19 Finding Fossils

Finding Fossils by Daniel Jacobs With the Editors of TIME FOR KIDS

丹尼尔·雅各布斯和《儿童时代》的编辑们一起寻找化石

Introduction Picturing the Past This is a painting of a Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur. Its short name is T-rex. This dinosaur died millions of years ago. But scientists know about how T-rex looked, how T-rex hunted, and how T-rex ate. How did scientists know about it? Scientists learn about dinosaurs and other animals. How? They study fossils. Fossils are old bones and other remains like teeth, eggs, and footprints. The sharp teeth of the T-rex show that it ate meat, not plants. Scientists know that T-rex had a good sense of smell because they studied its skull. Smell helped T-rex hunt.

这是一幅霸王龙的画像。 它的简称是霸王龙。这种恐龙死于数百万年前。 但科学家们知道霸王龙的长相、捕猎方式和进食方式。 科学家是怎么知道的? 科学家们了解恐龙和其他动物。 怎么做?他们研究化石。化石是古老的骨头和其他残骸，如牙齿、鸡蛋和脚印。 霸王龙锋利的牙齿表明它吃肉，不吃植物。 科学家们知道霸王龙有很好的嗅觉，因为他们研究了它的头骨。 嗅觉帮助霸王龙捕猎。

Paleontologists are scientists who study fossils. They compare fossils with what other scientists know about living animals. Paleontologists study fossil footprints, too. They discovered that some dinosaurs traveled in herds like elephants do today. Of course, paleontologists have to find fossils before they can study them! Now you will travel with some scientists to places where you can find great fossils.

古生物学家是研究化石的科学家。 他们将化石与其他科学家对现存动物的了解进行比较。 古生物学家也研究化石脚印。 他们发现一些恐龙像今天的大象一样成群结队。 当然，古生物学家必须先找到化石才能研究它们!现在你将和一些科学家一起前往可以找到伟大化石的地方。

Chapter 1 Patagonia, South America Lots and Lots of Eggs Badlands are hot, dry, and rocky areas. They are good places to hunt for fossils. Few people live in the badlands. Luis Chiappe, Lowell Dingus, and Frankie Jackson hunted for fossils in badlands in South America. What did the team find? They found nests full of dinosaur eggs! Jackson used a microscope to study the eggs. Chiappe and Dingus used what they learned to make this picture of a dinosaur nest. Can you compare a dinosaur nest with a flamingo nest of today?

南美洲巴塔哥尼亚很多很多蛋荒地是炎热、干燥、多岩石的地区。 它们是寻找化石的好地方。 很少有人住在荒地上。 路易斯·切普、洛厄尔·丁格斯和弗兰基·杰克逊在南美洲的荒地上寻找化石。 研究小组发现了什么?他们发现鸟巢里都是恐龙蛋!杰克逊用显微镜研究了这些卵。 Chiappe和Dingus用他们学到的知识制作了这张恐龙窝的图片。 你能把恐龙窝和今天的火烈鸟窝比较一下吗?

Chapter 2 Niger, Africa An African Giant This is a picture of Jobaria. Scientists found this dinosaur's bones in Niger, Africa. Scientists found clues near Jobaria. They show that this dinosaur was 19.8 meters (65 feet) tall. It ate plants. Jobaria roamed forests and rivers. Now the area is a dry desert. Paul Sereno was the leader of the science team in Niger. He wanted to learn more about Jobaria. He wanted to know if Jobaria could stand on its back legs. Sereno watched an elephant move. He compared the elephant's footprints and legs with Jobaria's. He discovered that Jobaria was able to stand up, too!

第2章非洲的尼日尔非洲的巨人这是乔巴里亚的一张照片。 科学家们在非洲尼日尔发现了这种恐龙的骨头。 科学家在Jobaria附近发现了线索。 他们显示这种恐龙有19.8米(65英尺)高。 它吃植物。Jobaria在森林和河流中漫游。 现在该地区是一片干燥的沙漠。 保罗·塞利诺(Paul Sereno)是尼日尔科学小组的负责人。 他想更多地了解乔巴里亚。 他想知道Jobaria能否用后腿站立。 塞利诺看着一头大象移动。 他将大象的脚印和腿与乔巴里亚的进行了比较。 他发现乔巴利亚也能站起来了!