One Half of a Tyrannosaurus

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

There are many similarities between the Tyrannosaurus and ourselves: the standing attitude, the big head, the nice smile, the quest for power. Known as Rex, there was no sharing in its territory. That's what everyone wishes also for himself.

But there are many more similarities between Samson and Sue. Both animals lived at the same time 66 or 67 million years ago. They had the same size, 13 meters long, 4 meters high. They were both thriving in what is now South Dakota. Samson is announced as a female ; for Sue, its current owner the Field Museum in Chicago could not decide on its sex.

Unfortunately for Samson, the comparison stops here. Sue was so complete, with more than 200 bones recovered from the same animal, that there was no need to add molding for displaying it to the public. Sue is a miracle of preservation, this fully justifies its price of $ 8.3 million including expenses, at Sotheby's in 1997.

With 170 bones, the skeleton of Samson is complete only at 50%. It can run after Sue in the hierarchy of the results of auctions, but will not join it. Yet, according to the press release from Bonhams, it is one of three best preserved Tyrannosaurus. Samson will be for sale by Bonhams and Butterfields in Las Vegas on October 3.

Sue was discovered in 1990 and Samson circa 1994.

[Area Light Explorer]

Quite interesting. Samson is female, can be expected to go for less than 8.3 m, and may be improved with castings then? I would think a partial might do well as a wall mounted exibit. Not being free-standing, observers could probably come much closer to it and examine various peculiarities in the bone structure. It will be interesting to note who or what organization might purchase these, and if their use is a condition and announced.

Coincidentally, I have this theory that roosters and chickens are descendants of the T-REX. Might be interesting to do a comparative examination. Additionally, I would be interested to learn whether these animals would lose bone in the bearing of offspring such as humans do. Some insight perhaps into the gender of Samson might be revealed, and might be attractive to certain pharmaceutical organizations, bone health products and technologies, and aging baby-boomers who perhaps want to make a statement about becoming obsolete.

[Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa]

Thanks for this information, Pierre. Felt as if I am in my Biology class!
Have a nice day
Krishna

[Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa]

Thanks for this information, Pierre. Felt as if I am in my Biology class!
Have a nice day
Krishna

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Hi Anthony and Krishna !

Thank you for your comments.

The site of the Field Museum (the current owner of Sue since their 1997 purchase at Sotheby's), is full of many interesting details on Sue. Very didactic. Do not miss it !

Friendly

Pierre

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Samson could not join Sue, as I said. This skeleton has not been sold.

In paleontology, the remaining percentage of the skeleton is fundamental to define the price, but according to a hyperbolic function rather than linear. The rarity of this piece made it difficult for setting the hyperbole.

In other words, I think the lack of estimate reveals that the reserve price was too close from the historical result of Sue.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

I just found this nice pre sale photo of Samson "on stage", shared by the Los Angeles Times.