The Discovery
In 2019, a Montana rancher named Jodi Pierson discovered a rare dinosaur skeleton. Paleontologist Clayton Phipps, known as the Dinosaur Cowboy, later excavated the remains alongside a team of fossil hunters. The unearthing of the specimen was subsequently featured on the Discovery Channel series Dino Hunters in 2020.
What Scientists Found
The remarkably complete fossil belongs to a Nanotyrannus nicknamed Jodi. It represents one of only three substantial Nanotyrannus specimens known to science. The broader classification of this dinosaur has sparked scientific debate for decades. The exact dimensions and geological age of the specimen are not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Why It Matters
The skeleton recently achieved a historic sale at a Sotheby's auction in New York. Following a 12-minute bidding battle between six collectors on a Tuesday, the fossil sold for $47.3 million. This transaction makes Jodi the second most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction, finishing just behind a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton named Gus that set the record at $50.1 million in July.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published October 28, 2026 · Photo by Edwin Chen on Unsplash
