June 5 (UPI) — A mostly intact dinosaur skeleton sold at the Eiffel Tower auction in Paris on Monday for more than $2 million, the auction house announced.
The skeleton was discovered in Wyoming in 2013 and is 30 feet long and 9 feet high. It is believed to be a previously unknown species that belongs to the Tyrannosaurus Rex family.
“Scientists first thought it was an allosaurus, but after an in-depth examination, the skeleton presented major anatomical differences from known allosaurus — notably more teeth and distinctive bones,” paleontologist Eric Mickeler told ABC News. “Looking at them, we can tell this carnivorous dinosaur died at an old age.”
Scientists estimate the skeleton is 70 percent complete.
“This is remarkable to have such a large amount of original fossilized bones,” Mickeler said.
Although paleontologists don’t have a name for this dinosaur species yet, the new owner — who chose to remain anonymous — will be able to give it a name “as long as it’s scientific, and subject to peer review,” the auction house said, according to the BBC.
A portion of the sale’s proceeds will go to charities benefiting endangered species, including the Sea Shepherd and Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Center in South Africa.
