T rex fossil ‘Gus’ sells for $50.1m at New York auction, setting new record
Summary
A complete T. rex fossil named Gus sold at Sotheby’s auction in New York for $50.1 million, setting a new record for dinosaur fossils sold at auction. The skeleton is one of the largest and most complete ever found, but some scientists worry that selling fossils to private buyers limits access for research.Key Facts
- Gus is a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton about 67 million years old and was found in South Dakota.
- It sold for $50.1 million, above the estimated price of $20-30 million.
- The skeleton is about 3.8 meters (12.5 feet) tall and around 38 feet long.
- It is about 61% complete by bone count and 75-80% complete by weight, with an exceptionally well-preserved skull.
- The fossil shows signs of injuries and bite marks from the dinosaur’s life and after death.
- The sale broke the previous auction record of $44.6 million for a Stegosaurus named Apex.
- Some paleontologists are concerned that selling fossils privately could prevent scientific study, since privately owned fossils may not be available to museums or researchers.
- In the US, landowners can legally sell fossils found on their property, which makes such auctions legal.
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