Dinosaur skeleton once mistaken for Tyrannosaurus Rex sells for whopping $47.3million at auction
The specimen nicknamed 'Jodi' was purchased by an anonymous donor
TL;DR
- A fossil skeleton, previously thought to be a juvenile T. rex, sold for $47.3 million.
- Scientists have determined the skeleton belongs to a separate genus, Nanotyrannus.
- The specimen, named 'Jodi,' was unearthed in Montana in 2019.
- Jodi is approximately 20 feet long and 70% complete.
- Nanotyrannus is described as a swift, specialized meat-eating tyrannosaurid distinct from T. rex in anatomy.
- The sale price significantly exceeded Sotheby's pre-sale estimate.
- This makes Jodi the second most valuable dinosaur skeleton ever sold at auction, after 'Gus' the T. rex.
- Some scientists criticize the commercial trade of fossils, fearing they will be inaccessible for research.
- Sotheby's highlights the contribution to science through preservation efforts.