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40,000,000-year-old crocodile fossil to be snapped up at auction

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The rare crocodile fossil was unearthed in China (Picture: Universal News and Sport)

A rare crocodile fossil estimated to be 40 million years old will be auctioned off in Scotland.

Belonging to a retired geologist, who does not wish to be named, it will finally be unveiled to collectors travelling from far and wide for next Wednesday’s event in Glasgow.

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Among almost 200 pieces assembled over a lifetime is the Eocene specimen – a 36-inch-long skeleton, which was excavated in China.

Described as being in ‘immaculate condition’ in its stone tomb, it is estimated to fetch between £10,000 and £15,000.

But the auction house stressed a similar, albeit larger, example recently sold for £250,000.

James Spiridion, of McTear’s auction house, said: ‘This is a marvellous collection that has been painstakingly assembled over many decades.

A McTear’s auctioneer shows off the large fossil (Picture: Universal News and Sport)

‘The varied nature of the items is remarkable with fossilised plants and animals sitting alongside rare minerals, rocks and even a meteorite.

‘The fossilised crocodilian is in immaculate condition with a near perfect skeleton on show.

‘It is worth noting that a similar, albeit larger, example recently sold at auction for 250,000, illustrating quite clearly how important these fascinating items are.’

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Another eye-catching item is a nest of fossilised Hardrosaur eggs – duck-billed herbivorous dinosaurs from the late Cretaceous Period, the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era.

It is expected to fetch around £7,000. A Gibeon iron meteorite that fell to earth in Namibia is also on the list.

The 25cm-long rock weighs 15 pounds and is predicted to go for a sum between £4,000 to £6,000.

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