Peter the T Rex coming to Auckland Museum
Aucklandmuseum will be the first place in the southern hemisphere to exhibit a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.
Set to appear at the museum from April 15, people will be able to see one of the largest land predators of all time.
Stuff understands Auckland Museum is the only place to be offered the exhibition by a mystery lender and the skeleton – dubbed Peter – has been named after a member of the lender’s family.
T rex skeletons are worth tens of million dollars, based on previous sales.
In 2020, one sold for $45 million at Christie’s in New York.
The fossil was discovered in Wyoming in the United States in 2018 and is one of only 20 T rex skeletons in the world which can be seen on display. All others are in the northern hemisphere, mostly exhibited in North America and Europe.
In total, there are only 40 T rex skeletons in the world, many of which are incomplete.
But Peter is considered one of the most complete fossils of the iconic dinosaur ever found, at 47 per cent fossilised bone. The remainder of the skeleton is remodelled, based on other T rex skeletons.
Archaeologists have never found a 100 per cent T rex skeleton. Peter has 60 out of 300 bones, with his entire hind limbs and pelvic girdle found. Peter is believed to be between 66 and 67 million years old.
Dr John Nudds, from Oxford University’s department of earth and environmental sciences, said Peterwas one of four rare fossils that are black in colour.
T rex fossils are usually brown.
‘‘When the boneswere buried into the ground for millions of years, various minerals can seep into the bones, most probably it is iron that is giving this colour,’’ Nudds said.
Peter was ‘‘perfectly preserved’’ and was of ‘‘pristine condition’’, he said.
According to the scientific report by Nudds on Peter, the fossil shows there was major damage to the left leg bones – which could only be made from a jaw mechanic of another T rex.
It is believed that Peterwas killed and fed upon by another adult T rex during a fight.
Tim Hart, director of public experience at the Auckland Museum said it was hard for museums in New Zealand to obtain T Rex fossil skeletons because they were so rare and hardly ever available.
Aucklandmuseum is expecting the arrival of Peter next week from Germany and it will take five to 10 days to put the display together.