Apex (dinosaur)
Apex on display at the American Museum of Natural History | |
| Common name | Apex |
|---|---|
| Species | Stegosaurus sp. |
| Age | 150 million years |
| Place discovered | Moffat County, Colorado, United States |
| Date discovered | 2022 |
| Discovered by | Jason Cooper |
"Apex" is a fossilized specimen of an unknown species in the genus Stegosaurus, discovered in Colorado's Morrison Formation in 2022. Dated to the Late Jurassic epoch, it is the largest known Stegosaurus fossil, preserving skin impressions and throat ossicles alongside a mostly complete skeleton. On July 17, 2024, the specimen was sold at Sotheby's for $44.6 million to hedge fund billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin, making it the highest-priced fossil ever sold at auction. The sale sparked debate among paleontologists regarding the purchase by private individuals of specimens with high scientific value.
In December 2024, the fossil was loaned to the American Museum of Natural History, and is planned to be exhibited there for four years. Researchers aim to identify Apex's species, and study its growth pattern.