Sotheby’s is preparing to auction a rare fossilized skeleton known as "Jodi" in New York on Tuesday, October 27. Estimated to bring between $6 million and $9 million, it is the first Nanotyrannus specimen brought to market since scientific research confirmed the animal as its own distinct genus rather than a young Tyrannosaurus rex. The skeleton was previously displayed in 2023 under the name "Chomper" with a $20 million asking price, but its valuation was revised following its official reclassification.
The Discovery
Rancher Jodi Pierson found the fossil in 2019 on her private land in Garfield County, eastern Montana. The site forms part of the Hell Creek Formation, a famous dinosaur-hunting ground. Pierson enlisted her cousin, commercial paleontologist Clayton Phipps, to excavate the remains in a dig featured on the Discovery Channel series Dino Hunters.
The mounted skeleton stands approximately 6.5 feet tall and spans roughly 19.6 feet in length. Estimated to be about 55 percent complete, it includes a virtually full skull with 53 bones and 35 teeth, as well as a wishbone, thighbone, complete pelvis, and all four claws. It ranks second in completeness among known Nanotyrannus fossils, behind only the specimen known as "Bloody Mary."
What Scientists Found
The reclassification was established in a Nature study by Lindsay Zanno and James Napoli of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. After reviewing around 200 tyrannosaur fossils worldwide, researchers identified approximately 150 anatomical features that distinguish Nanotyrannus from its larger relative.
The research demonstrated that Nanotyrannus was a mature, fast-moving predator that inhabited the same ecosystem as T. rex about 67 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. Distinctive characteristics include:
- Longer forelimbs equipped with larger hand claws.
- A greater number of teeth compared to T. rex.
- A smaller, specialized body frame averaging roughly 18 feet long at adult size.
Why It Matters
This scientific shift alters the understanding of Cretaceous food webs by demonstrating that T. rex was not the sole large carnivore in its environment. Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s head of science and natural history, noted that the specimen illustrates how paleontology continues to evolve as new evidence emerges. The fossil will go on public display starting October 13 at Sotheby’s galleries in the Breuer building in New York ahead of the sale.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published October 07, 2026 · Photo by Kevin Rein Bantang on Unsplash