Rare Nanotyrannus Fossil Fetches $47 Million at NYC Auction

In a notable auction in New York City, a skeleton of a Nanotyrannus, a dinosaur that resembles a smaller version of the T. rex, sold for an astonishing $47.3 million. The auction, conducted by Sotheby’s, concluded with a mystery buyer outbidding five competitors in a live bidding session that lasted about 12 minutes on Tuesday.

Unlike what was previously thought, this specimen has been verified as a distinct cousin of the Tyrannosaurus rex, rather than a young T. rex. Nicknamed “Jodi,” the nearly complete skeleton is one of only three known specimens and has been on display at Sotheby’s, where it was estimated to sell for between $6 to $9 million. This makes it the second-most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold, following the record-setting $50.1 million sale of a T. rex named “Gus” earlier this summer.