All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
11 10, 2007

Dinosaur Posters for Kids

By |2022-11-04T08:08:36+00:00October 11th, 2007|Everything Dinosaur Products|1 Comment

Dinosaur Posters of Kids

Posters and pictures can really help to brighten up a child’s bedroom or study area.  For young dinosaur fans there is nothing better than a dinosaur poster on their wall.  Posters about dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals can help inform, educate and inspire and it is amazing how much knowledge children pick up by reading about the Dinosauria.

Dinosaur Posters for Children

Weird dinosaurs

Weird dinosaurs.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture above shows a dinosaur poster that illustrates some of the more weird dinosaurs that have been discovered in the last 150 years or so.

To view dinosaur posters and other dinosaur toys for kids: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

So whether Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Diplodocus, Brachiosaurus or T. rex is your favourite, there is bound to be an illustration to suit your needs.

10 10, 2007

Has a Tyrannosaurus rex Footprint been Found?

By |2022-11-04T07:56:44+00:00October 10th, 2007|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Possible Tyrannosaurus rex Footprint Found in Hell Creek Formation

Despite Tyrannosaurus rex being so embedded in our popular culture we actually have very few fossils of this spectacular Late Cretaceous theropod.  Indeed, the whole family history of tyrannosaurs is still hotly debated and little understood.

Tyrannosaurus rex Footprint

No footprint has ever been ascribed to T. rex, however, Dr Phil Manning of the University of Manchester may have found one whilst studying Maastrichtian sediments in the Hell Creek formation of Montana.  Phil has high hopes that his 76 cm long three-toed footprint in a one square metre block could belong to a Tyrannosaurus rex.  However, as any ichnologist (specialist studying trackways); will tell you it is impossible to be certain what animal made the print – unless of course its fossil skeleton is found at the end of the trail.

Dr Manning commented that T. rex tracks had remained elusive for a hundred years and that you cannot say for definite what animal made them… but the print comes from the right age of rock (67 million years old).  Only two candidates are known from the fossil record that could make a print that size – T. rex and its close relative, although smaller Nanotyrannus.

Please note, the validity of Nanotyrannus as a genus is disputed.

An Illustration of a Nanotyrannus

Nanotyrannus lancensis scale drawing.

Nanotyrannus scale drawing.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture above is an illustration of the PNSO Nanotyrannus model. To view the PNSO prehistoric animal model range: PNSO Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Replicas.

Phil’s evidence and research has yet to be peer reviewed but he remains optimistic that he has found the first Tyrannosaurus rex foot print.  Dr Angela Milner (Associate Keeper of Palaeontology at the Natural History museum), expressed interest in comparing the Hell Creek impression with a cast of a print discovered in Late Cretaceous rocks in New Mexico (1993).  This footprint was also of a large theropod, the print is actually 4 centimetres longer than Dr Manning’s find.  New Mexico is believed to be the southern limit of Tyrannosaurus rex’s habitat.

Isolated footprints can be helpful to palaeontologists but the real pay dirt would be an extensive trackway, from this evidence we can work out stance, posture, velocity, turning abilities, height, stride-length and so much more.  A set of T. rex footprints would yield a lot of fascinating information, especially if there were several tracks all of different sizes but heading in the same direction – strong evidence of Tyrannosaurus living in groups.

9 10, 2007

National Geographic 3-D Feature “Sea Monsters” Premiers in USA

By |2023-07-22T07:42:18+01:00October 9th, 2007|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, TV Reviews|0 Comments

Cretaceous Sea Monsters Captured on Film!

National Geographic in association with Kansas University aided and abetted by a number of US palaeontological institutions have premiered – “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure”.

The film shot using a mixture of footage of digs and computer generated imagery, has been designed for screening at IMAX theatres and shows life in the sea at the end of the Cretaceous in glorious 3-D.

The action is set approximately 82 million years ago (Campanian stage), in the Western Interior Seaway, a shallow sea that covered much of what was to become North America, specifically the locations are in Kansas.  This is due to the rich marine fossil record of this state, coupled with the fact that as modern Kansas is a flat and dry landscape the shots of a prehistoric sea contrast nicely.

The film centres around a school of Dolichorhynchops or “Dollies” as palaeontologists have affectionately named them.  These were polycotylid plesiosaurs, spending their time feeding on fish, molluscs and squid.  Reaching lengths of approximately 4 metres they would have been dwarfed by their mosasaur contemporaries, many of whom were the dominant predators in these waters.  Indeed, the school encounters a Tylosaurus an 8-10 metres long relative of snakes who if it caught one would make short work of a Dolichorhynchops.

Sea Monsters

This informative documentary style film features a wide range of Cretaceous inhabitants including Hesperornis (a 2-metre long flightless bird) and the fearsome Xiphactinus a 6-metre-long, predatory fish that makes piranhas look like wimps.

A Replica of the Prehistoric Fish Xiphactinus

CollectA Deluxe Xiphactinus model.

The CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Xiphactinus prehistoric fish model.

Everything Dinosaur stocks a range of marine reptiles and othe sea monsters: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Models.

The film makers consulted a number of palaeontologists to help make the scenes and the animals as realistic as possible, turning to Industrial Light and Magic (the company behind the special effects in the Star Wars movies), to bring these amazing creatures to life.

“Sea Monsters” unites parts of the story with real palaeontology, for example, in the movie’s narrative if a Xiphactinus eats a Dolichorynchops, it cuts to a palaeontologist examining bones and fossils showing evidence of just such an encounter.  This is a really good way to get science over without people realising it.  However, the film crew do resort to exploiting the 3-D effects to give a few more thrills and spills.

