It's all about getting your genes in the next generation.
你只想把自己的基因傳給下一代。
Evolution tends to favor types of displays between members of the same species that are not necessarily lethal,
進化常常偏愛相同物種中成員間的各種形態的表現形式,那未必會是致命的,
that it becomes clear that the one who wins that match has something better than the other one...
那很清楚地表明在戰斗中獲勝的一方一定是在某方面強于對手更健康的外形,
a healthier pattern, a more vigorous display, hinting at a better internal condition, a more healthy condition.
更具活力的表現,都暗示著其內部狀況更優秀也更健康。
One of those things that seem to be ture in the animal kingdom of the day is that when animals have extreme structures,
在動物王國里,有一條顛撲不破的真理說的是,當動物擁有終極構造時,
they do use them as a display-board and advertising-board, especially during the breeding season.
它們一定會拿來當做自己的"標簽"和"宣傳板",在繁殖季節尤為突出。
Weighing in at six tons, Triceratops are the street fighters of the Cretaceous.
體重達六噸的三角龍是白堊紀時期的街頭斗士。
For this brute, the most powerful herbivore of all time, evolution means getting stronger, tougher and meaner.
對這種野獸來說,作為史上最強大的食草動物,進化就意味著變得更強壯,更堅韌,還有更兇惡。
And those are exactly the traits females look for in males.
而這些特性正是雌性恐龍所看重的。
Triceratops' bony frill forms a defensive shield.
三角龍的骨質褶邊形成了一塊防御盾牌。
A strong one is a sign of strength and power.
強壯的盾牌就是力量和能力的象征。
But maybe it advertises something else as well.
但也許這也能展現其他東西。
The frill might have evolved as a defensive measure against predators.
這些褶邊已進化成了一項能夠抵御食肉動物的防御措施。
It might have evolved as a species-recognition character.
那也許是一種屬于這個物種獨有的特征。
But there's no reason why it couldn't have been taken advantage of in the evolutionary process as a sexual billboard.
但它們也有充分的理由在進化的過程中把這當成一塊"求偶廣告牌"。
So a Triceratops' frill could, like a peacock's feathers, be a display of virility?
那么三角龍的褶邊能像孔雀的尾羽一樣成為一種炫耀的資本嗎?
One clue is that it changes color.
線索之一就是它會變色。
The bone that forms this shield is riddled with a meshwork of arteries and veins.
形成盾牌的骨頭上布滿了縱橫交錯的動脈和靜脈。
In times of stress or excitement, hormones are released into the bloodstream.
在緊張或興奮的情況下荷爾蒙就會被釋放到血液中。
Arteries in the neck widen, and blood rushes to the frill, turning it blood red.
此時頸動脈就會擴張,血液會直沖褶邊把它變成了血紅色。
It's a ritualized drama with one single goal.
這種儀式化的戲劇性變化其目的只有一個。
They're gonna have to demonstrate to the females that they're the biggest and healthiest and perhaps smartest of the males,
它們想向雌性恐龍證明自己是最強壯的,最健康的,也許還是最聰明的,
that they have earned the right to reproduce by proving themselves worthy.
雄性恐龍它們要證明自己配得上獲得繁殖的權利。