First full T-rex skeleton found locked in combat with Triceratops

Scientists have revealed the world’s first complete T-rex skeleton – found after his death in a deadly duel with a triceratops.

Each of the 67 million year old remains are among the best ever found and have only been seen by a select few since their discovery in 2006.

The pair – dubbed the ‘dueling dinosaurs’ – are preserved together in what is believed to be a predator-prey encounter, where the two fought to the death.

Buried in sediment in Montana, they were discovered by professional fossil hunters – a cattle-ranching cowboy and two buddies.

Incredibly, their body contours, skin impressions, and injuries – including tyrannosaur teeth stuck in the triceratops’ body – can still be seen.

It took years to extract the 14 ton skeletons and organize their buying and selling, so it is reported that only a few dozen people have seen them so far.

But this week it was announced that they had been purchased by the Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for an undisclosed sum.

The group donated it to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, which is expected to start building its exhibit in 2021.

And they posted some amazing photos of the remains to mark the announcement.

It has been described as “one of the most important paleontological discoveries of our time” – and it is the only 100% complete T-rex ever found.

Dr Lindsay Zanno, head of paleontology at the museum, said: “We haven’t studied this specimen yet; it is a scientific frontier.

“Preservation is phenomenal, and we plan to use all available technological innovations to reveal new information on the biology of T. rex and Triceratops.

“This fossil will forever change our view of the world’s two favorite dinosaurs.

Dr Eric Dorfman, director and CEO of the museum, added: “The museum is delighted to have the unique opportunity to host and research one of the most important paleontological finds of our time.

“Not only are we able to uncover unknown details about the anatomy and behavior of these animals, our new dedicated facility and educational programs will allow us to engage with the public locally, in North Carolina and around the world.

A rancher, his friend and cousin found the fossils in 2006, and they are reported to have come to an agreement with the landowners.

The “Dueling Dinosaurs” themselves were auctioned in 2013 at Bonhams in New York, but no bid reached the reserve price of $ 6 million.

During years of negotiations, the fossil would have been locked in laboratories or warehouses.

But thanks to donors, the nonprofit Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences have now purchased them on behalf of the museum.

The dinosaur carcasses have not been studied and remain buried in the sediments of the Montana hill where they were discovered.

Each bone is in its natural position and scientists at the museum will have access to biological data that is usually lost in the excavation and preparation processes.

Construction on the exhibit in Raleigh, North Carolina, is scheduled to begin in 2021.

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