A Tyrannosaurus rex fossil discovered on a ranch in western South Dakota is heading to the auction block in New York City, where experts say it could sell for more than 30 million dollars.
The dinosaur, nicknamed “Gus,” was found in Harding County in 2021 and is one of the most complete T. rex skeletons ever discovered. The fossil is 38 feet long, stands more than 12 feet tall, and dates back roughly 67 million years.
The skeleton was excavated from South Dakota’s famous Hell Creek Formation, the same geologic region that produced the famous T. rex known as Sue.
Sotheby’s says bidding will begin at $19 million when the fossil goes up for auction on Tuesday.
Paleontologists say the discovery highlights western South Dakota’s continuing importance as one of the world’s top dinosaur fossil regions.
