The skull of a baby triceratops named Samantha starred in an auction of natural history in Beverly Hills on Sunday (May 6).
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One of the last surviving species of dinosaur, the triceratops has also become one of the most distinctive, thanks to its unique three-horned skull. Due to their comparatively late existence, triceratops skeletons are usually found in greater condition than those from earlier periods.
This example was excavated in 2011 from a site in Montana and is said to be excellently preserved and in fine condition. Standing at a colossal 29 inches high, Samantha's skull was sold for $30,000 at the sale.
The auction also offered the chance to own the complete skeleton of a smaller member of Samantha's family. The 39 inch skeleton of a psittacosaurus, the most primitive member of the Ceratopsia species, sold for $6,000.
Also in the sale was a mysterious, and massive, narwhal tusk. The spiralled horn, whose function remains unclear to scientists, measured over 80 inches and sold for $13,000.
Fragments from the Tissint meteorite fall provided the highlight for space collectors, with one of the smaller chunks, weighing just 12.9g, selling for $8,000.
The Tissint is regarded as the most important meteorite fall observed in the last 100 years, offering scientists and collectors a rare insight into the surface of its planet of origin, Mars. You can read more on the important fall here.
PFC Auctions, our sister company, is offering a superb Neil Armstrong signed USA flag to space collectors in its upcoming auction. You can find more space collecting news from Paul Fraser Collectibles here.