The Discovery
A remarkably rare dinosaur fossil has made history after fetching $47.3 million at an auction in New York City. Nicknamed "Jodi," the skeleton belongs to a Nanotyrannus, a creature that closely resembles a miniature Tyrannosaurus rex. The specimen was originally found on a Montana ranch in 2019 by landowner Jodi Pierson. A team of professional fossil hunters subsequently excavated the skeleton, an effort showcased in the 2020 Discovery Channel documentary series "Dino Hunters." The specimen is exceptionally rare, representing one of only three known Nanotyrannus skeletons ever found.
What Scientists Found
For decades, paleontologists questioned whether Nanotyrannus was a unique creature or merely a juvenile T. rex. Research published last year officially settled the debate, establishing that it was a distinct genus and a distant cousin of the T. rex. Both species shared the same habitat during the Cretaceous period around 67 million years ago.
The skeleton of "Jodi," which was displayed at Sotheby’s upper Manhattan headquarters, is considered almost 70% complete and reveals clear physical differences from its famous relative:
- It was about half the length of an adult T. rex, measuring nearly 20 feet (6 meters) long and standing 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall.
- It featured longer forelimbs and noticeably larger hand claws.
- It possessed teeth that were more slender and blade-like than those of a T. rex.
Why It Matters
The sale at Sotheby's sparked intense bidding among six prospective buyers over approximately 12 minutes before an anonymous bidder secured the fossil. The final price dwarfed the auction house's original estimate of $6 to $9 million. It now stands as the second-highest price ever paid for dinosaur bones, behind only a T. rex named "Gus" that sold for $50.1 million.
While auction representatives highlighted how the discovery demonstrates the public's ability to contribute to scientific knowledge, the sale has renewed debate in the scientific community. Several scientists voiced opposition to private fossil auctions, arguing that major specimens like "Jodi" belong in museums and research institutions where they can be studied by academics and appreciated by the public.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published November 01, 2026 · Photo by Smithsonian on Unsplash
