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Tyrannosaurus rex
U.S. private land + docsIcon of the Hell Creek fauna. Commercial trade is almost entirely isolated teeth and partial elements from private ranches — not federal land.
Sample photoPeriod
Late Cretaceous
Age
68–66 mya
Formation
Hell Creek
Diet
Carnivore
Common fossils
Teeth, bones, claws
Price context
Compare documented sold records by element, size, condition, restoration, and locality
Price bands are educational market context for common grades — not an appraisal, quote, or investment forecast.
Collecting status
U.S. private land + docs. Always confirm landowner release or export path, chain of custody, and that the specimen was not collected from forbidden public land. U.S. federal vertebrates under PRPA are not commercial inventory.
Open related fossil-law guide →Trade notes
Isolated teeth dominate the market. Serration geometry, root completeness, and restoration % drive price more than Hollywood branding.
How to evaluate this taxon
Compare a crown-only tooth with other crowns, not rooted teeth or complete jaws. Ask for sharp macro photographs of both carinae, the base, every repaired area, and a ruler in the same plane. A dramatic size claim is secondary to diagnostic features, honest restoration disclosure, and a traceable private-land history.
Fake-watch for this taxon
- — Cast crowns with soft serrations or cloned chip patterns
- — Genuine crown glued to a rebuilt or cast root
- — “Zero restoration” claims on large, pretty teeth
Documents to demand
- — Private-land / landowner release
- — County-level locality (exact GPS optional)
- — Restoration map + UV notes
Research sources and limits
Taxonomy and age context are checked against museum or government references. Buyer guidance is Jurassic Depot editorial analysis, not a specimen identification, authentication, appraisal, or legal opinion. A taxon page cannot establish the identity or lawful title of an item offered for sale.
- Natural History Museum — Tyrannosaurus rex directory entry
- National Park Service — fossil protection
- Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (official PDF)
Editorial review: August 1, 2026. Scientific classifications and laws can change; use the linked source and transaction-specific professional advice.
On Jurassic Depot
Outside sources (educational)
Primary society and government pages — not Jurassic Depot. Open these when you need statute or agency language, not a marketplace summary.