DALLAS - A free dinosaur tooth will be given to each of the first 100 children (ages 7 to 13, and accompanied by an adult) who visit the headquarters of Heritage Auction Galleries, 3500 Maple, in Dallas between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17. Each 67-million year old tooth is from a giant, meat-eating Spinosaurus, the largest carnivore ever to walk the earth, and will be given away during the preview of Heritage's Signature Natural History auction to be held on Sunday, Jan. 18.

"Kids and dinosaurs are a natural fit, as any parent will tell you," said David Herskowitz, Director of Natural History at Heritage. "If a child goes crazy over a plastic dino you pick up at a toy store, imagine what it will be like for them to have an actual tooth of what was once a real live hunting and fighting dinosaur."

The dino teeth being given away range in size from ¾-of an-inch to 1-1/2 inches. The offer is strictly limited to the first 100 eligible kids that come into the gallery.

As Heritage has become the world leader in Natural History Auctions, it has also increased its commitment to creating the next generation of dedicated and educated collectors. A prize like the Spinosaur teeth being offered will not only make any child the envy of every kid on the block, it also presents a real, tangible link to one of the greatest creatures the world knew - or ever will know again - tens of millions of years ago. Little could serve as more inspiration, or edification, to a budding paleontologist.

"We are very committed to our role as the world's leading Natural History auctioneer," said Herskowitz. "Part of that role is to educate both our clients and their families, and to bring history alive in a way that only the real thing can possibly do."

Once in the gallery, children and parents alike will also have the opportunity to view the vast array of significant natural history treasures being offered at auction starting at 1:00 p.m. the next day, Sunday, Jan. 18.

Some of these singular relics include a 93-percent-intact skull of a Triceratops, one of the fiercest and most famous dinosaurs of all. This massive specimen - 5 feet wide and 7 feet long - is in fantastic condition, is as rare as they come, and features the three large horns that this dinosaur is known for.

Also on view will be a virtually complete flying dinosaur known as a Petrosaur, an enormous 11-1/2 foot tusk from a Woolly Mammoth; a 336-pound iron meteorite, and pieces of the moon and the planet Mars.

For more information on this auction, log on to www.HA.com/6012, call David Herskowitz at 800-872-6467, ext. 1610, or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .