A remarkably rare fossil resembling a miniature Tyrannosaurus rex has fetched $47.3 million at an auction in New York City. The skeleton, nicknamed "Jodi," was sold at Sotheby's to an anonymous buyer who outbid five other prospective buyers during a live auction lasting roughly 12 minutes. The final price far surpassed initial expectations of $6 million to $9 million, making it the second-highest amount ever paid for dinosaur bones, behind only a T. rex skeleton named "Gus" that sold for $50.1 million.
The Discovery
The fossil was discovered in 2019 on land owned by Jodi Pierson, a rancher in Montana. The efforts of professional fossil hunters to discover and excavate the specimen were featured in the 2020 Discovery Channel documentary series "Dino Hunters." Standing 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall and stretching nearly 20 feet (6 meters) long, "Jodi" is considered almost 70% complete. It is one of only three such skeletons known to exist and was put on display at Sotheby's upper Manhattan headquarters earlier this month.
What Scientists Found
The specimen belongs to Nanotyrannus, a distant cousin of T. rex that coexisted with it during the Cretaceous period around 67 million years ago. For decades, researchers debated whether Nanotyrannus was a distinct type of dinosaur or merely a juvenile T. rex. Research published last year confirmed it was a distinct genus. Distinctive physical traits include:
- A total length about half that of an adult T. rex.
- Relatively longer forelimbs and larger hand claws.
- Teeth that are more slender and blade-like than those of T. rex.
Why It Matters
While representatives at Sotheby's highlighted how the preservation of the specimen contributes to science, the high-profile transaction has drawn criticism from parts of the scientific community. Several scientists oppose private sales, contending that significant fossils like "Jodi" should be placed in museums or academic institutions where researchers can study them and the public can view them. The long-term museum plans for the skeleton under its new owner are not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published October 27, 2026 · Photo by Kanicnan Intui on Unsplash
