Catalog no. | BHI 3033 |
---|---|
Common name | Stan |
Species | Tyrannosaurus rex |
Age | 66.07 million years |
Place discovered | South Dakota, United States |
Date discovered | 1987 |
Discovered by | Stan Sacrison |
"Stan", also known by its inventory number BHI 3033, is a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil found in the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota, just outside of Buffalo in 1987, and excavated in 1992. [1] It is the fifth most complete T. rex fossil discovered to date, at more than 70% bulk. [2] [3] In October 2020, the fossil was sold for $31.8 million at auction, making it at the time the most expensive dinosaur specimen and fossil ever sold. This record stood until July 2024, when the Stegosaurus fossil Apex sold at auction for $44.6 million. [4] In March 2022, Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism stated that they had acquired Stan and were planning on displaying the fossil at a new museum of natural history scheduled to open in 2025. [5]
Stan Sacrison, an amateur paleontologist, was responsible for the initial discovery of Stan's bone fragments in 1987, and as a result is the namesake for the T. rex. He was out looking at plant life in South Dakota when he spotted Stan's pelvis visible in the side of a cliff. [3] At the time, Sacrison was doing freelance work for the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research. [6] Originally, it was thought that the fossil was that of a Triceratops . [7]
The excavation itself required the skills and resources of the Black Hills Institute; it officially began on 11 July 1992, led by Peter Larson (the lead paleontologist on the excavations of many other T. rex specimens like Sue and Trix as well as the institute's president). [3] [6] The institute's team removed the rock above Stan's skeleton with a Bobcat and finer removal was done manually with picks and brushes until the fossils could be plotted and diagrammed with the help of a grid placed over the dig site. The bones were then wrapped in burlap and plaster and brought to the Black Hills Institute. [1]
The most notable aspect of Stan is his nearly complete and perfectly preserved skull. It is widely regarded as the best T. rex skull ever discovered. [3] Although the bones were separated from each other before excavation, they were in pristine condition and ideal for study by researchers. [1] According to Pete Larson of the Black Hills Institute, Stan's skull has enabled scientists to learn more about the T. rex's cranial kinesis, or movement of the skull bones, than any other T. rex specimen. [8] Because of Stan's narrow pelvis, some paleontologists interpret the specimen as being male, though this method of determining sex in T. rex is controversial. [1] Stan is approximately 11.78 m (38.6 ft) in length as measured by the Hutchinson et al. 2011, [9] 11 feet (3.64 m) tall at the hip, and is estimated to be around 66 million years old. [10] [2] Body mass estimates for this specimen include 7.6 tonnes from Bates et al. in 2009, [11] 5.9 to 10.8 tonnes in Hutchinson et al. 2011, [9] and 7.2 tonnes in Sellers et al. 2017. [12]
The bones of Stan the T. rex were cleaned and prepared at the Black Hills Institute where resident paleontologists and paleobotanists continued to study him and the fossilized plants he was discovered with. The institute has performed two additional excavations of the site that Stan was discovered, yielding 199 of the 350 known bones of the T. rex, more than 70% in bulk, which made Stan the second most complete T. rex until 2017. [1]
Since then, additional excavations for other known T. rex specimens, as well as new discoveries regarding the T. rex "Scotty" (RSM P2523.8) in 2019, have made Stan the fifth most complete T. rex. [13] However, BHI 3033 is still one of the most famous T. rex discoveries, and more than sixty casts of the skeleton are on display and requested by museums all around the world. [10] [8]
Stan's fossils show notable signs of wear and indication that the dinosaur experienced multiple attacks and illnesses throughout his life. Puncture wounds on the back of his skull and rib indicate that he was at one point bitten by another T. rex. [2] Other bite marks at the base of his skull suggest his neck was once broken and caused the fusion of two vertebrate, resulting in a loss of mobility and pain for the rest of his life. The injury spurred the growth of excess bone around his neck, showing a remarkable recovery. Other irregularities in Stan's skull include non-symmetrical holes on either side of his jaw with smoothed edges, which are indications that these are more healed wounds. [1] [3]
According to the Black Hills Institute, Stan likely lived in a family unit of other T. rex. His mate could have been the cause of some of his injuries. [3] Stan likely ate hadrosaurids, also known as duck-billed dinosaurs, such as Edmontosaurus . [10] [3] It is unknown what exactly caused Stan's death, but many theories suggest that it could have been the result of old age, starvation due to limited mobility from his injuries, or even parasitic infections that many T. rex exhibit signs of. [14]
In 2005, the BBC program The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs used Stan's skull as a model for their hydraulic test of the T. rex's bite force and estimated that it exceeded 6.8 tonnes. Additional tests, like those published by Karl T. Bates and colleagues in 2009, used Stan's remains to study the weight distribution of T.rex, as well as how their mass and proportions would have affected their movement. Bates et al. estimated that Stan was larger than previously believed, at around 16,875 pounds (7.6 tonnes); they also concluded that Stan, as well as other Tyrannosaurus rex specimens, were much more robust than commonly believed. [15]
