The dinosaur fossil is now on exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Live Science
A new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City is drawing a lot of attention. The star of the show is Apex, a Stegosaurus skeleton, which recently became the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction. Discovered in May 2022 near Dinosaur, Colorado, by commercial paleontologist Jason Cooper, Apex comes from the Morrison Formation, a site rich in late Jurassic fossils. Apex is estimated to have roamed the Earth about 150 million years ago.
The Stegosaurus skeleton is special not only for its age but also for its remarkable completeness. Around 80% of Apex's bones are intact, making it one of the most complete Stegosaurus fossils ever found. This level of preservation offers an incredible opportunity for scientists to study the growth and development of Stegosaurus, a species that grew from hatchlings the size of a kitten into creatures as long as a minibus.
Roger Benson, the museum's Macaulay Curator of Paleontology, expressed his excitement about the display, saying, "As exciting as it is to have this dinosaur on display, it is even more exciting to have the opportunity to study it and make important scientific data available for research." While Stegosaurus is a well-known dinosaur, there is still much to discover about it. Apex will be studied further to help scientists understand how the species grew and how it adapted to its environment.
Apex, which stands at 11.5 feet tall and stretches 27 feet long, is mounted in a defensive pose, with its spiked tail raised high. Although it’s currently on display at AMNH, the skeleton does not belong to the museum. It was purchased by hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin, who bought it at auction for a staggering $44.6 million in July 2024. This sale set a new record, surpassing the previous highest price paid for a dinosaur fossil—a T. rex named "Stan," which was sold for $31.8 million in 2020.
Apex’s sale has also sparked discussions among paleontologists and the public, especially after the sale of "Stan" caused concern. After being sold privately, Stan disappeared from public view for two years, raising worries that it might not be studied by scientists. Thankfully, Stan resurfaced in 2022 and is set to be displayed in a new museum in Abu Dhabi in 2025.
Apex, on the other hand, will be available for research right away. The museum has announced that the skeleton will remain on display for four years before a cast is used to replace the original bones. During this time, scientists will study Apex's species, metabolism, and growth patterns. As part of the collaboration, Griffin has funded a three-year postdoctoral fellowship at AMNH to support this research. Researchers will also take a sample from the dinosaur's thigh bone and conduct CT scans to examine its skull.
In addition to Apex's record-breaking sale, a recent auction in France set another milestone: a 70-foot-long Apatosaurus skeleton was sold for over $6 million. The buyer has promised that scientists will have access to the skeleton for research purposes.
