Tyrannosaurus Rex Population Was Estimated At 1.7 Billion - Smaller Than Initially Predicted

Monday - May 22 2023, 16:10 UTC - 1 year ago

T. rex population has been estimated at around 1.7 billion, relatively smaller than the 2.5 billion initially predicted by a 2021 study. The new study was led by evolutionary ecologist Eva Griebeler of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz in Germany, and applied updated information suggesting the T. rex’s survival rate similar to modern birds and reptiles into the computer simulation model. Experts have recovered less than 1% of T. rex remains compared to its huge population size, suggesting that there is a lot to be learnt about this famous dinosaur species.

How many terrifying Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex) once roamed the Earth? This question is shrouded in mystery, making it difficult to reach a definitive answer. These massive predators dominated parts of the globe during the Cretaceous period around 68 million years ago.

In 2021, paleontologists estimated that up to 2.5 billion T. rexes lived on Earth during their entire existence. A new study, however, has refuted this claim.

The population was relatively smaller than initially predicted in the 2021 study, according to new research led by evolutionary ecologist Eva Griebeler of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz in Germany.

The number comes down to approximately 1.7 billion T.rex individuals that once lived on this planet.

The new study builds on previous research led by paleontologists from the University of California (UC), Berkeley. The UC team used a computer model that fed various factors such as average body weight, population density, geographic spread, egg count, average lifespan, and more that led to the prediction of this impressive population number. Altogether, this put the T. rex population at 2.5 billion people.

However, Griebeler suspected some discrepancies in the information fed into the computer simulation in the original study. Griebeler fine-tuned the model with updated data. The new study, for example, suggests that T. rex’s survival rates and egg-laying behavior may be similar to that of modern birds and reptiles. And that crucial information may have been overlooked in the original study.

When this new information entered the computer simulation model, these magnificent beasts' population reached around 1.7 billion.

Interestingly, according to new current estimates, experts have recovered less than one percent of the T. rex remains compared to its huge population size. With this update, there’s a lot to be learned about this famous dinosaur species.

This new study has been published in the journal Palaeontology.