An extraordinary auction is going to be held in Paris, in which the skeleton of ‘Vulcan’, one of the largest dinosaurs that roamed the earth 150 million years ago, will be auctioned. French auction company Collin du Bocage & Barbarossa has announced this auction, which will feature the ‘‘most complete’’ And the giant skeleton will be kept.
After the pre-registration bid for the auction of this skeleton opens in July, its estimated price has been fixed at 11-22 million US dollars (about Rs 92-185 crore). The majestic Apatosaurus skeleton was discovered in Wyoming, USA in 2018. Its length is 20.50 meters, in which about 80 percent of the bones are of Vulcan dinosaur. Colin du Bocage founder and auctioneer Olivier Colin du Bocage said, "Vulcan is the largest and most complete dinosaur that towers above them all. This is the oldest discovery ever made."
What is the history of dinosaurs?
Dinosaurs came to earth about 230 crore years ago. They flourished in the Mesozoic era. This era is divided into three parts: Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous. The Triassic period was approximately 250 to 201 crore years ago. The first dinosaurs were born in this. At this time all the continents of the earth were connected together. Earlier dinosaurs were small and light in size. The Jurassic period is from 201 to 145 crore years ago. The diversity of dinosaurs increased during this period. During this period, giant dinosaurs such as Brachiosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex flourished. At this time the continents started separating, due to which a new environment was born.
Meteorite collision and the end of dinosaurs
The Cretaceous period was 145 to 66 million years ago. This was the last era of dinosaurs. During this period, dinosaurs had become important creatures on Earth, but the collision of a large meteorite destroyed them and many other species. Dinosaurs died out 660 million years ago, but their descendants, birds, are still alive today. Scientists are still studying their development and characteristics even today. (With PTI inputs)