The American Museum of Natural History in New York is set to exhibit the world’s most expensive dinosaur fossil, a stegosaurus dubbed “Apex,” for four years. The billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin bought the specimen for $44.6 million at auction and has lent it to the museum as part of a research partnership.
The 11-foot-tall, 20-foot-long herbivore is one of the most complete specimens ever sold at auction, with over 254 fossil bone elements on display. Its loan agreement includes funding for researching and documenting the specimen, including 3-D scans that will be made accessible to researchers.
While some paleontologists have expressed concerns about privately owned fossils being accessible to researchers in the future, Griffin has stated his intention to make the specimen available for research during its loan period. The museum plans to create a replica cast of Apex after the loan ends and the genuine fossil is relocated.
The stegosaurus was discovered in 2022 on a commercial paleontologist’s property in Colorado and has gained popularity due to its appearances in franchises like “Jurassic Park” and “The Land Before Time.” Griffin’s decision to lend the specimen to the American Museum of Natural History marks a unique partnership between commercial and academic paleontology.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/arts/most-expensive-stegosaurus-american-museum-of-natural-history.html