恐龙毫无疑问是曾经存在过的最了不起
Surely one of the most remarkable animals that had ever existed,
也绝对是最著名的动物之一
and certainly one of the most famous, is a dinosaur.
霸王龙
Tyrannosaurus rex.
这是一种能够激发 我们所有人想象力的动物
An animal to spark the imagination for all of us.
恐龙是一种什么样的动物
What kind of an animal was it?
它长什么样 如何生活
What did it look like? How did it live?
现在 科学研究 已经给出了这些问题的答案
Now, scientific research has answered such questions.
不仅仅是霸王龙
And not just about T. rex,
还有和它生活在同一时期的其他物种
but the other species that lived alongside it.
而最新的成像技术 能够把它们活灵活现地展现在我们面前
And the latest imaging technology enables us to bring them all to life.
这是六千六百万年前的地球
Planet Earth, 66 million years ago.
天空中遍布飞翔的巨兽
The skies are filled with flying giants.
海洋深处游弋着巨大的爬行动物
In the seas, monstrous reptiles patrol the depths.
陆地上的各种恐龙
And on land, dinosaurs of every kind,
都面临着生存的威胁
all facing the struggle to survive.
如今 我们对那个 曾被恐龙统治的世界已知之甚多
We now know so much about a world that was ruled by the dinosaurs.
这就是它们的故事
This is their story.
《海岸》
这是巨大内海的南部海岸
The southern shores of the great inland sea
这片内海分割了北美大♥陆♥
that splits North America.
海岸上随处可见 这片土地上顶级掠食者的足迹
And the tracks of the land's top predator.
一只霸王龙正在游泳
A Tyrannosaurus rex taking a swim.
中空的骨骼充满了空气 再加上强有力的后肢
Hollow, air-filled bones and powerful hind limbs
使霸王龙成为了不折不扣的游泳高手
make T. rex very effective swimmers.
这只成年雄性霸王龙正带着孩子们游泳
This is an adult male with his young family.
这些幼崽们的年纪 刚刚够跟着爸爸踏上这段旅程
His offspring are now just old enough to follow him on a journey
前往这个海岸边缘的众多离岸岛屿之一
to one of the many offshore islands that fringe this coast.
虽然这段旅程的路途不远 但仍然危机四伏
It's a short enough crossing, but it can still be a dangerous one.
一只沧龙出现了
A mosasaur.
这是一种体型比霸王龙大一倍的 巨型海蜥蜴
A giant marine lizard over twice the size of a tyrannosaur
体重超过了 15 吨♥
and weighing over 15 tons.
它是地球上最大的掠食者
It's the largest predator on the planet.
沧龙通常以海龟为食
Turtles are normally on a mosasaur's menu.
但这群小霸王龙会是很美味的点心
But this brood would make a welcome snack.
成年霸王龙即使是在水里
An adult T. rex, even in water,
仍然可以非常有效地保护自 己
could still defend itself very effectively.
但幼崽们必须跟紧爸爸
But the young must stay close.
在霸王龙一窝大约 15 只幼崽中
Tyrannosaurus rex often lose at least two-thirds
至少有三分之二会在第一年不幸遇难
of their original brood of 15 or so in the first year.
现在这只霸王龙爸爸只剩下四只幼崽了
Now there are only four.
这个岛为它们提供了安全和食物保障
The island offers safety and the promise of food.
2 吨♥重的巨型海龟在这里筑巢
Giant two-ton turtles are here to nest.
但霸王龙是被这只海龟吸引过来的
But this is the one that has drawn him here.
它已经死了 霸王龙闻到了它腐烂尸体的气味
It's dead, and the tyrannosaur has smelled its rotting body.
如果它能打开海龟的腹部
If he can just get to the underbelly,
就能轻松享受 900 多公斤的龟肉大餐
he will have over 2,000 pounds of easy meat.
