14 DAY TRIAL // A perfectly preserved dinosaur skull is now up for sale, and experts at Hong Kong-based auction house Evolved Ltd. expect that it will fetch about $1.8 million (€1.6 million).
The fossilized dinosaur skull, shown in the photos accompanying this article, belongs to a Triceratops. What with its scary looks and the long horns adorning it, the head is often referred to as the Dragon King.
The skull is well worth its price tag
Paleontologists estimate that this Triceratops skull is about 66 million years old. Despite its age, the fossil is remarkably well preserved.
In fact, word has it that the head comprises as much as 95% actual fossilized bone and just 5% extra material added to it to fill in whatever voids and gaps formed in the bony structure over the millennia.
Age and perfect looks aside, experts say that what makes this dinosaur head so very special is the fact that it might just be the world's largest.
As detailed by Evolved Ltd. experts, the Triceratops skull measures 9.2 feet (approximately 2.3 meters) from one end to the other and an impressive 4.6 feet (roughly 1.4 meters) across.
Given its size, there are some rumors that the skull might belong to a previously undocumented species of Triceratops. Still, paleontologists are yet to confirm that this is indeed the case.
“The individual or organization that acquires The Dragon King makes an unforgettable statement of refinement, strength and discernment,” the auction house says.
The skull was discovered in the 1990s
This dinosaur skull that is now up for sale was discovered back in 1992 by a rancher by the name of Ray Novakovich. The man found the fossil in a field close to the city of Glendive in Montana, US.
Apparently, Ray Novakovich didn't discover the skull per se. Instead, he found a horn sticking out of the ground. According to DM, it wasn't until 2003 that paleontologists excavated the entire head.
