By Tim Binnall
The largest triceratops skeleton ever found could soon be yours as the massive dinosaur remains will be going up for auction in Paris later this year. Dubbed 'Big John,' the ancient creature reportedly measures a whopping 26 feet long, including an enormous eight-and-a-half foot-long skull which boasts a width of six-and-a-half feet. Discovered in South Dakota back in 2014, the giant triceratops has become something of a world traveler since being found as its skeleton was restored in Trieste, Italy, and, more recently, shipped to Paris where it was reassembled for public display ahead of a forthcoming auction.
Organizers of the event, which is set for October 18th, believe that 'Big John' could sell for a sum that is in keeping with its epic proportions as initial estimates suggest that bidding could reach as high as $1.8 million. That price tag may even go higher as the auction house behind the sale say that they are expecting around a dozen bidders to take a shot at bagging the 200 bones which constitute the massive creature. The impending auction is the latest in a series of private dinosaur sales which have understandably raised the ire of scientific institutions which cannot compete with wealthy collectors and, as such, they fear that priceless pieces like 'Big John' may wind up in lavish mansions rather than on display where the world can see them.