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Astonishing 68-million-year-old T-rex and Triceratops fossil locked in deadly combat could fetch record $ 10 million at auction
- 68 million years Tyrannosaurus and Triceretops were found in 2006
- Perfectly preserved fossils show them embraced in a fight to the death
- The fortuitous find is considered “one of the most important of all time”
- Experts believe it could become the most expensive dinosaur fossil to ever sell after their auction in New York on November 19
The remains of two perfectly preserved dinosaurs from a bitter fight to the death are to be sold for a record £ 6million.
The 68-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus fossil and a Triceratops locked in deadly combat were discovered entirely by chance.
They are said to be some of the most important dinosaur discoveries of all time.
The fossils of a Tyrannosaurus and Triceretops locked in deadly combat were discovered entirely by chance, but are said to be among the most significant dinosaur finds of all time. The complete skeletons are in such good condition that they reveal that the 8-foot-tall giant beasts both died from injuries inflicted on each other.
Full skeletons reveal that the 8-foot-tall giant beasts both died from injuries inflicted on each other.
To the amazement of scientists, some of the razor-sharp teeth of the carnivorous tyrannosaur were found lodged in the triceratops skull.
The skull and chest of the wild tyrannosaurus were crushed by a massive blow inflicted by the herbivore Triceratops.
Experts believe the dinosaurs were covered with debris from an earthquake shortly after their deaths.
The skeletons are in such good condition that they reveal that the 8-foot-tall beasts both died from wounds inflicted on each other. Experts believe the dinosaurs were covered in debris from an earthquake soon after they died
To the amazement of scientists, some of the razor-sharp teeth of the carnivorous tyrannosaur were found lodged in the triceratops skull. The skull and chest of the wild tyrannosaurus were crushed by a massive blow inflicted by the herbivore Triceratops
THE T-REX: A WILD KILLER
The triceratops were the prey of the Tyrannosaurus, which shared its lands in what is now North America.
The triceratops, which means “face with three horns”, lived on low-growing plants while the tyrannosaurus, “tyrannical lizard”, hunted other dinosaurs.
A theory proposed last year suggested that the Tyrannosaurus Rex was using its ferociously powerful jaw and neck muscles to literally rip off the Triceratops head after killing the huge armored creatures.
Triceratops fossil research in the United States shows that the Jurassic summit predator first killed its prey, then ripped off its head in order to reach the nutrient-rich neck meat hidden by body armor.
They have been so well preserved that some of the bones are still covered with soft tissue.
The fossil was accidentally discovered by a ranch owner in Montana, USA, and excavated by fossil hunter Clayton Phipps, also known as the “Dino Cowboy”.
Scientists believe that soon after their deaths, an earthquake buried the bodies.
They have been kept in a Montana research lab since their discovery in 2006.
Dinosaurs have since been identified as Nanotyrannus lancensis, a close relative of Tyrannosaurus rex, and Chasmosaurine ceratopsians of the Triceratops family.
Nanotyrannus is believed to be a small but extremely dangerous little tyrannosaurus.
Its head was about the length of an adult male arm and could travel up to 30 kilometers in short thrusts.
Thomas Lindgren, of the Bonhams natural history department (pictured), said he hoped the fossils would be purchased by a museum so they can be displayed to the public. “These dinosaurs represent one of the most important fossil finds of all time,” he said.
The fossils were accidentally discovered by a ranch owner in Montana, USA, and excavated by the Montana Fossil Hunter, also known as the “Dino Cowboyâ€. They have been kept in a Montana research lab since their discovery in 2006.
The enormous fossil, which dates back to the late Cretaceous around 68 million years ago, could break the world record for the most expensive dinosaur fossil, set in 1997 when ‘Sue’, a Tyrannosaurus rex, sold for £ 5.4million.
The triceratops were the prey of the Tyrannosaurus, which shared its lands in what is now North America.
Dinosaurs have been identified as Nanotyrannus lancensis, a parent of Tyrannosaurus rex, and Chasmosaurine ceratopsian
The triceratops, which means “face with three horns”, lived on low-growing plants while the tyrannosaurus, “tyrannical lizard”, hunted other dinosaurs.
Thomas Lindgren, of the Bonhams natural history department, said he hopes the fossils will be purchased by a museum so they can be displayed to the public.
“The fossils were discovered purely by chance on a ranch in Montana.
“One day the breeder spotted bone fragments in the ground and called out Clayton Phipps, the Dino Cowboy.
“They unearthed what they thought was a Triceratops skeleton that would have been amazing on its own – but then spotted vertebrae nearby.
“Surprisingly, they turned out to be from another dinosaur, a tyrannosaurus.
Lindgren added that if they had been found separately, each of these fossils would have been the most complete skeleton ever found.
“But what makes the story even more astonishing is that these dinosaurs were clearly locked in a bitter fight to the death that killed them both,†he said.
“The Tyrannosaurus ‘skull and chest have been crushed, while some of its teeth are embedded in the Triceratops’ skull.
“The Triceretops is huge, suggesting he was old, and the Tyrannosaurus clearly thought he could pull it off, but the Triceretops was wise and powerful and had other ideas.
“We really hope that a scientific institution will come forward to ensure that these incredible fossils receive the treatment they deserve, and then be on display for the public for everyone to see.”
The auction will take place at Bonhams in New York on November 19.
Thomas Lindgren said if they had been found separately, each of these fossils would have been the most complete skeleton ever found. “But what makes the story even more astonishing is that these dinosaurs were clearly locked in a bitter fight to the death that killed them both,†he said.
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