Skeleton of giant T rex ancestor sells for $6.1 million – 76 million years after it roamed the earth | US News
The fossilized skeleton of a T rex relative known as Gorgosaurus that roamed the earth 10 million years ago when its descendants were sold for $6.1 million (£5.01 million) in auction.
The giant carnivorous creature, which stalked its prey in what is now the western United States and Canada 76 million years ago, was caught at Sotheby’s in New York on Thursday.
The specimen for sale was discovered in 2018 in the Judith River Formation near Havre, Montana, Sotheby’s said.
It is almost 10ft tall and 22ft long.
All other known Gorgosaurus skeletons are in the museum’s collections, making this the only specimen available for private ownership, according to the auction house.
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Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s global head of science and popular culture, said ahead of the auction: “During my career, I have had the privilege of handling and selling many special and unique objects. , but few have the ability to inspire wonders and capture the imagination like this unbelievable Gorgosaurus skeleton.”
Sotheby’s pre-sale estimates for the fossil are between $5 million and $8 million (£4.1 million and £6.6 million).
