Home / Science / Tiny T. rex Cousin Sells for Shocking $47.3 Million
Tiny T. rex Cousin Sells for Shocking $47.3 Million
27 Oct
Summary
- Nanotyrannus skeleton sold for $47.3 million, far exceeding expectations.
- This rare fossil is the second-priciest dinosaur skeleton ever sold.
- Scientists debated if Nanotyrannus was distinct or a young T. rex.
A fossilized skeleton of Nanotyrannus, a dinosaur confirmed as a distinct genus distantly related to Tyrannosaurus rex, has achieved a remarkable sale price of $47.3 million at auction. This figure significantly exceeded Sotheby's initial estimate of $6 to $9 million. The skeleton, nicknamed "Jodi," is now the second most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold, following a T. rex fossil that sold for $50.1 million this summer.
The "Jodi" skeleton, nearly 70% complete, stands 6.5 feet tall and stretches 20 feet long. Nanotyrannus coexisted with T. rex approximately 67 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. This specimen, discovered in 2019, is one of only three known Nanotyrannus skeletons. While the sale of such significant fossils to private collectors is generating controversy among some scientists who advocate for public and museum access, it highlights the immense value placed on paleontological discoveries.
