DINO-SOAR! 'Big John,' the world's most complete triceratops, sells for $7.7 million in Paris auction

 The world's biggest triceratops skeleton, known as 'Big John,' sold for $7.7 million (6.6 million euros) on Thursday at a Paris auction house.

The enormous skeleton, which is estimated to be over 66 million years old and is more than 60 complete, was found in 2014 in South Dakota. 

It was estimated to sell for approximately $1.8 million, Drouot auction house, which handled the sale, said in September.  

The hammer price at the Drouot auction house, before commission and other costs, was $6.4 million, or 5.5 million euros.

Auctioneer Alexandre Giquello poses in front of Big John, the largest known triceratops skeleton, as he is being assembled in a showroom in Paris, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021. Big John  sold for 5.5 million euros ($6.4 million) on Thursday

Auctioneer Alexandre Giquello poses in front of Big John, the largest known triceratops skeleton, as he is being assembled in a showroom in Paris, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021. Big John  sold for 5.5 million euros ($6.4 million) on Thursday

The fossilized remains of 'Big John', the largest triceratops ever discovered. The skeleton is more than 60% complete and its skull is 75% complete

The fossilized remains of 'Big John', the largest triceratops ever discovered. The skeleton is more than 60% complete and its skull is 75% complete

The auction house did not give any details about the buyer.

Big John, named after the owner of the land where it was found, is certified by the Guinness World Records as the largest documented skeleton of a triceratops. 

The first bones were discovered in May 2014 by geologist Walter W. Stein Bill in the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota

The first bones were discovered in May 2014 by geologist Walter W. Stein Bill in the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota

The first bones were discovered in May 2014 by geologist Walter W. Stein Bill in the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota.

Since then, 60 percent of Big John's skeleton has been found, including its nearly-complete skull. In total, more than 200 of the dinosaur's bones have been unearthed.

There is a laceration on Big John's collar, which is likely 'evidence of a duel with another, smaller triceratops in which Big John was reportedly injured'

There is a laceration on Big John's collar, which is likely 'evidence of a duel with another, smaller triceratops in which Big John was reportedly injured'

Since then, 60 percent of Big John's skeleton has been found, including its nearly-complete skull. In total, more than 200 of the dinosaur's bones have been unearthed

Since then, 60 percent of Big John's skeleton has been found, including its nearly-complete skull. In total, more than 200 of the dinosaur's bones have been unearthed

According to Drout, there is a laceration on Big John's collar, which is likely 'evidence of a duel with another, smaller triceratops in which Big John was reportedly injured,' the auction house wrote on its website.

'These violent fights took place during the life of these animals, probably for reasons of territorial defense or courtship,' the auction house wrote on its website.

The skeleton is 7.15 meters long (23 feet) and stands 2.7 meters high (8 feet) at the hips. Its skull measures 8.6 feet (2.6 meters) long and 6.6 feet (2m) wide and is 75 percent complete.

The horns on the massive dinosaur are each 3.6 feet (1.1m) long and almost 12 inches wide. 

They allowed the formidable creature to withstands 16 tons of pressure, according to New Atlas.  

The giant herbivore lived in Laramidia (also the home of Tyrannosaurus rex), an island continent that stretched from Alaska to Mexico. 

Big John died in a floodplain, which allowed his skeleton to be preserved in mud, Drout added.

Big John will be exhibited in an emblematic square in Italy before heading over to France in October for the public to see, prior to the October 21 auction. 

Other dinosaur fossils have sold for significant sums in recent memory, including two allosaurs sold for $1.66 million (1.4 million euros) and $3.56 million (3 million euros) in 2018 and 2020, respectively, the auction house said.

A diplodocus fossil was sold for $1.66 million (1.4 million euros) in 2018 as well.

Once primarily sold to museums, dinosaur remains have increasingly attracted private buyers, though their numbers remain few.

In October 2020, a 40ft-long T. rex fossil sold for a record-breaking $31 million at auction, nearly four times the previous record of a dinosaur fossil. 

WHAT MADE THE TRICERATOPS SO FIERCE? 

Triceratops were herbivores and had two big horns over their eyes and a smaller nose horn, as well as a parrot-like beak and a large frill that could reach nearly 1 meter (3 feet) across.

According to the Natural History Museum in London, UK, its horns could have been used to ward off attacks from Tyrannosaurus rex, one of its main predators. 

A partial Triceratops fossil found in 1997 had a horn that was bitten off, with bite marks that match T. rex. 

There have also been puncture marks found on fossil frills showing that male Triceratops also used their horns to fight each other, perhaps to impress females. 

Triceratops' frills could have been used to attract mates, or as a way for members of the same species to recognize one another, or to regulate body temperature.

Triceratops likely lived in herds to warn each others of danger and reduce their chances of being 

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