DALLAS, TX.- A huge Jurassic era fossil crocodile (Steneosaurus bollensis, Lower Jurassic, Posidonienschiefer Formation, Holzmaden, Bavaria, Germany), in impeccable condition, is expected to draw attention from bidders all over the world as the top lot in Heritage Auctions' Oct. 4, 2015 Nature & Science Signature® Auction.

"This is a museum quality specimen that is spectacular on every level," said Jim Walker, Director of Natural History at Heritage Auctions. "You can just picture it resting in the water, ready to take a bite out of any unwary prey unlucky enough to happen by."

The remarkably detailed fossilized skeleton extremely well preserved in a huge shale slab measuring 70 inches x 49 inches, with the skeleton itself measuring nine feet in total. It is expected to bring $150,000+.

A magnificent collection of skull statues — carved from a variety of natural gemstones by artist Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio — collectively knowns as the "Faces of Eternity," arrives at auction just in time for Halloween. Expected to bring $100,000+, this collection is one-of-a-kind, has never been offered before and comes to auction directly from a museum tour.

"Few symbols have the universal recognition and the suggestive power of the Skull," said Walker. "The artist understands that rich history and thematic power. It took him a full year to design and execute these wonderful pieces."

One of the largest American blue Topaz crystals ever found, from the Zapot Mine, Gillis Range, Fitting District, Mineral Co., Nevada, provides a stunning opportunity for a high-end collector to add a cornerstone piece to their collection, with a $50,000+ estimate, while one the world's largest faceted Topaz gemstones, "The Eye of the Jaguar" – fresh-to-market and checking in at 8.7 x 4.0 x 2.4 inches and a whopping 9360 carats – carries a $50,000+.

Meteorites continue to represent an important growth segment of the Natural History market and collectors will take careful note of the offering of the Lunar meteorite NWA 10253, being offered at auction for the first time in this sale. Determined to have been laying in the Sahara Desert for at least several hundred years, this meteorite comes with scientific documentation from one of the world's leading experts, Dr. Carl Agee of the Institute of Meteoritics at the University of New Mexico. It is estimated at $7,000+.

Further highlights include, but are certainly not limited to:

• Ruby on Zoisite: One of the world's largest Ruby crystals, Mundarara Mine, Arusha Region, Tanzania. Estimate $40,000+.

• Extremely rare fossil Paddlefish from the Green River Formation of Wyoming: Crossopholis magnicaudatus, Eocene, Green River Formation, Wyoming, USA. Estimate $20,000+.

• Dinosaur raptor claw: Spinosaurus sp., Late Cretaceous. From the famed Kem Kem Basin, Morocco. Estimate $3,000+.

• Custom Knife with "Gem" Dinosaur Bone Handle and Jasper Blade: One-of-a-kind knife fashioned out of gem dinosaur bone with master knapping work of the stone blade. Artist: Greg Nunn. Jurassic, Morrison Formation, Utah, USA. Estimate $3,000+.

• Martian Meteorite NWA 8656: Complete slice of a piece of the Planet Mars with scientific documentation. Estimate $2,000+.