World’s Biggest Triceratops Sells for $7.7 Million in Paris

A pistillate stands adjacent to the world's biggest triceratops skeleton, known arsenic "Big John," during its auction successful Paris, connected Oct. 21, 2021. (Francois Mori/AP Photo)

PARIS—The world’s biggest triceratops skeleton, known arsenic “Big John,” was sold for 6.6 cardinal euros ($7.7 million) Thursday to a backstage collector astatine a Paris auction house.

The tremendous skeleton, estimated to beryllium implicit 66 cardinal years old, was recovered successful 2014 successful South Dakota. The triceratops is known for its 3 horns connected the head.

Big John, named aft the proprietor of the onshore wherever it was found, is certified by the Guinness World Records arsenic the largest documented skeleton of a triceratops. The dinosaur died successful an past flood plain connected the land continent stretching from present-day Alaska to Mexico, allowing the conservation of its skeleton successful mud.

The skeleton is 23 feet agelong and stands 8 feet precocious astatine the hips. The skull represents much than 1 3rd of its full length, with 2 ample horns implicit 3.6 feet long.

The hammer terms astatine the Drouot auction house, earlier committee and different costs, was 5.5 cardinal euros.

“It’s a grounds for Europe,” auctioneer Alexandre Giquello said.

Big John’s skeleton is much than 60 percent implicit and its skull much than 75 percent complete, making it unique.

“The wide prime of Big John truly deserved this price,” Iacopo Briano, a paleontology expert, said. “For a triceratops and for an herbivore. This is unbelievable record,” helium said.

Last year, a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton reached astir $32 cardinal successful an auction successful New York, becoming the astir costly dinosaur ever sold.

Big John was sold to a backstage U.S. purchaser who requested to stay anonymous.

Djuan Rivers, a typical for the buyer, said “it’s being acquired by an American collector … perfectly thrilled with the thought of being capable to bring a portion similar this to his idiosyncratic use.”

“The past down this and the duration of it is perfectly impressive. So to beryllium capable to beryllium a portion of preserving thing of this quality … it’s besides thing highly special,” Rivers added.