Quantcast
Channel: Casinoguide » Trivia
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 6

"Samson" the T-Rex to be Displayed

0
0
"Samson" the T.Rex at auction at the Venetian Casino

"Samson" when displayed at the Venetian Casino for the auction

I have an update on the dinosaur “Samson” that was up for auction at the Venetian recently. “Samson” has found a temporary home while he is on loan to a museum in Portland, Oregon!

A magnificent 39-foot-long fossil of one of the most fearsome carnivores ever to walk the face of the Earth will soon be on display at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). The 66-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton known as Samson*, one of the three most complete Tyrannosaurus rex specimens in existence, will make its world-wide museum debut in OMSI’s Earth Science Hall on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009.

Close to 60% of Samson’s* original bones, including its nearly complete skull, will be on exhibit. Samson* is close in weight and length to the T. rex known as Sue, long considered the largest, most complete T. rex yet discovered.

“We are honored that OMSI has been chosen to be the first museum in the world to host the mounted Samson*,” said OMSI president Nancy Stueber. “It is a truly unique and magnificent specimen that has opened new doors to scientific discovery about the life of the Tyrannosaurus rex. We’re pleased to offer visitors the rare opportunity to view its real bones up close.”

Samson* was discovered in South Dakota in 1987 and is one of three tyrannosaurs unearthed with more than 50% of their skeletal bones remaining. Samson* has arguably the most intact skull in existence as most other specimens were discovered with their skulls crushed over geologic time. Differences in the proportions of Samson’s* skull as well as in tooth counts have led some researchers to conclude that it may represent a new, as of yet unnamed, species.

In life, Samson* measured approximately 40 ft. in length and could have looked into a second story window. Its massive skull and powerful serrated teeth could have bitten through the leg bone of any of its peers. Most likely a very skilled hunter with binocular color vision and an extremely sensitive sense of smell, this colossus, like other adults of the species, lived as an apex predator of the late Cretaceous Period.

The Samson* specimen, which was recently sold to a private buyer through Bonhams & Butterfields Natural History Department, is on loan to OMSI with support from local sponsors Comcast, the Science Channel, and Discovery Education. Samson* will be on display at OMSI through summer 2010. For more information visit http://www.omsi.edu/samson

*SAMSON is a trademark and service mark of TREX SAMSON, LLC. OMSI is an official licensee.

About OMSI

Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums, a world-class tourist attraction, and an award-winning educational resource for the kid in each of us. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214. For general information, call 503.797.4000 or visit www.omsi.edu.
I am disappointed that this dinosaur didn’t get to stay in Las Vegas, but glad she is going to be in a museum for all to admire.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 6

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images