A new study suggests that up to 2.5 billion Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaurs lived on Earth over a period of several million years.
However, research shows that not many of these powerful creatures lived in the same place at the same time.
Tyrannosaurus Rex, known as T. rex, has existed on Earth for millions of years. The scientists involved in the study estimate that about 2.5 billion of them lived over a period of 2.4 million years. Dinosaurs lived mostly in the area of the world now known as North America.
A team at the University of California, Berkeley, came up with a method to estimate how many T. rex, called the “king of dinosaurs,” ever lived. The findings were recently published in the journal Science.
The method aimed to establish a relationship between body size and population density. Scientists have based their research on the theory that the larger an animal, the smaller its population.
To come up with a general number, the team considered the size of the dinosaur’s body, sexual maturity and energy needs. Experts say this is the first time such an estimate has been made.
Some scientists studying dinosaurs have said they are very interested in the new discoveries.
Kristi Curry Rogers is a paleobiologist at Macalester College. She said she “made a take double“When he saw the number.
Charles Marshall was the lead writer of the study. He is the director of the Museum of Paleontology at the University of California.
“It simply came to our notice then jaw, “he said.” There are many teeth. That’s a lot talon. ”
Researchers said a city the size of Washington DC probably had only two T. rex living in the area. They estimated that about 4,000 would live on a piece of land the size of a large state, such as California.
Estimates are useful for scientists studying dinosaurs because they help them understand the percentage of T. rex bones or fossils that have survived.
Marshall said about 100 identifiable T. rex fossils have ever been found. This means that if there were only 2.5 million dinosaurs, humans would never have been able to find out about them.
Scientists have estimated that a T. rex lived for about 28 years and needs food somewhere between a large lizard and a lion.
Because all the numbers are just estimates, scientists say the results are not perfect. They believe that the actual number of T. rex may be between 140 and 42 billion. The average number is about 2.4 billion.
Some people may wonder why scientists choose to research animals that lived a long time ago. James Farlow, a professor of geology at Purdue University, expressed his opinion. He said he thinks the study is important, but also “this kind of thing is very cool. ”
This is Dan Friedell.
Seth Borenstein of the Associated Press wrote this story. Dan Friedell adapted it for learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor.
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Words in this story
maturity –N. to officially decide (something) especially because of the evidence or facts : to establish (something) exactly or with authority
take double –N. an act of quickly looking at something surprising or unusual the second time after looking at it a moment earlier
maxillary –N. either one of the two bones of the face where the teeth grow
Claw –N. a sharp curved part on the tip of an animal (such as a cat or a bird)
cool –Adj. very fashionable, elegant or attractive