Journal

Notable Sale: Enigmacursor Joins the Natural History Museum

Published 25/06/2025

Read time: 2min

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David Aaron is proud to announce the sale of a newly identified dinosaur species to the Natural History Museum, London. First exhibited at Frieze Masters in 2023, and identified as a Nanosaurus, this exceptional Late Jurassic skeleton has since been reclassified as a previously unknown species and genus, an Enigmacursor, which means “the enigmatic runner.”

"The sale of this extraordinary skeleton to the Natural History Museum is a true honour," says Salomon Aaron, director of David Aaron. "This specimen allows for further important research into what we understand about dinosaur species and adds a significant chapter to the Museum's rich tapestry of natural history."
 
Enigmacursor at the NHM, London
The Enigmacursor on display at the Natural History Museum, London. (Image credit: Lucie Goodayle, The Natural History Museum) 
 
Excavated in 2021–22 on the Skull Creek site in Moffat County, Colorado, the fossil quickly attracted attention for its completeness, detail and size. With a mounted length of just over 180 cm, it appeared at first to match descriptions of Nanosaurus, long considered one of the smallest dinosaurs of the Jurassic period.

But following in depth research led by the Natural History Museum’s palaeontology team, the specimen has now been confirmed as a distinct and newly recognised species. It is also thought there are signs that the dinosaur was not fully grown, says co-lead research author Professor Paul Barrett.

“One feature we look at in dinosaurs are the neural arches,” Paul explains. “These are the top section of vertebrae, and form separately from the lower parts. They gradually merge as an animal gets older, so by examining them you can see whether it was still growing.”
Enigmarcursor_in_coservation-2-CREDIT-Trustees-of-the-Natural-History-Museum-London
Conservation and analysis of the Enigmarcusor taking place at the Natural History Museum (Image credit: The Natural History Museum) 
 
The acquisition has received widespread media coverage, including features by the BBC and the Evening Standard to name a few. This important addition to the museum’s internationally respected dinosaur collection not only enriches our understanding of small herbivorous dinosaurs in the Late Jurassic but also underscores the dynamic nature of palaeontological research, where each discovery has the potential to reshape what we think we know.

We are honoured to have played a part in the journey of this rare fossil and proud to have helped it find its permanent home in the halls of the Natural History Museum.