Rare dinosaur trio fetches £12.4m at auction

Fossils from a trio of dinosaurs have sold for more than £12m at auction.

The prehistoric skeletons, which date back approximately 150 million years, fetched £12.4m ($15.7m) at Christie's in London.

All three skeletons - two Allosaurus and one Stegosaurus - were excavated from the same site in Carbon County, Wyoming and travelled to London in 12 crates, where they were rebuilt.

James Hyslop, Head of Science & Natural History at Christie's, said: "It is humbling to stand in the presence of these ancient giants and marvel at the wonders of our Earth's past."

The Allosaurus and Stegosaurus fossils represent two of the most recognisable dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic era, approximately 150 million years ago.

The Allosaurus, often seen as a precursor to the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex), was a paramount predator in its day, notable for its sharp claws and a powerful bite.

Meanwhile, the Stegosaurus is seen an iconic herbivore, whose armoured plates and spiked tail helped it to defend itself against predators and adapt to a challenging environment.