美國猶他州驚現恐龍新物種

Remains of the newest member of the dinosaurs were discovered recently in the American state of Utah by a team of British and American scientists. Named the Brontomerus Mcintoshi, the creature has been given the nickname "thunder thighs" because of its huge legs. They date from the early Cretaceous period, which began around 145 million years ago and ended 65 million years ago.

日前一隊由美國和英國科學家組成的科考隊在美國猶他州發現了一種新型恐龍化石。這個新恐龍隨即被命名爲Brontomerus Mcintoshi，並以其壯碩的大腿被冠以綽號“雷腿”。據悉，他們最早生活在白堊紀早期，亦即1億4千5百萬年前到6千5百萬年前。

The remains included a juvenile's left ilium bone, which forms part of the pelvis, and also a near complete left scapula of a presumably adult. The scientists also found well preserved vertebrae from the creature as well as a complete rib bone.

發掘出的化石包括一隻幼龍的左髂骨（骨盆的一部分），亦即一隻疑似成年恐龍的完整的左肩胛骨。科學家們還發現了保存完好的椎骨以及一個完整的肋骨。

They used the bones they discovered to match certain known criteria to determine what species of dinosaur they came from. Using five variables, and particularly focused on the size and other factors within the ilium bone, they confirmed it was from the Sauropod family.

科學家們將這些化石魚已知恐龍化石進行比對，以確定新發現恐龍所屬種類。進行了5組比對後，尤其是就髂骨的大小等種種因素進行分析後，他們確定該恐龍來自蜥腳類家族。

It was the eighth discovery of remains from a member of that species in North America and there are expected to be more in the future.

此次發現堪稱蜥腳類恐龍家族在北美洲的第8次現身，科學家預計將來會有更多出土。