The fossil, uncovered in 1996 at Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming, is one of only four known Ceratosaurus skeletons ever discovered and the only juvenile among them. Measuring over six feet tall and nearly 11 feet long, the 150-million-year-old relic includes 139 fossilized bone elements, 57 of which form what Sotheby’s calls a “superb, virtually complete skull.”
Described by the auction house as “one of the finest and most complete examples of its kind ever found,” the dinosaur far surpassed its $4 million to $6 million pre-sale estimate during a dramatic six-minute bidding war between six participants. It previously spent over two decades on display at the Museum of Ancient Life in Utah but has never been formally studied in scientific literature.
Ceratosaurus nasicornis was a carnivorous dinosaur known for its distinctive nasal horn, long teeth, and bony armor along its spine and tail. The species roamed North America during the late Jurassic period.
While Sotheby’s says the unnamed buyer intends to loan the fossil to an institution, paleontologists remain cautious.
“Who has that kind of money to spend on a dinosaur? Certainly not any museums or educational institutions,” said Steve Brusatte, a paleontology professor at the University of Edinburgh. “My fear is that this skeleton will disappear into the ether into a mansion or a bank vault.”Still, auction officials argue the private market can play a vital role in preserving and promoting scientific specimens.“These stellar results underscore a deep and enduring fascination with the natural world,” said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s global head of science and natural history. “What draws collectors is more than a passion for science; it’s curiosity about the forces that shaped our planet.”
The sale follows a trend of surging fossil prices, including last year’s record-breaking $44.6 million sale of “Apex,” a Stegosaurus skeleton that now resides at the American Museum of Natural History.
“Bottom line,” said Brusatte, “a world where dinosaur skeletons can fetch tens of millions of dollars is not a world where dinosaurs will long be accessible to educate and inspire everyone.”
