Paris: bidder buys dinosaur skeleton for 6.6 million euros (video)

Sold to an undisclosed bidder. The skeleton of a triceratops, called Big John, was auctioned in Paris for around 6.6 million euros. It is the largest dinosaur of this genus that has ever been found. The animal lived more than 66 million years ago in what is now the state of South Dakota, where its remains were found in 2014. The following year, paleontologists uncovered sixty percent of the skeleton. It became known that the new owner is an American and bought the skeleton privately. Djuan Rivers introduced himself as the bidder’s representative in Paris. “The person is absolutely thrilled to be able to own such a piece.” The buyer is pleased to be able to preserve something that has been found in the USA. The dinosaur had been assembled before the auction in Italy. The skeleton will begin its journey to its new destination in individual parts. The private sale and purchase of dinosaur fossils is comparatively new. Last year an auction house in New York City auctioned the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. It brought the equivalent of more than 27 million euros.