Remains of the day: Dinosaur skeleton fetches $3.52 million

The near-complete skeleton of a carnivorous dinosaur which roamed the earth around 150 million years ago was sold at a Paris auction house on Tuesday for $3.52 million. | Above: Visitors look at the skeleton of an Allosaurus displayed at Drouot auction house in Paris.

The skeleton of the Allosaurus dinosaur, dug up in the US state of Wyoming three years ago, went to an unnamed foreign buyer for well in excess of the 1 million euro starting price.

"This is a high grade specimen," said Iacopo Briano, a palaeontologist who acted as a consultant to the Binoche et Giquello auction house which conducted the sale.

A technician holds the foot of an Allosaurus skeleton as it is assembled for display at the Drouot auction house, in Paris.

The specimen is unusual because it is so complete: around 70 percent of the bones are present, and they were found aligned with each other, making it easier to reconnect them during the restoration process.

The restored skeleton stands 3.5 metres high and 10 metres long.

The ribcage bears the marks of what the auctioneers said may have been an attack by a rival Allosaurus or a predator.

Technicians adjust a section of the Allosaurus skeleton.

rench auctioneer Alexandre Giquello poses next to the Allosaurus skeleton.

The foot of Allosaurus skeleton lies in its protective mould during assembly at the Drouot auction house, in Paris.

A visitor looks at the skeleton of Allosaurus.

Visitors look at the skeleton of an Allosaurus living in Wyoming more than 150 million years ago displayed at Drouot auction house in Paris, France, October 13, 2020. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Visitors look at the skeleton of an Allosaurus living in Wyoming more than 150 million years ago displayed at Drouot auction house in Paris, France, October 13, 2020. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

A visitor takes a snapshot of a skeleton of an Allosaurus dinosaur, at Drouot auction house, in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. The Allosaurus dinosaur was discovered in Johnson county, Wyoming, USA. The skeleton will be auctioned at Drouot auction house on Oct.13, 2020 and estimated to fetch between 1,000,000 and 1,200,000 euros. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)