纪录片《熟食造就了人类吗》 第16期：食肉后牙齿的变化

In the natural world,

自然界中

animals' adaptation to their diet is clear.

动物适应饮食习惯的进化事例很多

Herbivorous grazers,

食草动物

like gazelles, have large flat back teeth,

比如羚羊 有着大而平的臼齿

useful for grinding down plants...

用来碾碎植物

Whereas carnivores, like lions,

而食肉动物 比如狮子

evolved sharp teeth to seize their prey¹

进化出尖锐的牙齿 得以抓住猎物

and rip their meat apart.

撕裂它们的肉

The change in our ancestors' teeth

一个新的实验揭示了

when they started eating meat

人类祖先开始食肉后

is revealed in a new experiment.

其牙齿的变化

Professor Peter Ungar has has spent a lifetime

彼得·恩戈教授终其一生

examining the skeletons of ancient humans.

研究这些古人类的骨骼

There's one feature in particular which fascinates him.

其中有个部位特别令他痴迷

You could call him a dentist to the ancients.

简直能当古人的牙医了

This is a jaw² of Australopithecus.

这是南方古猿人的一副颌骨

Its teeth are large, they're flat,

他的牙齿又大又平

the enamel's very thick on them.

上面有着极厚的釉质

1 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

2 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。