Apex, a roughly 150-million-year-old Stegosaurus fossil, went on view at the American Museum of Natural History in late 2024. The 27-foot-long skeleton stands 11.5 feet high and preserves 254 of an estimated 320 bones, giving museum visitors and paleontologists an unusually complete record of a large, mature animal from the Late Jurassic.
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YouTube: Apex Inside the Gilder Center
Instagram: A Stegosaurus at Museum Scale
Photo Gallery: Apex at the Museum
What to Know
An Exceptionally Complete Skeleton
Approximately 80 percent of Apex's bones survived fossilization. Sculpting and 3D printing supplied missing elements for the mount without obscuring which portions belong to the original specimen.
Found in Colorado
Paleontologist Jason Cooper discovered Apex in May 2022 in the Morrison Formation near Dinosaur, Colorado. The region has produced an extensive record of Late Jurassic animals.
Purchased and Loaned for Public Study
Kenneth C. Griffin purchased the fossil at Sotheby's in July 2024 and placed it on long-term loan to the museum. The arrangement combined public display with access for scientific research.
Size Suggests an Older Animal
The specimen's dimensions and evidence of arthritis suggest that Apex reached an advanced age. Its preservation offers researchers a chance to study growth, skeletal development, injury, and variation within Stegosaurus.
Research Extends Beyond the Mount
A Griffin-funded postdoctoral fellowship supports analysis of bone tissue, growth rates, metabolism, and the specimen's precise species. CT scans and other digital models are intended for broader scientific use.
A New Fossil-Hall Entrance
The museum planned to move Apex to the fourth floor in fall 2025 as an anchor for a new connection from the Gilder Center to its fossil halls. The museum's Apex page maintains current display and research information.