Tyrannosaurus Sold Despite Mongolian President's Plea

Despite a lawsuit from the president of Mongolia, a Dallas based auction house sold a largely intact fossil skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus bataar on Sunday for $1.1 million but transfer of the bones will be put on hold during litigation. Mongolian President Elbegdorj Tsakhia of Mongolia sued Heritage Auctions in Dallas County Court on Saturday. Tsakhia said the fossil came from the Gobi Desert and that exporting dinosaur bones or fossils from his country is illegal. He sought to enjoin the sale and transfer of the skeleton until legal ownership and proper provenance is established in court. Tyrannosaurus bataar means “alarming lizard.” It resembles the North American Tyrannosaurus beloved by children.