Common name | Apex |
---|---|
Species | Stegosaurus sp. |
Age | 150 million years |
Place discovered | Moffat County, Colorado, United States |
Date discovered | 2022 |
Discovered by | Jason Cooper |
"Apex" is a fossilized Stegosaurus specimen discovered in Colorado's Morrison Formation in 2022. Dated to the Late Jurassic epoch, it is the largest known Stegosaurus fossil, preserving skin impressions and throat ossicles alongside a mostly complete skeleton. On 17 July 2024, the specimen was sold at Sotheby's for $44.6 million to hedge fund billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin, making it the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction. The sale sparked debate among paleontologists regarding the purchase by private individuals of specimens with high scientific value.