One of three known Nanotyrannus skeletons hits the block for up to $9 million

A mounted skeleton of a Nanotyrannus, a carnivorous dinosaur distinct from the Tyrannosaurus rex, will go up for auction in New York on Tuesday with an estimated value between $6 million and $9 million.

The specimen, nicknamed "Jodi," stands approximately 10 feet tall. It contains about 191 fossil bone elements and features a skull described by the auction house Sotheby's as beautifully preserved and virtually complete. This is the first time a skeleton of this specific genus has been offered for sale since US researchers confirmed its existence as a separate species last October.

For decades, paleontologists debated whether these dinosaurs were simply young T. rex. That debate ended with the publication of research by Lindsay Zanno and James Napoli. Their work, which relied heavily on the "Dueling Dinosaurs" fossil found in 2006, established Nanotyrannus as a distinct genus. Megan Jenkins, a paleontologist at the University of Portsmouth, explained that the animal is significantly smaller and more slender than its cousin, possessing blade-like teeth designed for slicing meat.

The specimen was discovered in Montana by rancher Jodi Pierson on her property in the Hall Creek Formation. Commercial paleontologist Clayton Phipps excavated the bones. Before the scientific classification was finalized, the skeleton was displayed at the Frieze Masters international art fair in London in October 2023, where it was presented to the public as a juvenile T. rex.

The sale follows a record-breaking transaction in July of this year, when Sotheby's sold a T. rex named "Gus" for $50.1 million. That price point has intensified scrutiny within the scientific community regarding the private sale of major fossils. Some researchers argue that such specimens belong in public museums where they can be freely studied and viewed.

Steve Brusatte, a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh, expressed concern that high-stakes auctions may limit access to these historical records. He compared the potential private ownership of "Jodi" to a wealthy individual owning the Mona Lisa, noting that many institutions could not afford such a price tag. Brusatte described the prospect of the skeleton vanishing into a private vault as "harrowing," arguing that it risks removing a key piece of evidence from public view just as the species was officially recognized.

The auction takes place at a moment when scientists are reassessing how the ultra-wealthy influence fossil collecting. While some fear a trend of private hoarding, others point to the logistical and financial burdens of excavation. Jenkins noted that while the price is high, many sold specimens eventually return to the public eye. She suggested that without the revenue from sales, the time, effort, and money required to unearth such specimens might not be covered.

Sotheby's markets "Jodi" as one of only three known skeletons of its kind. The dinosaur lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 67 million years ago, alongside T. rex. The upcoming sale will determine whether this rare specimen remains in a public institution or moves into a private collection.