Apex (dinosaur)

Apex is the largest and most complete known Stegosaurus skeleton , with 254 bones preserved out of approximately 319. It measures in height and in length. The specimen is 150 million years old, dating to the Late Jurassic epoch. The exact species it belongs to is not known. although Apex has been described as being 30% larger. Skin impressions from the neck have also been preserved, although the lack of impressions from the lower body means that its sex cannot be deduced. The specimen was found in a death pose, with its tail curled under its body. Osteology The animal to which it belonged was elderly, as attested by signs of rheumatoid arthritis such as the fusion of the sacral bones. No traces of injuries caused by combat or predation, or of post-mortem scavenging, are present on the fossil. According to Sotheby's head of science and popular culture Cassandra Hatton, the specimen likely died of old age. Bubbles have been found in bones in the pelvic area, understood to have been caused by mating-related infections. == Discovery ==

Apex was discovered in May 2022 by commercial paleontologist Jason Cooper in Moffat County, Colorado, on private land near the town of Dinosaur. The fossil was found encased in hard sandstone. No other fossils were found nearby, although the area is part of the larger Morrison Formation. Excavation of the specimen lasted until October 2023. The New York broker Sotheby's, which would later put the fossil to auction, claimed to have worked alongside Jason Cooper since the discovery in order to bring the fossil to the market, documenting the process along the way. Several explanations for the name "Apex" have been provided. According to Sotheby's, the name was given to highlight the importance of the specimen within Stegosaurus, while Smithsonian described it as referring to the specimen's size. == Auction ==

Apex was put to auction at Sotheby's in New York on July 17, 2024, with a pre-sale estimate of between $4 million and $6 million. Seven bidders took part in the auction, which began at $3 million. After 15 minutes, the specimen was sold to an anonymous buyer for $44.6 million, or 11 times its lower pre-sale estimate. It was stated by Sotheby's to be the highest-priced fossil ever sold at auction, as well as the first Stegosaurus to be put to auction. Reactions The announcement of Apex's auctioning to private bidders gave rise to concern from paleontologists, with Society of Vertebrate Paleontology vice-president Stuart Sumida criticizing the trend of major specimens being purchased by private individuals rather than research institutions. In May 2024, Steve Brusatte commented that Stegosaurus fossils were comparatively rarer than other dinosaur genera such as Triceratops or Tyrannosaurus. Brusatte argued that the skeleton should be displayed in a museum, making it accessible for both scientific and educational purposes, rather than be kept in a private collection, expressing his hopes that the buyer would donate the specimen to a museum for public display. Both Brusatte and University of Adelaide professor Diego C. García-Bellido stated that scientific institutions were unable to keep up with private buyers at auctions. The pre-sale estimate of $6 million was described as being already out of range for most museums by García-Bellido, who also added that many of them might not have the necessary infrastructure to display the skeleton. The given price range has been described by paleontologist Cary Woodruff as arbitrary given the scientific value of the specimen. Both discoverer Jason Cooper and Sotheby's science department head Cassandra Hatton stated that they hoped for the specimen to be acquired by a scientific institution. In May 2024, Cooper stated that the future owner would be able to collect contextual information on the discovery site. == Loan and research ==

, where Apex is on public display In December 2024, it was announced that Apex was loaned to the American Museum of Natural History, who had contacted Kenneth Griffin during the summer. Since December 8, the fossil is on public display, and is intended to be replaced by a cast after four years. It debuted in the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation, where it is stationed in an atrium near the entrance, and is planned to be moved in late 2025 to the fossil halls on the fourth floor. The choice of museum was described as surprising, given Griffin's previous ties to the Field Museum in Chicago. While Griffin had already donated once to the American Museum of Natural History, he had never previously worked with their paleontology department. A three-year postdoctoral fellowship was funded by Griffin to identify Apex's species and study its growth pattern. Researchers plan to analyze a wedge from the femur, in order to produce the first growth curve of Stegosaurus, and to create digital models using CT scans. According to museum curator Roger Benson, the possibility of sharing the three-dimensional scans with researchers was a necessary condition for the loan. == See also ==