霸王龙拥有自 然界中最有力的下颚
T. rex has the most powerful jaws in nature.
并有着超过 5 吨♥重量的咬合力
And can bite with the force of over five tons.
幼崽们渴望尝一口美味 但恐龙爸爸可不打算和它们分享
The young are keen for a taste, but he's not sharing it.
是时候让它们学习狩猎 自 给自 足了
It's time for them to learn to hunt for themselves.
然而 这片海滩看上去可没那么充满希望
The beach, however, doesn't look very promising.
但随着夜幕降临 情况开始发生变化
But as the evening approaches, things start to change.
小海龟开始从沙滩上孵化出来 然后冲向大海
Baby turtles are beginning to hatch from the sand and rush down to the sea.
这里对于小霸王龙们来说 是一个练习狩猎的好地方
The young T. rex have been brought to an ideal training ground.
刚孵化出来的小海龟 体型刚好适合它们这些狩猎新手来捕猎
Hatchling turtles are the perfect size for a novice to tackle.
任何有好奇心的猎手都会收获满满
It pays for any hunter to be inquisitive.
要学的东西还很多
There's a lot to learn.
这里的食物足够父亲和孩子们一起享用
And there's enough food here to satisfy both parent and young.
如果狩猎一无所获
And if all else fails,
你总能从同伴那里偷晚饭吃
you can always steal supper from someone else.
在世界各地
Across the globe,
这些浅海覆盖了 六千四百七十五万平方公里的面♥积♥
these shallow coastal seas cover an area of 25 million square miles.
这甚至比最大的大♥陆♥面♥积♥还大很多
Far more than even the largest continent.
再加上水中物产丰富
That, combined with the richness of the waters,
使它们成为非常重要的栖息地
makes them very important habitat.
在陆地与海洋相接的地方
Wherever land meets sea,
营养物质从海底深处升上来 为大量生命提供了养分
nutrients rise from the deep, fueling an abundance of life.
尤其在北大西洋 营养物质更加丰富
It's especially rich here in the North Atlantic,
这里有大量的鱼群靠近海岸
where huge shoals of fish come close to the shore.
有一种动物在这样的地方繁衍生息 形成了巨大的群落
One kind of animal thrives in such places and forms immense colonies.
它就是翼龙 是一种飞行的爬行动物
Flying reptiles. Pterosaurs.
在北非的海滩上有七种不同的翼龙
Here, on the beaches of North Africa, there are seven different species of them.
它们来这里进食 休息 养育后代
They come here to feed, to rest, and to raise their young.
特提斯翼龙非常适应在地面上生活
Tethydraco are well-adapted to spend time on the ground
它们不仅在这里筑巢 还会留下来保护幼崽
and not only make their nests here but stay to protect their brood.
这些幼崽们的确需要保护
And their young certainly need protection.
磷矿翼龙有着匕♥首♥般的喙
The dagger beak of Phosphatodraco.
这只 2.7 米高的掠食者 在这些特提斯翼龙的聚居地出没
A nine-foot-tall predator that stalks through these colonies,
想找机会抓走一只未受保护的幼崽
looking for a chance to snatch an unguarded hatchling.
但有些类别的翼龙不太适应陆地上的生活
But some types of pterosaurs are less well-adapted to life on land.
它们的筑巢策略略有不同
They have a slightly different nesting strategy.
它们会把巢建在 不会引起掠食者注意的地方
They make their nests where they will attract less attention from predators.
像这样孤立的悬崖就是理想地点
Isolated cliffs like this are ideal.
翼龙蛋坚韧 很容易风干
Pterosaur eggs are leathery and can easily dry out,
所以需要有东西覆盖这些蛋
so they need to be covered.
有东西正在这堆海藻下面移♥动♥着
Beneath this pile of seaweed, something is stirring.
这是一只很小的翠鸟翼龙幼崽
A tiny Alcione hatchling, just a few inches high
它只有几厘米高 体重不到 60 克
and weighing less than two ounces.
