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VOA科学技术2024--Large Chilean Frog at Risk from Climate Change

时间：2025-01-22 07:53:14

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A large frog species that lived alongside dinosaurs1 and is considered a "living fossil" is now losing ground in its native Chile.

Climate change and human actions are damaging the creature's living environment, or habitat.

The Helmeted Water Toad2 is one of the largest frogs in the world, growing up to over 30 centimeters in length and weighing up to one kilogram.

The amphibian3 has experienced little genetic4 change for millions of years. But now its future is at risk, scientists say.

"It's sad that a species that managed to coexist with dinosaurs, that managed to resist a mass extinction5, is now threatened by human beings," said Melissa Cancino. Cancino is an animal doctor and founder6 of Proyecto Anfibia, a group that works on amphibian research and education in Chile.

The Helmeted Water Toad's environment covers a large part of the country, but its population is suspected to have decreased by at least 30 percent since 1990. The creature is identified as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List.

Climate change, habitat changes, environmental decline and pollution have all caused the Helmeted Water Toad's numbers to decline, Cancino said. Poor water and waste management have also threatened the frog's living environment.

Matias Faundez, another member of Proyecto Anfibia, has seen the damage first hand.

"This estuary7 runs through the whole city, and has plenty of illegal run-offs," he said as he walked through a stream outside of Valparaiso. "Even so," he added, "the frog manages to survive."

I'm John Russell.

Rodrigo Gutierrez reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

species - n. a class of animals having common attributes and a common name

amphibian - n. any of a class of cold-blooded animals (such as frogs) that have gilled aquatic8 young and air-breathing adult

vulnerable - adj. open to attack or damage

extinction - n. the act of completely dying off

estuary - n. a part of the sea at the lower end of a river


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1 dinosaurs 87f9c39b9e3f358174d58a584c2727b4     
n.恐龙( dinosaur的名词复数 )；守旧落伍的人，过时落后的东西
参考例句：
  • The brontosaurus was one of the largest of all dinosaurs. 雷龙是所有恐龙中最大的一种。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years. 恐龙绝种已有几百万年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 toad oJezr     
n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆
参考例句：
  • Both the toad and frog are amphibian.蟾蜍和青蛙都是两栖动物。
  • Many kinds of toad hibernate in winter.许多种蟾蜍在冬天都会冬眠。
3 amphibian mwHzx     
n.两栖动物；水陆两用飞机和车辆
参考例句：
  • The frog is an amphibian,which means it can live on land and in water.青蛙属于两栖动物，也就是说它既能生活在陆地上也能生活在水里。
  • Amphibian is an important specie in ecosystem and has profound meaning in the ecotoxicology evaluation.两栖类是生态系统中的重要物种，并且对环境毒理评价有着深远意义。
4 genetic PgIxp     
adj.遗传的，遗传学的
参考例句：
  • It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
  • Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。
5 extinction sPwzP     
n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种
参考例句：
  • The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
  • The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。
6 Founder wigxF     
n.创始者，缔造者
参考例句：
  • He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
  • According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。
7 estuary ynuxs     
n.河口，江口
参考例句：
  • We live near the Thames estuary.我们的住处靠近泰晤士河入海口。
  • The ship has touched bottom.The estuary must be shallower than we thought.船搁浅了。这河口的水比我们想像的要浅。
8 aquatic mvXzk     
adj.水生的，水栖的
参考例句：
  • Aquatic sports include swimming and rowing.水上运动包括游泳和划船。
  • We visited an aquatic city in Italy.我们在意大利访问过一个水上城市。

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