[Rockhounds] World’s largest stegosaurus skeleton to be auctioned for millions

[Kreigh Tomaszewski]

Apex, the world’s largest stegosaurus skeleton ever found, is set to go on
auction at Sotheby’s this summer with an estimated value of up to $6
million — a listing that has sparked both public intrigue and concern from
some scientists who say selling rare fossils at steep prices can stifle
research.

At 11 feet tall and more than 20 feet long, the fossil stands out in the
scientific world for its massive size and its nearly complete skeleton,
which was discovered by a commercial paleontologist in a sprawling rock
formation on his private land near the town of Dinosaur, Colo. — yes,
Dinosaur — in May 2022.

Named for its prominent size among stegosaurus fossils, Apex is estimated
to be up to 161 million years old, according to Sotheby’s auction listing
<https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/natural-history/stegosaurus>,
and is about 30 percent larger than another notable stegosaurus specimen —
Sophie — on display at the Museum of Natural History in London.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2024/05/30/apex-stegosaurus-sothebys-dinosaur-auction/