In a landmark event at a New York auction, the largest stegosaurus skeleton ever discovered has fetched a staggering $44.6 million, setting a new record in the field of paleontology. Dubbed “Apex,” this 150-million-year-old skeleton stands 11 feet tall and spans 27 feet in length, captivating bidders worldwide.
Sotheby’s, the auction house overseeing the sale, announced on Wednesday that Apex was acquired by an anonymous American buyer after a heated bidding war involving six other contenders. This sale far exceeded Sotheby’s initial estimate of $4-6 million, surpassing the previous record set by a Tyrannosaurus rex named Stan, which sold for $31.8 million in 2020.
Apex’s sale has sparked debate among scientists regarding the commercialization of dinosaur fossils, with concerns that such specimens should ideally be housed in museums or research institutions accessible to the public.
Cassandra Hatton, who heads Sotheby’s science-related business, remarked on the significance of Apex, describing it as a “colouring book dinosaur” due to its remarkably preserved features. Stegosaurus, known for its distinctive plates along its back, remains one of the most recognizable dinosaurs in the world.
Discovered in May 2022 on private land near Dinosaur, Colorado, by paleontologist Jason Cooper, Apex’s journey to auction was meticulously documented by Sotheby’s in collaboration with Cooper. Despite controversies surrounding fossil sales, Sotheby’s noted that the buyer intends to explore options to loan Apex to an educational institution in the United States, ensuring its continued impact on scientific education.
