# How many T rex skeletons have actually been found? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2007, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357 "2007-02-01T01:25:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/21 "2007-02-03T03:06:17Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Wait, you mean you guys’ musea only have one T. rex each? Man, I’m sorry. (just wanted to take the opportunity to brag about being three blocks away from the T. rex capital of the world :D) [/QUOTE] You may have more, but we have BETTER. Samson is the most complete skull known in the world to date. So 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/22 "2007-02-03T03:36:01Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Wait, you mean you guys’ musea only have one T. rex each? Man, I’m sorry. (just wanted to take the opportunity to brag about being three blocks away from the T. rex capital of the world :D) [/QUOTE] Maintaining a breeding stock in the area that used to be their natural habitat? :eek: Jeff Goldblum could tell you why that’s a bad idea! [Jeff Goldblum voice] (Never mind they’re petrified skeletons – Nature will find a way!! [/Jeff Goldblum voice] ---
**Author:** ![nuntosoon1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b38774/32.png) [@nuntosoon1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nuntosoon1)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/23 "2011-04-07T09:10:45Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Okay, first, _Tyrannosaurus rex_ is one species of dinosaur, and a giant predator (or predator/scavenger or scavenger, depending on your preferred paleoecological theory). It’s the most common specimen of genus Tyrannosaurus, which is in turn the most common genus in Family Tyrannosauridae. And examples of various tyrannosaurs are not uncommon, across two continents and several million years of strata. You have to recognize that an articulated skeleton (or even a disarticulated but complete skeleton) is one of the rarest of finds in tetrapod paleontology. Typically, what is found are teeth and/or a number of bones sufficient to classify the find as part of such-and-such a genus. Ten skeletons of one species of giant predator is not rare; it’s probably high for the average of preserved skeletons vs. living individuals of the age when the skeleton was deposited. > > Remember too that tyrannosaurs, along with ceratopsians (horned dinosaurs like Triceratops and Monoclonius), are fairly restricted in time and place: they are found in the last half dozen or so stages of the latest Cretaceous, perhaps a 10-15 million year interval, and in deposits only from (a) North America west of the mid-continent seaway of the time and (b) Asia north and east of similar barriers – basically north China, Mongolia, and eastern Siberia. Compared to sauropods, ornithopods, coelurosaurs, anylosaurs and nodosaurs, and other groups of comparative size, they’re restricted both in time and space. > > So the basic answer to your question is no, they’re not only not a small sample but actually a quite large one for what might be expected. (By comparison, I think there’s only one intact therazinosaur skeleton, though they were widespread and clearly therazinosaur (AKA segnosaur) skeletal remnants are quite common over a wide area and timespan.) > > Too, modern taxonomy has discovered something quite odd: a tyrannosaur was not a bigger, better, meaner allosaur or ceratosaur – the former group “Theropoda” of large carnivorous bipedal dinosaurs – but rather a gigantized coelurosaur, the small, agile carnivores like velociraptors and Compsognathus. This is proven by a series of skeletal specializations present in coelurosaurs and tyrannosaurs but not in the “medium large carnivores” like Allosaurus. (A good comparison might be if it were --hypothetically!-- discovered that black, brown, grizzly, sun, etc. bears were still members of the bear family, but that the polar bear, largest of them all, is actually a giant weasel that had evolved a bearlike build and hunting techniques as it grew to that size.) [/QUOTE] hi ---
**Author:** ![nuntosoon1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b38774/32.png) [@nuntosoon1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nuntosoon1)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/24 "2011-04-07T09:19:04Z")
from what i have heard is that their has only been one t-rex ever found with arms right. so that might mean that the t-rex’s supposedly short arms my be just our own theory the one that we found could have been a mutant or more commonly known as a natural muck up because this is just my own theory is that they had long arms because i don’t think that evolution would have left one of the earth’s most famous super predators in the world with such a weakness but this is just my own theory.😕 just think about it i could be right but then again i could be wrong ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/25 "2011-04-07T11:27:53Z")
