‘Gus’ the T-rex fetches record $64.7m at US auction

NEW YORK – A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed “Gus” sold Tuesday for $50.1 million (S$64.7 million) at Sotheby’s in New York, making it the most valuable dinosaur fossil bought at auction after a 10-minute battle between seven bidders.“Gus” is one of the world’s most complete T-rex skeletons – with 183 fossilised bones – and was discovered on a cattle ranch in South Dakota in 2021.The giant beast lived some 72 to 66 million years ago – a period characterised by a warm climate, high sea levels and vast floodable coastal plains.The skeleton measures 11.6m in body length, making it one of the largest T-rexes ever discovered. It is roughly 63 per cent complete.The July 14 purchase by an anonymous buyer highlights a surging market for dinosaur bones – a trend that has drawn criticism from s