April 15, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 8, 1429

PARIS: The skeleton of a Triceratops dinosaur that roamed the earth some 65 million years ago goes under the hammer in Paris on Wednesday as part of a collection of prehistoric bones and fossils, auctioneers Christie’s said.

The 7.5 metre-long skeleton is the first specimen of similar quality to be sold at auction since a Tyrannosaurus Rex nicknamed Sue was sold in New York more than a decade ago in 1997, Christie’s said.

It said the skeleton, with an estimated value of 500,000 euros ($790,800), had no name so far but the purchaser would be able to give it one.

The three-horned Triceratops, a herbivorous giant with a huge head thought to be one of the last dinosaurs to evolve before the creatures became extinct, lived in what is now North America, feeding mainly on low growing vegetation.

The skeleton is part of a collection of prehistoric remains including a dinosaur egg, a sabre-toothed tiger skull or the tooth of a giant prehistoric shark.—Reuters