Auctioneer: T. Rex Fossil Headed For Museum

OSKAR GARCIA

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex that failed to sell at auction in Las Vegas last month has been bought by a private buyer who intends to see it displayed in a museum, an auctioneer told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Tom Lindgren, a natural history specialist for auction house Bonhams & Butterfields, said the buyer is talking with several museums in North America that want to showcase the bones of the 40-foot-long, 7.5-ton dinosaur that lived 66 million years ago. Lindgren said the buyer wants to keep the skeleton in the United States.

Lindgren said he could not reveal who bought the T. rex dubbed "Samson" or say how much he paid for the bones because of an agreement with the buyer. He said the selling price was near pre-auction estimates of $5 million to $8 million.

"We expect her to be on public viewing within the next couple months, hopefully before Christmas," Lindgren told the AP. "She's found a very good home."

Lindgren said the buyer contacted at least four museums and found two that were interested. Lindgren said the buyer was discussing terms to loan the T. rex for display.