两个月 前 它们的妈妈把蛋留在了这里
Their mothers left the eggs here about two months ago.
同伴们彼此呼叫可以使孵化同步
Calling to each other synchronizes hatching.
成群结队就会更加安全
There is safety in numbers.
它们出生后的第一本能是攀爬悬崖峭壁
Their first instinct is to climb.
从成百上千个鸟巢中孵化出的幼崽 聚集在悬崖顶上
Hatchlings from hundreds of nests gather on the cliff-top
为它们的第一次飞行做准备
to prepare for their first flight.
但它们的翅膀还没有成形
But their wings are still unformed.
支撑翼膜的长手指骨
The bones of the long finger that supports their wing membrane
必须首先伸直并锁在一起 这个过程需要几个小时
must first straighten and lock together, and that will take some hours.
但它们不能在这里待太久
But they can't stay here for long.
它们的骨头非常轻 90%都是空气
Their bones are extremely light, up to 90% air,
这让它们轻而易举就能起飞
and that makes the effort needed to take off much easier.
即便如此 试飞这一步也是必不可少的
Even so, test flights are essential.
当真的要起飞的时候
There will only be one chance to get it right
就不容有失了
when the time comes to launch.
悬崖边缘会产生上升气流 有助于幼崽们起飞
The cliff edge creates updrafts, and they can help.
所以迎着盛行风聚集在那里
So, it pays to gather there facing into the prevailing winds
面朝大♥陆♥是有好处的
and towards the mainland.
但似乎谁都不愿意冒险一试
But no one seems quite ready to take the plunge.
终于有一只幼崽飞了出去 并带领其他小家伙们上路
Until, at last, one youngster sets them all on their way.
它们不是飞往海滩和种群栖息地
They're not heading for the beach and its colony.
它们要飞去更远处的雾林
They need to get to the mist forest that lies beyond.
巴巴里翼龙
Barbaridactylus.
这是一种强大的掠食性翼龙 它们通常捕食鱼类
Powerful, predatory pterosaurs that normally catch fish.
但捕食这些幼崽的机会难得 不容错过
But the hatchlings are too good to miss.
采取规避行动的一种方法 就是收起翅膀下坠
One way to take evasive action is to simply fold their wings and drop.
但是高度的下降会使它们更难抵达森林
But losing height will make it harder for them to reach the forests.
迫降在翼龙群中
A crash landing in the colony.
这里可不是刚孵出的幼崽能待的地方
It's no place for a hatchling on its own.
这是第一波孵化幼崽中的幸存者
A lucky survivor from the first wave of hatchlings…
它仍旧向着正确的方向飞行
still heading in the right direction.
到达避难所
Sanctuary.
很少有离开峭壁的幼崽 能来到这么远的地方
Of the hatchlings that left the stack, few get as far as this.
但对它们来说
But for them,
这片森林为年幼翼龙提供了 它们所需的一切： 庇护所和食物
this forest offers all the shelter and food that a young pterosaur needs.
在接下来的五年中 这里将是它们的家
For the next five years, this will be their home.
然后 等它们长得足够大以后 就可以加入成年翼龙的行列
Then, they will be large enough to join the adults,
在广袤的大海中捕鱼
catching fish out on the open ocean.
一些一辈子都在海上捕鱼的海洋动物
Some marine animals that spend all their lives fishing out at sea
偶尔会出于某种特殊目 的来到海岸
must occasionally visit the coast for a very particular purpose.
在沉入海水的西兰蒂亚大♥陆♥附近的水域中
In the waters off the drowned continent of Zealandia,
一段漫长的旅程即将结束
a long journey is coming to an end.
这些就是蛇颈龙
These are tuarangisaurs,
是一种巨大的海洋爬行动物 身长近 9 米
a type of huge marine reptile nearly 30 feet long.
这只雌性蛇颈龙 和它大约六个月 大的幼崽在一起
This female is accompanied by her calf, about six months old.
