A rare Nanotyrannus skeleton named "Jodi" sold for $47.3 million, including fees, at Sotheby's in New York. The final price exceeded its $9 million high estimate by more than five times. The winning bid was $40.5 million before fees.
Discovered in Montana's Hell Creek Formation in 2019, the fossil is nearly 20 feet long and contains 191 bone elements, including a near-complete skull. It is one of only three known Nanotyrannus skeletons.
Scientists once debated whether Nanotyrannus was a distinct dinosaur or a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex. Research published in Nature last year supported its classification as a separate genus that lived alongside the larger predator.
Jodi's sale comes close to Sotheby's recent $50.1 million result for the T. rex skeleton "Gus," which set an auction record for a dinosaur fossil. The strong price also reflects growing collector interest in rare prehistoric specimens, which are increasingly prominent in the high-end market.
As scientific research continues to clarify the history of these animals, landmark fossils may gain both cultural and scientific significance in the years ahead.
