They paid nearly $ 8 million for the “Big John”, the largest skeleton of the trichotillomania.

Skeleton of “Big John”, The Mayor Trisertops Known, 8 meters long and 66 million years old Auctioned This Thursday Paris And purchased by an American buyer $ 7.7 million.

This amount is much higher than the price asked by the French auction house Trudeau: $ 1.1 million. However, this is far from the record of a fossil dinosaur skeleton: $ 31.8 million For King Tranosorio In New York in October 2020.

In total, 13 people competed for “Big John”. The future owner of this trisaratop came to Paris to visit the skeleton when it became public in September and its representative at the auction explained that he “loved it”.

“Big John” returns United States, Which was discovered in 2014 by geologist Walter W. in South Dakota. Discovered by Stein Bill, and will be part of an anonymous buyer’s collection.

These belong to the Trichoderma period Upper Cretaceous, The last era Dinosaurs On Land. He lived in Laramidia, a long island continent from Alaska to Mexico.

“Big John” died in the flood and was buried in the mud, which explains the level of its protection. His skeleton is 60% complete (and parts like the skull are 75% complete).

Dinosaur fossils, a trend

Thanks to the collaboration of the Italian universities of Bologna and Seattle, they were able to examine their fossils and discover that the skull of “Big John” was 5 to 10% larger. 40 trichotillomania skulls So far studied by scientists.

The researchers also examined a trace Decomposition near the skull, Which may be the result of a claim made by “Big John” during a fight with his colleagues. The breed was armed with two long, sharp front horns.

The Auction This is just one more example of the interest surrounding this type of skeleton Fossils. The Dinosaur skeletons Sold in recent years this type of market has reached astronomical figures, unfortunately for research centers and public museums can not compete with these prices in the auction.

“We can’t compete,” he explained recently. Francis Duronton, Director of the Museum of Natural History in Toulouse (southern France). Those prices are “equal to 20 or 25 years in our purchasing budget,” he added.

Trudeau House has already sold some skeletal fossils for large sums: between 2018 and 2020, two alleys were sold for $ 1.6 and $ 3.5 million, respectively.