它最多每两年左右才能生一只幼崽
At most, she'll have only one youngster every two years or so.
这是一个巨大的投入
It's a huge investment,
这让母子间的感情变得非常重要
and one that makes the bond between mother and young very important.
它带着幼崽游了很远才来到这个海湾
She has brought her young calf many miles to this one bay.
而它们并不孤单
And they're not alone.
蛇颈龙从南太平洋的彼岸来到这里
Tuarangisaurs come here from across the South Pacific.
雄性蛇颈龙也会聚集于此 为吸引雌性而进行求偶表演
Males also gather here to display to females.
但现在 求爱并不是 雌性蛇颈龙的首要任务
But for now, courtship is not the female's first priority.
这个海湾能为它们提供 其他海湾无法提供的东西
This bay has something that few others can provide.
这里的鹅卵石特别圆 光滑 坚硬
Pebbles that are particularly smooth, hard, and rounded.
它们是被河水冲刷成这样 但这种鹅卵石很难找到
They've been worn by the action of river water, but they're hard to find.
然而 在这里瀑布底部的水池里
Here, however, in the pool at the bottom of a waterfall,
有很多这样的鹅卵石
there are plenty of them.
蛇颈龙可以随意挑选
And the tuarangisaurs can take their pick.
然后它们会做一件非常了不起的事情
They then do something rather remarkable.
它们会把这些石头通通吞下
They swallow them.
它们需要这些石头来作为压载物和砂囊石
They need the stones to act both as ballast and as gizzard stones.
胃石会留在它们的胃里
Gastroliths which will remain in their stomachs
磨碎未咀嚼的食物
to grind up their unchewed food.
对于幼年蛇颈龙来说
For a youngster,
第一次学习吞鹅卵石可不是件容易事
learning to swallow pebbles for the first time isn't easy.
这需要一点练习
It takes a little practice.
但这也是它妈妈 在雄蛇颈龙中找到合适配偶的机会
But it's also a chance for his mother to find a suitable mate amongst the males.
小蛇颈龙终于成功了
For the calf, at last, success.
现在 它会吞下尽可能多的鹅卵石
Now, he will swallow as many as he can.
等它长大后 它会再回来这里 吞更多的鹅卵石
And, as he grows, he'll return here for more.
这一家人是时候离开这个海岸
It's time for the family to leave the coast
回到海里去觅食了
and head back out to sea to feed.
对于年幼的蛇颈龙来说
And for the young tuarangisaur,
这是迈向成年的重要一步
that is an important step on the road to adulthood.
在南欧
In southern Europe,
大西洋和大特提斯海交汇的地方
where the Atlantic meets the great Tethys Sea,
沿海生物的多样性也许达到了最高程度
coastal life reaches perhaps its greatest diversity.
不断上升的海平面 意味着有无数被淹没的岛屿
Rising sea level means that there are countless submerged islands
上面布满了海绵 蛤蜊和珊瑚
covered with sponges, clams and corals.
珊瑚充分利用这些浅滩的阳光
Corals take advantage of the sunshine in these shallows,
与生长在它们组织内的藻类合作
forming partnerships with algae that grow within their tissues.
它们收集洋流中漂浮的食物微粒
They collect tiny particles of food floating in the ocean currents.
无数的海洋生物包裹在坚硬的岩石上
Myriads of these marine creatures encrust the solid rock.
但这里有一块岩石看起来格外光秃
But one rock here appears surprisingly bare.
这块石头之外是陡峭的悬崖和深海
Beyond is a sheer drop-off and the deep sea,
是海洋捕食者的家园
home to oceanic predators…
也是没有警惕性的珊瑚礁鱼的危险之地
and danger for unwary reef fish.
但这条重齿目 鱼没什么好怕的
But this pycnodont fish has little to fear.
这是霍夫曼沧龙 是海洋中最致命的掠食者
This is Hoffman's mosasaur, the ocean's deadliest predator.