It took more than 30,000 hours (3.4 years) for the Black Hills Institute to prepare the fossil for display; he was the centerpiece for the opening of the T. rex World Exhibition and toured around Japan before coming to reside in the Black Hills Institute's Hall of Dinosaurs. [3] [8] Stan is the most duplicated T. rex fossil, and as a result, more people have seen Stan (and casts of Stan) than any other Tyrannosaurus. [16] [8]
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History is home to a cast of BHI 3033. The museum purchased the cast in 2008, and it remains a center piece of the museum, which is home to numerous other dinosaur fossils, notable T. rex skulls, and skull fragments. [10] Another cast resided at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, which is also home to a cast of Sue. [3]
Other casts are displayed at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the National Museum of Natural History (Washington, D.C.), the National Museum of Natural Science (Tokyo), The Mind Museum in Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines, the Sternberg Museum of Natural History (Fort Hays, Kansas), the Museum of Natural Sciences (Brussels, Belgium), the Wyoming Dinosaur Center (Thermopolis, Wyoming), the Manchester Museum (Manchester, UK), the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano (Milan, Italy), the Children's Museum of Indianapolis (Indiana), the Dinosaur Discovery Museum (Kenosha, Wisconsin), the Weis Earth Science Museum (Menasha, WI), The Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point (Lehi, Utah), Dinosaur World, (Plant City, Florida), and the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo. While it has been reported that the Googleplex T. rex replica in Mountain View, California, United States is a replica of BHI-3033, [17] it is actually a cast of MOR-555. [18] [16] [19]
The auction house Christie's sold Stan in New York, as part of its 20th Century Evening Sale, on October 6, 2020. [20] [21] Stan sold for $31.8 million to an anonymous buyer making it the most expensive fossil ever sold. [22] During a Manningcast broadcast of a National Football League playoff game on January 17, 2022, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was interviewed by Peyton and Eli Manning while at his home. Eli noted a T. rex skull in the background of Johnson's camera view; Johnson explained that the T. rex was named Stan, how it received its name, and how it was discovered. This led some to believe that Johnson was the anonymous buyer of Stan. [23] However, Johnson and the Black Hills Institute confirmed that he owns a replica skull and not the real specimen. [24] [25] On March 23, 2022, it was announced that Stan is to be the centerpiece of the under construction Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. [26]
Stan's skeleton, including original and restored elements, is a registered copyright of Black Hills Institute of Geological Research with the registration number of VA0001745359. [27] This copyright was defended in 2010 when it was noticed that casts of Peck's Rex contained unmodified cast replicas of elements of both Sue and Stan. [28]
Reportedly, Stan's skeleton has lived on and much of it has been copied as part of a Tyrannosaurus named Shen. The latter skeleton was scheduled to be auctioned off in Asia at Christie's on November 30, 2022. Given the fact that much of the skeleton is Stan replication, Shen has been withdrawn, and will likely wind up in a museum. [29]
Tyrannosaurus is a genus of large theropod dinosaur. The type species Tyrannosaurus rex, often shortened to T. rex or colloquially T-Rex, is one of the best represented theropods. It lived throughout what is now western North America, on what was then an island continent known as Laramidia. Tyrannosaurus had a much wider range than other tyrannosaurids. Fossils are found in a variety of rock formations dating to the latest Campanian-Maastrichtian ages of the late Cretaceous period, 72.7 to 66 million years ago. It was the last known member of the tyrannosaurids and among the last non-avian dinosaurs to exist before the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.
Tarbosaurus is a genus of large tyrannosaurid dinosaur that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous epoch, about 70 million years ago. It contains the single type species: Tarbosaurus bataar, which is known from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia, with more fragmentary remains found further afield in the Subashi Formation of China. Tarbosaurus is represented by dozens of fossil specimens, including several complete skulls and skeletons. These remains have allowed studies focusing on its phylogeny, skull mechanics, and brain structure. Further fossil remains have been reported from other geologic formations of Asia, however, these remains are fragmentary and can not be confidentially assigned to Tarbosaurus or the type species.
Giganotosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now Argentina, during the early Cenomanian age of the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 99.6 to 95 million years ago. The holotype specimen was discovered in the Candeleros Formation of Patagonia in 1993 and is almost 70% complete. The animal was named Giganotosaurus carolinii in 1995; the genus name translates to "giant southern lizard", and the specific name honors the discoverer, Ruben Carolini. A dentary bone, a tooth, and some tracks, discovered before the holotype, were later assigned to this animal. The genus attracted much interest and became part of a scientific debate about the maximum sizes of theropod dinosaurs.
