Scientists Estimate All-time T. Rex Population Was 2.5 Billion
2021-04-20
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1A new study suggests that up to 2.5 billion Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaurs lived on Earth over a period of a few million years.
2However, the research shows that not many of these powerful creatures lived in the same place at the same time.
3Tyrannosaurus Rex, commonly known as T. rex, existed on Earth for millions of years.
4Scientists involved in the study estimate about 2.5 billion of them lived over a period of 2.4 million years.
5The dinosaurs mostly lived in the area of the world now known as North America.
6A team at the University of California at Berkeley came up with a method to estimate how many T. rex, called "the dinosaur king," had ever lived.
7The findings were recently published in the journal Science.
8The method aimed to establish a relationship between body size and population density.
9The scientists based their research on the theory that the larger an animal is, the smaller its population will be.
10To come up with an overall number, the team considered the dinosaur's body size, sexual maturity and energy needs.
11Experts say it is the first time that such an estimate has been made.
12Some scientists who study dinosaurs said they are very interested in the new findings.
13Kristi Curry Rogers is a paleobiologist at Macalester College.
14She said she "did a double-take" when she saw the number.
15Charles Marshall was the main writer of the study.
16He is the director of the University of California Museum of Paleontology.
17"That's a lot of jaws," he said.
18"That's a lot of teeth. That's a lot of claws."
19The researchers said a city the size of Washington D.C. would likely have had only two T. rex living in the area.
20They estimated that around 4,000 would have lived on a piece of land the size of a large state, like California.
21The estimates are useful for scientists who study dinosaurs because it helps them understand the percentage of T. rex bones, or fossils, that have survived.
22Marshall said there have only been about 100 identifiable T. rex fossils ever found.
23That means that if there had only been 2.5 million of the dinosaurs, humans might never have learned about them.
24The scientists considered that a T. rex lived about 28 years and that it had food needs somewhere between a large lizard and a lion.
25Since all the numbers are just estimates, the scientists say the results are not perfect.
26They think it is possible the actual number of T. rex was somewhere between 140 million and 42 billion.
27The middle number is about 2.4 billion.
28Some people may question why scientists choose to research animals that lived so long ago.
29James Farlow, a geology professor from Purdue University offered his opinion.
30He said he believes the study is important, but also, "this kind of thing is very cool."
31I'm Dan Friedell.
1A new study suggests that up to 2.5 billion Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaurs lived on Earth over a period of a few million years. 2However, the research shows that not many of these powerful creatures lived in the same place at the same time. 3Tyrannosaurus Rex, commonly known as T. rex, existed on Earth for millions of years. Scientists involved in the study estimate about 2.5 billion of them lived over a period of 2.4 million years. The dinosaurs mostly lived in the area of the world now known as North America. 4A team at the University of California at Berkeley came up with a method to estimate how many T. rex, called "the dinosaur king," had ever lived. The findings were recently published in the journal Science. 5The method aimed to establish a relationship between body size and population density. The scientists based their research on the theory that the larger an animal is, the smaller its population will be. 6To come up with an overall number, the team considered the dinosaur's body size, sexual maturity and energy needs. Experts say it is the first time that such an estimate has been made. 7Some scientists who study dinosaurs said they are very interested in the new findings. 8Kristi Curry Rogers is a paleobiologist at Macalester College. She said she "did a double-take" when she saw the number. 9Charles Marshall was the main writer of the study. He is the director of the University of California Museum of Paleontology. 10"That's a lot of jaws," he said. "That's a lot of teeth. That's a lot of claws." 11The researchers said a city the size of Washington D.C. would likely have had only two T. rex living in the area. They estimated that around 4,000 would have lived on a piece of land the size of a large state, like California. 12The estimates are useful for scientists who study dinosaurs because it helps them understand the percentage of T. rex bones, or fossils, that have survived. 13Marshall said there have only been about 100 identifiable T. rex fossils ever found. That means that if there had only been 2.5 million of the dinosaurs, humans might never have learned about them. 14The scientists considered that a T. rex lived about 28 years and that it had food needs somewhere between a large lizard and a lion. 15Since all the numbers are just estimates, the scientists say the results are not perfect. They think it is possible the actual number of T. rex was somewhere between 140 million and 42 billion. The middle number is about 2.4 billion. 16Some people may question why scientists choose to research animals that lived so long ago. James Farlow, a geology professor from Purdue University offered his opinion. He said he believes the study is important, but also, "this kind of thing is very cool." 17I'm Dan Friedell. 18Seth Borenstein of The Associated Press wrote this story. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 19What do you think of the large number of T. rex? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 20___________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22maturity -n. to officially decide (something) especially because of evidence or facts : to establish (something) exactly or with authority 23double-take -n. an act of quickly looking at something that is surprising or unusual a second time after looking at it a moment earlier 24jaw -n. either one of the two bones of the face where teeth grow 25claw -n. a sharp curved part on the toe of an animal (such as a cat or bird) 26cool -adj. very fashionable, stylish, or appealing