但它不是来这里用餐的 而是来洗澡
But he's not here to eat. He's come to be cleaned.
沧龙是一种巨型蜥蜴 拥有蜥蜴分叉的舌头
Mosasaurs are giant lizards and have both a lizard's forked tongue,
还有着蜥蜴在交♥配♥季节时的彩色外皮
and during the mating season, a lizard's colorful skin.
现在是褪去旧皮的时候了
Now it's time to shed old skin.
当你想让自 己看起来焕然一新
And when you need to look your best,
只有全身磨砂能帮上忙
nothing but an all-over body scrub will do.
鱼虾啄掉它身上脱落的鳞片
Fish and shrimp pick scales shed from his body.
浮出水面小憩可以让这只 在海中遨游的蜥蜴
Resting at the surface allows this sea-going, air-breathing lizard
呼吸新鲜空气
to fill his lungs,
和放松
and relax.
敌人来了
A rival.
一只年轻的雄性霍夫曼沧龙 来争夺这块领地
A younger male, challenging for this territory.
年长的沧龙超过 15 吨♥ 比年轻的更重一些
The old male is heavier, over 15 tons.
但它的对手则更灵活
But his rival is more nimble.
当它们势均力敌的时候 这场战斗必将拼个你死我活
When they are as evenly matched as this, these battles can be lethal.
人们发现的有些沧龙头骨里
Mosasaurs have been found with the shattered teeth of rivals
嵌着对手破碎的牙齿
embedded in their skulls.
年长的雄性沧龙快速喘了口气
The old male snatches a breath.
现在它占了上风
Now he has the advantage.
它将对手拖下水深处 就能淹死它
By dragging his rival down, he could drown him.
最终年长的雄性沧龙获胜了
The old male has triumphed.
至少在当下 这片暗礁仍是它的领地
For now, at least, this reef is still his territory.
北美海岸附近挂着一弯新月
A crescent moon off the coast of North America.
随之而来平静而黑暗的夜晚 会触发一场罕见的美丽事件
The calm, dark nights that follow trigger a rare and beautiful event.
今夜 即使是在大海深处也有了光亮
Tonight, even in the deep, there is light.
闪着光的菊石从海底深渊中升起
Glowing ammonites rise from the abyss.
菊石是软体动物 与章鱼和鱿鱼有亲缘关系
Ammonites are mollusks, related to octopus and squid.
这些船菊石还没有人的手掌大
These scaphitids are no bigger than a human hand.
数周以来 它们一直在沿海深处聚集
For weeks, they've been gathering in the coastal depths.
在深海处 它们可以用这些光 把浮游生物吸引来当食物
In the deep, these lights may help lure plankton as food.
但在今晚 这些光发挥了不同的作用
But tonight, they serve a different purpose.
它们被吸引到水面上进行交♥配♥
They've been drawn to the surface to mate.
很快 每个鱼群中就有数千只船菊石
And soon there are thousands in each shoal.
它们互相触碰 制♥造♥出 一片片生物光的波浪
Neighbor triggers neighbor, creating waves of bioluminescence.
它们有复杂的神经系统
They have complex nervous systems,
控制着制♥造♥亮光的细胞 也叫做发光细胞
controlling light-producing cells called photocytes.
雄性船菊石 在较大的雌船菊石周围争抢位置
The males jostle for a place around the larger females.
让雌性从雄性的求偶表演中 看出谁才是最合适交♥配♥的最好伴侣
Clues from their displays tell her who is the fittest and who is the best mate.
当情侣们纠缠在一起时 它们会共同进行灯光表演
As couples entwine, they coordinate their light displays.
如果雄船菊石跟不上雌船菊石的节奏 它的求偶就会被拒绝
If he can't match her precise rhythm, he'll be rejected.
但也有完美的同步
But there is perfect synchrony.
这一对菊石现在将产卵 并帮助生产下一代
This pair will now spawn and help produce the next generation.
