Rare dinosaur skeleton sells for $47.3 million

A rare skeleton of a Nanotyrannus, a smaller relative of T. rex, was sold at auction for $47.3 million.

Nanotyrannus was a carnivorous dinosaur of the late Cretaceous. For years scientists debated whether it was a separate species or simply juvenile T. rex, before recent studies tipped the balance towards it being a distinct species.

Prices for dinosaur skeletons at international auctions have climbed sharply in recent years, drawing wealthy collectors as well as museums and scientific institutions.

The trend continues to stir debate among scientists, some of whom worry that rare specimens moving into private collections may be lost to research.