NEW YORK — Beginning this weekend, visitors to the American Museum of Natural History will have the chance to see the most costly dinosaur fossil ever unearthed. Museum officials shared the exciting news on Wednesday concerning a significant stegosaurus fossil referred to as “Apex.”
This impressive fossil measures 11 feet tall and extends 27 feet from its nose to its tail. The initial display will take place in a spacious atrium located at the museum’s entrance, with plans to relocate it to the museum’s well-established fossil halls by the next year.
The museum also revealed the identity of the individual who acquired Apex. Ken Griffin, a billionaire hedge fund manager and dedicated supporter of the museum, purchased the fossil at an auction held in July for an astounding $45 million, marking the highest amount ever paid for dinosaur remains. Sean Decatur, the president of the American Museum of Natural History, mentioned that Griffin has agreed to a long-term loan of the fossil and has permitted scientists to take samples for detailed analysis.
“This collaboration allows Apex to be showcased at a museum renowned for its extensive dinosaur collection and its historic contributions to paleontology. Even more thrilling is the opportunity to engage in specialized research on Stegosaurus, focusing on this extraordinary and scientifically valuable specimen,” Decatur expressed in a statement on Wednesday.
Among over 80 stegosauri available to scientific institutions, only a handful are nearly complete, according to the museum’s statement. Decatur noted that Apex stands as the most thoroughly preserved specimen yet discovered. With about 80% of its 320 bones intact, it represents a remarkable find for a creature that lived and died around 150 million years ago. Moreover, scientists value this specimen because it likely died at an advanced age, potentially offering insights into the metabolism and bone growth of the stegosaurus.
Scientists intend to conduct CT scans of the internal structures within the dinosaur’s skull and analyze a small sample taken from one of its large thigh bones. “While this dinosaur’s exhibit is incredibly thrilling, the opportunity to study it further and provide significant scientific information for research purposes is even more exhilarating,” stated Roger Benson, who oversees the fossil amphibians, reptiles, birds, and plant collections at the museum.
The museum boasts a rich history of pioneering discoveries in dinosaur research, including the identification of the first dinosaur eggs and early evidence of feathers. Apex was uncovered by commercial paleontologist Jason Cooper on his property in Dinosaur, Colorado, near the Utah border and adjacent to Dinosaur National Monument.
Griffin’s winning bid of $44.6 million earlier this summer set a new benchmark for dinosaur fossils, surpassing the previous record of $31.8 million for “Stan,” a Tyrannosaurus rex sold in 2020. Similar to Apex, the Stan fossils were also acquired by a private collector who plans to display them publicly. Stan’s exhibit is planned for a museum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, scheduled to open in late 2025.