受精后
After fertilization,
雌船菊石会进入浅水区产卵
the females enter the shallows to release their eggs.
和大多数头足类动物一样
As with most cephalopods,
繁殖是它们短暂生命中最后一个篇章
breeding is the final act of their short lives.
到了早晨 这些亮光会变弱 然后熄灭
By morning, these lights will have flickered and died.
这个神奇的夜晚将是它们生命的最后一晚
This magical night will be their last.
在整个地球上 海岸对动物来说 是一个理想的地方
All over the globe, the coast provides an ideal place
无数动物在海岸交♥配♥ 养育后代及捕食
for countless animals to mate, raise their young, and to feed.
回到西兰蒂亚的浅海中
Back in the shallow waters of Zealandia,
大群的蛇颈龙聚集在一起
large groups of tuarangisaurs have come together.
凭借四个龙鳍的推动 它们几乎毫不费力地前进
They propel themselves with all four fins and travel almost effortlessly
找到了夏天聚集在这里的鱼群
to find the fish shoals that gather here in summer.
它们会时不时冲出水面大口吸气
Occasionally, they break the surface to gulp air
然后再继续潜入水下前进
before continuing on their underwater flight.
但有一只雌蛇颈龙 没有像往常那样优雅地游泳
But one female is not swimming with her usual grace.
它和两岁大的幼崽落在了蛇颈龙群的后面
She and her two-year-old calf are lagging behind the rest of the group.
她移♥动♥得相当吃力
She's moving rather laboriously.
这个情况并没有被忽视
And that has not gone unnoticed.
一个致命猎手巨型海蜥蜴出现了
A deadly hunter, Kaikaifilu.
这只明显身体不适的雌性蛇颈龙 是一个诱人的目 标
The apparently stricken female is a tempting target.
潜入更深的水域可能会让它不那么脆弱
Diving to deeper water might make her less vulnerable.
对幼崽来说 试图分散沧龙的注意力 是一个危险游戏
For the calf, trying to distract the mosasaur is a dangerous game.
但这是在为母亲争取时间
But it's buying time.
母亲和幼崽不完全是孤立无援
The mother and calf are not entirely alone.
这些动物之间也许有血缘关系
These individuals may be related,
把巨型海蜥蜴赶走对它们都有好处
and it's in all their interests to drive Kaikaifilu away.
这就是这只雌性蛇颈龙明显痛苦的原因
This is the reason for the female's apparent distress.
它怀孕了
She's pregnant.
而现在 在怀孕一年半之后
And now, after a one-and-a-half year pregnancy,
宝宝终于被生了下来
a baby.
它身长超过 3 米 几乎是它母亲身长的一半
Over ten feet long, nearly half the length of its mother.
真的是史上最大的婴儿之一
One of the biggest babies of all time.
它需要到水面上去 进行出生后的第一次呼吸
It needs to get to the surface to take its very first breath.
这只幼年蛇颈龙能活 80 年
This young tuarangisaur could live for 80 years.
现在在家族的支持下
Now, supported by her family,
它可以作为一个掠食者
she can take her place as a predator…
生活在地球上最富饶的栖息地之一
in one of the richest habitats on Earth,
我们这个史前星球海岸周围的海洋里
the seas around the coasts of our prehistoric planet.
《Prehistoric Planet》 下集预告
Next on Prehistoric Planet,
巨型恐龙在炙热的沙漠中 为了争夺伴侣而搏斗
giant dinosaurs wrestle to win a mate in baking-hot deserts.
在地球各地
And across the globe,
了不起的生存专家必须使出浑身解数
remarkable specialists must use every trick they can to survive
才能在地球上最荒凉的地方存活下来
in the most inhospitable places on Earth.
要想了解这些故事背后的科学
To discover the science behind the stories,
请去《Prehistoric Planet》 网页了解更多
go now to the Prehistoric Planet show page.