Your “theory” is unfounded. Sue has her arms, and other spceimens are known. A T-Rex’s arms were only relatively tiny - they were about the size of a grown man’s legs. Quite strong enough and long enough to be used hold onto prey whilst chomping, or as braces to help the beastie stand up without scraping its jaw along the ground. (Until we get the chronovision set up and working again, all behavioural questions about dinosaurs are conjectural and provisional.) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/26 "2011-04-07T12:38:24Z")
> [@nuntosoon1](#): > > from what i have heard is that their has only been one t-rex ever found with arms right. > > so that might mean that the t-rex’s supposedly short arms my be just our own theory the one that we found could have been a mutant or more commonly known as a natural muck up because this is just my own theory is that they had long arms because i don’t think that evolution would have left one of the earth’s most famous super predators in the world with such a weakness but this is just my own theory.😕 just think about it i could be right but then again i could be wrong I don’t see why you automatically consider it a weakness. Anacondas don’t have _any_ limbs at all, and they manage just fine. Oh, and :eek: Zombie Dinosaur Thread! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/27 "2011-04-07T13:08:01Z")
Admit it. _Attack of the Zombie Dinosaurs (in 3D)_ would be the coolest movie ever. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/28 "2011-04-07T13:11:45Z")
My theory, which is mine, is that all brontosauruses are thin at one end, much, much thicker in the middle, and then thin again at the far end. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/29 "2011-04-07T13:23:45Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Your “theory” is unfounded. Sue has her arms, and other spceimens are known. > [@Mangetout](#): > > Oh, and :eek: Zombie Dinosaur Thread! For extra points, a zombie Tyrannosaur thread with Sue the Tyrannosaur in it! A treat for any [Harry Dresden](http://images.cryhavok.org/d/4402-2/Dresden+Files+Vol_+3+by+Dan+Dos+Santos.jpg) fan. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/30 "2011-04-07T14:10:33Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > My theory, which is mine, is that all brontosauruses are thin at one end, much, much thicker in the middle, and then thin again at the far end. Ahem. I have another theory. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/31 "2011-04-07T14:38:06Z")
I have an idea for a movie with an amusement park built on a dinosaur graveyard… ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/32 "2011-04-07T14:46:38Z")
This seems like a good place to share a photo collage I made up called “[Jurassic Elvis](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Vf9cgYA4CxY/TRv4E-rgXQI/AAAAAAAAc1E/1Ofg32N0jIo/s1600/Jurassic+Elvis.jpg)”. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/33 "2011-04-07T16:49:52Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > It was in the parking garage for a short while. That was fun seeing that in your rear view mirror. 🙂 “Must go faster. Must go faster. Go go go go go!” I wouldn’t have bothered, but it did get resurrected. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/34 "2011-04-07T17:03:38Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Oh, and :eek: Zombie Dinosaur Thread! I refer you to post #22. I blame **Chronos** for this! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/35 "2011-04-07T18:03:00Z")
**blondebear** , is that one in the bottom center at the Aperture Science Museum of Natural History? ---
**Author:** ![dmatsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@dmatsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dmatsch)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/36 "2011-04-07T20:41:13Z")
Polycarp, are you Jack Horner? ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/37 "2011-04-07T21:12:57Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > My theory, which is mine, is that all brontosauruses are thin at one end, much, much thicker in the middle, and then thin again at the far end. Yes, and they evolved into a snake over time as the middle got to thin to be a brontosaurus and the legs hadn’t quite yet been attached. Well that’s what happens when I show them to my daughter with Play Doh. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/38 "2011-04-07T21:39:47Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > My theory, which is mine, is that all brontosauruses are thin at one end, much, much thicker in the middle, and then thin again at the far end. My theory is that the T Rex fossils only have small arms while they are being observed. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/39 "2011-04-07T22:45:48Z")
Or, maybe they don’t have small arms, but oversized bodies. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357/40 "2011-04-07T22:54:19Z")
Actually, the arms aren’t small - they’re just far away. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-t-rex-skeletons-have-actually-been-found/390357.md?page=3)