Tyrannosaurus rex is unique among dinosaurs in its place in modern culture; paleontologist Robert Bakker has called it "the most popular dinosaur among people of all ages, all cultures, and all nationalities". Paleontologists Mark Norell and Lowell Dingus have likewise called it "the most famous dinosaur of all times." Paleoartist Gregory S. Paul has called it "the theropod. [...] This is the public's favorite dinosaur [...] Even the formations it is found in have fantastic names like Hell Creek and Lance." Other paleontologists agree with that and note that whenever a museum erects a new skeleton or bring in an animatronic model, visitor numbers go up. "Jurassic Park and King Kong would not have been the same without it." In the public mind, T. rex sets the standard of what a dinosaur should be. Science writer Riley Black similarly states, "In all of prehistory, there is no animal that commands our attention quite like Tyrannosaurus rex, the king of the tyrant lizards. Since the time this dinosaur was officially named in 1905, the enormous carnivore has stood as the ultimate dinosaur."
Peter Lars Larson is an American fossil dealer who is head of the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, which specialises in the excavation and preparation of fossils. He led the team that excavated "Sue", one of the largest and most complete specimens of Tyrannosaurus rex, which was the subject of a legal dispute resulting in its seizure and public auction. In 1996, Larson was convicted of customs violations related to failing to declare money he had brought from overseas, and served 18 months in prison.
Sue is the nickname given to FMNH PR 2081, which is one of the largest, most extensive, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex specimens ever found, at over 90 percent recovered by bulk. FMNH PR 2081 was discovered on August 12, 1990, by American explorer and fossil collector Sue Hendrickson, and was named after her.
Tyrannosaurus is one of the most iconic dinosaurs and is known from numerous specimens, some of which have individually acquired notability due to their scientific significance and media coverage.
The Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, Inc. (BHI) is a private corporation specializing in the excavation and preparation of fossils, as well as the sale of both original fossil material and museum-quality replicas. Founded in 1974 and based in Hill City, South Dakota, the company is most famous for excavating and selling replicas of some of the most complete specimens of Tyrannosaurus rex, including "Sue", "Stan", and "Trix".
The Paleozoological Museum of China is a museum in Beijing, China. The same building also houses the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The museum contains exhibition halls with specimens aimed at the public, while the rest of the building is used for research purposes.
The fossil trade is the purchase and sale of fossils. This is at times done illegally with stolen fossils, and important scientific specimens are lost each year. The trade is lucrative, and many celebrities collect fossils.
United States v. One Tyrannosaurus Bataar Skeleton (1:13−cv−00857) is a 2013 United States District Court for the Southern District of New York judgment regarding a requested order from the United States government to seize an imported Mongolian Tarbosaurus skeleton related to smuggling law and the applicability of Mongolian law in the United States.
Trix is a Tyrannosaurus rex specimen excavated in 2013 in Montana, United States by a team of paleontologists from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, the Netherlands and Black Hills institute of Geological Research in South Dakota. This Tyrannosaurus, over thirty years old – the oldest known Tyrannosaurus specimen – lived about 67 million years ago. It is considered to be the third most complete Tyrannosaurus found, with between 78% and 80% of its bone volume recovered. The specimen was named Trix after the former Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. It is one of only two Tyrannosaurus specimens on permanent exhibit in mainland Europe. The other one is a specimen named Tristan on exhibit at the Natural History Museum of Berlin.
The Dueling Dinosaurs or Montana Dueling Dinosaurs is a fossil specimen originating from the Hell Creek Formation of Montana. It consists of the fossilized skeletons of a tyrannosaur and a Triceratops horridus entangled with one another, and entombed in sandstone. The "dueling" inference comes from the numerous injuries sustained by both dinosaurs, including a tooth from the tyrannosaur embedded within the Triceratops, although it is not known whether they were actually buried fighting one another. Despite the scientific importance of the specimen, it remained obscure for decades due to a lengthy legal dispute over property rights to the specimen, which has since been resolved. The fossil is in the possession of and being studied by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, where it went on display in 2024.
The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History is a public natural history museum situated on the campus of The College of Charleston, a public liberal arts college in Charleston, South Carolina. With a collection of over 30,000 vertebrate and invertebrate fossils, the museum focuses on the paleontology of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Admission to the museum is free, and donations are welcome. The museum has the holotype specimens of Coronodon, Cotylocara, and Inermorostrum, as well as the reference specimen of Ankylorhiza tiedemani
Big John is a fossilized Triceratops horridus skeleton discovered in South Dakota's Hell Creek geological formation in 2014. It is the largest known Triceratops skeleton, according to the team that assembled the fossil. Big John's 2021 auction price of €6.6 million made it the most expensive Triceratops skeleton; its high price signaled increasing demand for dinosaur fossils among private collectors and prompted discussion about the drawbacks of private fossil ownership for scientific research.
Titus is an obsidian black skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex discovered in the Hell Creek Formation, Montana, United States in 2014 and excavated in 2018.
Victoria is a specimen of the species Tyrannosaurus rex recognized for its well-preserved and nearly complete skeleton, making it the second most complete T. rex finds in recent history. Victoria got her name in the lab in Victoria, British Columbia, where it was studied and restored.
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The skeleton was set to become the first of its kind ever offered at auction in Asia.