Own a pair of ‘Dueling Dinos’
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An obscure species until 1994, when it was formally named, Hypacrosaurus was a large, plant-eating, hollow-crested species of duck-billed dinosaur, or hadrosaur. Its short toothless beak and almost forty rows of cheek teeth evidence its herbivorous habit. A row of short spines along its vertebrae formed a small fin on its back. The hollow, bony crest on top of its long head is thought to have been used for courtship displays and as a resonating chamber for making sounds. As its nostrils extended up through the crest, perhaps the crest also served as an enhancer to the animal's sense of smell. It may also have served as a cooling device. This specimen boasts nearly 80% original bone and has been mounted on a custom metal armature. Price: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21076/lot/1035/">$175,000 - 225,000</a> (Courtesy of Bonhams)
In 2006, a discovery was made in Garfield County, Montana representing one of the most important finds since humans first began uncovering dinosaur bones. Two specimens — the most complete dinosaur skeletons ever found in the Hell Creek Formation — were uncovered. Astoundingly, they were also fully articulated. Adding further significance, they were presented in such a manner as to suggest that they died while locked in mortal combat. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21076/lot/1032/">Price: $7 million - 9 million</a> (Courtesy of Bonhams)
Triceratops is unquestionably one of the most popular dinosaurs known. It lived at the end of the Cretaceous, 65 millions years ago, in vast herds that are thought to have fed near the shorelines of the intracontinental seaway which isolated the western half of North America from the rest of the continent.One of the largest Triceratops skulls ever to have been brought to auction, the present specimen is approximately 95% complete, an amazing statistic considering that most ceratopsian skulls are partial specimens at best. Price: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21076/lot/1034/">$180,000 - 220,000</a> (Courtesy of Bonhams)
Tyrannosaurus rex is undoubtedly the prehistoric species that most readily captures the attention of our own species, which has existed on this planet for only about two hundred thousand years. The present specimen was discovered on a private ranch in Garfield County, Montana, in the summer of 2012. Price: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21076/lot/1036/">$1.8 million - 2.2 million</a> (Courtesy of Bonhams)
Closely related to the gigantic Basilosaurus, Zygorhiza possessed an unusually sleek, narrow body as well as the long head exemplified by the present specimen. An even more curious feature of this 44-42-million-year-old Archaeocete (ancient whale) is that its front flippers were hinged at the elbows, hinting at the potential of this prehistoric whale to have made its way onto land, perhaps to give birth to its young. Zygorhiza is the state fossil of Mississippi. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21076/lot/1041/">Price: $60,000-80,000</a> (Courtesy of Bonhams)
A Tyrannosaurid ClawA very fine Nanotyrannus claw from one of the most rare Tyrannosaurs known from the Hell Creek Formation. The claw is completely original without restoration. An exceptional, covetable specimen. Price: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21076/lot/1024/">$5,500 - 7,000</a> (Courtesy of Bonhams)
This 20,000 10,000-year-old Aepyornis maximus eggshell has been fastidiously restored from a find in Southern Madagascar. Price: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21076/lot/1013/">$1,800 - 2,200</a> (Courtesy of Bonhams)
The present Triceratops prorsus specimen was discovered in 2012 on a private ranch in Montana when pieces of dinosaur bone were found eroding down a gully. Price: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21076/lot/1038/">$700,000 - 900,000</a> (Courtesy of Bonhams)
One of the last survivors of the Age of Dinosaurs, Thescelosaurus first appeared at the very end of the Late Cretaceous Period. This ornithopod (bipedal ornithischian dinosaur) is known from several partial skeletons and skulls. It possessed sturdy hind limbs, small wide hands and a head with an elongated pointed snout. The structure of its teeth and jaws suggest a primarily herbivorous habit. The present impressive specimen leaves no doubt as to why the name Thescelosaurus, meaning godlike, marvelous or wondrous, was given to this species. With approximately 85% of the original skeleton represented, this is possibly one of the most complete examples of this genus known. The skeleton has been mounted on a custom metal armature attached to a hardwood base. Price: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21076/lot/1039/">$400,000 - 550,000</a>
Immersion for thousands of years in the Alaskan permafrost produced the captivating patina on this tusk from an extinct member of the Elephantidae family. As the woolly mammoth roamed the Alaskan tundra during the last Ice Age, it was hunted by early humans for meat, as well as for its tusks and bones, from which tools, art and dwellings were made. It disappeared from the mainland at the end of the Pleistocene, 10,000 years ago; experts argue over the extent to which the cause of its extinction was due to climate change versus hunting by humans. The present specimen exhibits the characteristic curve prized by collectors. Price: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21076/lot/1042/">$18,000 - 22,000</a> (Courtesy of Bonhams)