他们战胜了远比自己强大的敌人，赢得了非凡的胜利。

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