Dinosaur fossil sets new record

A nearly complete Nanotyrannus skeleton, nicknamed Jodi, sold at auction for approximately 42.3 million euros, making it the second most expensive dinosaur ever sold. The sale, which occurred on October 27, surpassed the initial estimate of 6 to 9 million dollars (5.3 to 8.1 million euros) after an intense bidding war.

Details of the fossil

Jodi, approximately 67 million years old, is about 3 meters high and a little over 6 meters long. It is one of three nearly complete Nanotyrannus skeletons discovered to date and includes a skull, about fifty teeth, a pelvic belt, numerous leg and arm bones, claws, and dozens of vertebrae and ribs.

Discovery and excavation

The skeleton was discovered in 2019 on land owned by Jodi Pierson in Montana and was excavated by her cousin, Clayton Phipps, a paleontologist known as the "cowboy of dinosaurs." The fossil was preserved in a fossil-rich rock formation spanning Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Scientific classification

The identification of Nanotyrannus as a distinct genus from Tyrannosaurus rex was confirmed in a study published in the journal Nature in October 2025. However, Jodi is classified as Nanotyrannus cf. lancensis, with "cf." indicating that its identification remains uncertain.

Concerns over fossil market

The sale has raised concerns among researchers about a potential speculative bubble in the market for dinosaur fossils. Paleontologist David Hone noted that the rising prices may eventually burst and warned that such high prices could make specimens inaccessible to public institutions, favoring private owners.