American Museum of Natural History unveils 'Apex', Stegosaurus skeleton bought for $44.6 million

Unveiled at the American Museum of Natural History, 'Apex', a rare 150-million-year-old Stegosaurus fossil, is now on display. The fossil, considered the most complete Stegosaurus skeleton ever discovered, was purchased by billionaire hedge fund manager and longtime donor Ken Griffin at a Sotheby's auction this summer for $44.6 million, making it the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold, according to the New York Post.

"Apex offers a unique window into our planet's distant past, and I'm so pleased to partner with the American Museum of Natural History to showcase it at one of our country's preeminent scientific institutions. I am grateful that millions of visitors and researchers will now be able to see and learn from this magnificent specimen of the Late Jurassic Period," Ken Griffin said, as reported by the New York Post.

Sean M. Decatur, president of the museum, expressed delight at the acquisition. "It's wonderful to have it now available to the public and to share it with our visitors and with the community at large," he stated, according to Fast Company.

The specimen stands at 3.3 meters tall and measures 8.2 meters from nose to tail, making it one of the largest and most complete Stegosaurus specimens ever found. With about 80% of its 320 bones preserved, Apex offers a rare glimpse into the Jurassic world. Roger Benson, the museum's curator of paleontology and one of the researchers studying the specimen, explained that beyond being "beautiful," the most peculiar aspect of Apex is that it is relatively complete, reported Gizmodo. "The bones have not been crushed or broken, like other fossils," Benson noted.

Apex was found near Dinosaur, Colorado, in May 2022. The Stegosaurus is one of the most recognizable dinosaurs due to its unique physical features, including a double row of large, kite-shaped plates running along its back and a spiked tail known as a "thagomizer," which was likely used for defense.

"As exciting as it is to have this dinosaur on display, it is even more exciting to have the opportunity to study it and make important scientific data available for research," Benson stated, as reported by the Associated Press.

Sean Decatur said it was miraculous for a creature that had been dead for 150 million years to have about 80 percent of its 320 bones preserved. "This partnership allows Apex to have pride of place at a museum world-renowned for its dinosaur collection and for its longstanding leadership in paleontology," he said, according to ABC News Australia.

The display of Apex will start in a giant atrium at the museum's entrance and will eventually be moved to the existing fossil halls next year. After the four-year display period, a cast will replace the skeleton, as reported by Fast Company. Experts believe the Apex fossil is one of the few Stegosaurus specimens found that lived to an advanced age. Apex could reveal insights into Stegosaurus metabolism and bone growth, providing clues about the ancient beast's growth rate and metabolic rate.

"The joy and awe every child feels coloring a Stegosaurus with their crayons will now be brought to life for the millions of people who have the opportunity to see this epic dinosaur in person," Griffin said, according to the New York Post.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq