Rare Nanotyrannus sells at auction for $47.3 million, becoming second most valuable fossil ever

Rare Nanotyrannus Sells at Auction for $47.3 Million

Earthguardiansonline.com – Rare Nanotyrannus sells at auction for $47.3 million after a competitive Sotheby’s sale in New York, making the skeleton named Jodi the second most valuable fossil ever sold at auction. Six bidders competed for roughly 12 minutes, driving the final price far above its $6 million to $9 million estimate.

The result fell just short of the $50.1 million paid in July for Gus, an exceptional Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. Jodi is a Nanotyrannus, a smaller tyrannosaur whose identity as a separate species from T. rex has long been debated.

Standing 9.6 feet tall and measuring 19.6 feet long, Jodi is a little more than half the length of Gus. Its rarity helped make it attractive to collectors: scientists know of only three relatively complete Nanotyrannus skeletons.

Discovery in Montana’s Hell Creek Formation

Rancher Jodi Pierson found the fossil in Montana in 2019, and the specimen was named in her honor. Commercial paleontologist Clayton Phipps, known as the “Dinosaur Cowboy,” excavated the remains.

Jodi came from the Hell Creek Formation, a fossil-rich area spanning parts of Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota. The region has produced many major dinosaur discoveries, including an early T. rex skeleton recovered in 1902.

Phipps also discovered the “Dueling Dinosaurs” in 2006 near Jodi’s excavation site. That pair, now at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, includes a Triceratops and a smaller tyrannosaur identified as Nanotyrannus. Another relatively complete specimen, Jane, is held by the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, Illinois.

Why the fossil is important

Scientists have spent decades debating whether Nanotyrannus was a distinct dinosaur or a juvenile T. rex. Recent research has strengthened the argument that it was a separate species, increasing the value of well-preserved examples for studying tyrannosaur anatomy, growth and diversity.

Jodi is considered an adult based on its size and bone development. The fossil includes 191 bone elements and an almost complete skull. Some missing portions were replaced with 3D-printed and sculpted pieces so the skeleton could be displayed more fully while separating reconstructed material from original fossil remains.

The sale included full rights to the specimen, allowing its buyer to make and sell replicas for museums or private collectors. The purchaser’s identity was not disclosed.

Concerns over private ownership

As rare Nanotyrannus sells at auction for such a high price, paleontologists have renewed concerns that important fossils may become unavailable for research. Museum collections allow specimens to be repeatedly studied, compared and shared with the public, while access to a privately owned fossil depends on its owner.

“We’ve really just found out that Nanotyrannus is real, and now one of the best skeletons is about to be sold to the highest bidder,” said Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution at the University of Edinburgh.

Jodi’s scarcity is central to both its auction value and its scientific potential. Researchers could use the specimen to better understand how Nanotyrannus differed from T. rex and whether features in other fossils reflect age, normal variation or a separate species.

FAQ: Jodi and the Nanotyrannus Auction

Why did Jodi sell for so much?

The skeleton is unusually complete, includes an almost complete skull and is one of only three relatively complete Nanotyrannus specimens known to science.

Where was Jodi found?

Jodi was discovered in Montana’s Hell Creek Formation, a region known for important Late Cretaceous dinosaur fossils.

Will the public be able to see Jodi?

That has not been announced. Because the buyer is private and unidentified, future public display or research access will be decided by the owner.