Ornitholestes dinosaur skeleton to be offered at $613,000

The 150m-year-old skeleton of an Ornitholestes dinosaur will sell as part of Sotheby's Natural History auction, to be held on September 30 in Paris.

Ornitholestes skeleton
This is the holotype specimen, meaning it was instrumental in the original description of the species



The 7ft-long holotype was incredibly important in adding to knowledge of the species, and is expected to sell for $477,000-613,000.

Ornitholestes translates as "bird robber", a name given due to the dinosaur's long limbs, which gave it the speed and agility needed to catch birds, small mammals and lizards. It lived at the end of the Jurassic Period, with this example found at Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming.


The woolly rhino could be found in southern England, which at the time was an icy desert



Also starring is a woolly rhinoceros horn, which is expected to see $20,500-27,000.

As its name suggests, the woolly rhinoceros is similar to those we know today, yet was covered in a thick brown coat as protection against the icy cold of the steppes of Eurasia. It lived during the Pleistocene era (2.5m-11.7m years ago) and, like modern rhinos, it also had two main horns, one of which is available in the sale.

The catchy-titled Ichtyosaur Stenopterygius Quadridcissus will also make an appearance, estimated at $68,000-95,500. A marine reptile, it lived during the early Jurassic Period and liked warm, shallow seas, catching other fish with its long beak and jagged teeth.

The fossil, encased in slate, measures 6ft 3in long and retains its four skeleton legs - a rarity for this species.

Sign up to our free newsletter for more of the latest collecting news.


Featured products

Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Sale price£399
In stock
Fidel Castro signed certificateFidel Castro Signed Certificate
Fidel Castro signed certificate
Sale price£2,995
In stock
King Henry VIII Autographed DocumentKing Henry VIII Autographed Document
King Henry VIII Autographed Document
Sale price£55,000
In stock