I bet you will jump back from the screen when you see a 20 foot killer fish charging straight for you!

Sadly, there are no ichthyosaurs, these wonderful animals were well on the way to becoming extinct by the Campanian.  No one knows for sure why they died out, perhaps they were not able to compete with the long necked plesiosaurs such as Styxosaurus, which also features in the film.  You are treated to a shot of one of these magnificent long-necked fish hunters swimming gracefully overhead.

Tyrannosaurus rex does have a cameo appearance, I suppose the Director – Sean MacLeod Phillips felt compelled to put him in, although technically this feature is set too early for a T. rex, but that does not detract much from this 40 minute spectacle.

Good to see the marine reptiles, getting their share of the limelight, after all, much of the land that we now know as the familiar modern landscape spent the Cretaceous as seas and oceans, the home of some pretty amazing animals.

There are a few marine animals available as models, although, sadly many have been withdrawn and are out of production.

To find books and other sea monster items: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

8 10, 2007

Lots of Teeth – the key to the Success of Duck-Billed Dinosaurs

By |2023-02-13T20:48:27+00:00October 8th, 2007|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Hadrosaurs –  Key to Success – A Dental Battery

Scientists from the University of Utah have published a paper on a superbly preserved skull of a Late Cretaceous duck-billed dinosaur that demonstrates in glorious detail why this group of animals were so successful.

Skull Discovery

The skull discovered in a remote region of Utah – the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (so remote that it was the last place on the US continent to be mapped), was unearthed by an expedition in 2003, but only properly studied and evaluated in 2005.

The skull has been identified as belonging to an adult Gryposaurus, a member of the hadrosaurine lineage, distinguished from Lambeosaurines by wide premaxillary rostrums, a cir-cumnarial depression surrounding the external naris, generally an enlarged and bony naris and the presence of a prominent anteromedial process of the maxilla.  The species has been described as G. monumentensis, named after the area in which it was found.  A number of Campanian species of gryposaurs are known most have been recovered from the Dinosaur Provincial Park formation of Alberta, Canada.

Duck-billed Dinosaur

This remarkable skull has permitted the team from Utah University to closely examine the teeth of hadrosaurs.  This skull has over 300 teeth in the maxilla and dentary, making a very effective grinding surface for crushing and pulping plant material.  Another 500 teeth were embedded in the jawbones, ready to erupt and replace any other teeth that became worn.

Other bones believed to belong to this species have been unearthed at the dig site and palaeontologists have estimated that this animal could reach lengths of 10 metres or more.  One palaeontologist, Scott Sampson, commented that this robust animal was the “Arnold Schwarzenegger” of its dinosaur family.  The powerful jaws would have enabled these animals to tackle a whole variety of plant food, but further research is required to determine Gryposaurus’s dietary preferences.

Gryposaurus

Gryposaurus was named after its nasal arch, the name is from the Greek meaning “hook-nosed lizard”.  Muscles in the skull enabled the animal to chew food in a similar way to bovines of today (the actual process is different, cows for example grind their jaws from side to side, hadrosaurs would have ground food in a more up and down motion).  The broad beak would have cropped vegetation and the teeth in combination with the animal’s tongue and cheeks would have processed the plant material very effectively.  Alternating between a quadrupedal and bipedal stance Gryposaurus could have fed on vegetation from ground level up to about 4 metres.

A Replica of the Duck-billed Dinosaur Gryposaurus

The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Gryposaurus dinosaur model.

“Turntable Tuesday” Gryposaurus on display. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Gryposaurus model.

To view this range: Wild Safari Dinos Prehistoric World Replicas.

Old “hook nose” would have certainly been an impressive sight, an example of the many wonderful varieties of peculiar looking dinosaur.  No plants would have been safe from a herd of them as they wandered the late Cretaceous plains looking for their next meal.

An Artists Impression of Gryposaurus

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur Posters (Weird Dinosaurs)

The image has been taken from a colourful and fascinating poster which illustrates some of the bizarre visages of dinosaurs.  Facial ornamentation may have played an important role in species recognition, competition for mates and inter-species rivalry, this poster illustrates some of the more amazing faces of dinosaurs.  Gryposaurus with its enlarged nasal region is typical of the dinosaurs featured.

The poster is called “Weird Dinosaurs” and it is available from Everything Dinosaur.

To view the products available from Everything Dinosaur: Everything Dinosaur – Toys and Gifts.

7 10, 2007

Turn your little Monsters into Dinosaurs!

By |2022-11-04T07:43:45+00:00October 7th, 2007|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

New Dinosaur Foam Face Masks available from Everything Dinosaur

We all know how much youngsters like dressing up, at Everything Dinosaur we get lots of requests to help people find suitable dinosaur costumes and props, the addition of a set of six new dinosaur face masks will help solve many parents’ problems.

The Dinosaur Face Masks from Everything Dinosaur

Being a dinosaur!

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Foam Masks

The face masks are made from flexible foam and are held onto the face securely by a piece of elasticated string.  There are six different masks to choose from, each one representing a different dinosaur.  We were even able to get a pink horned dinosaur face mask, especially for the girls.  As they are flexible the masks are suitable for a variety of different age groups, although we would not recommend as being suitable for children under 36 months.

These items would make a colourful yet inexpensive addition to a party gift bag and most certainly will prove popular at parties as well as being ideal as a stocking filler or for use in schools for teaching, playtime and theatre activities, they are wonderful dinosaur masks for children.

To view the range of dinosaur toys available from Everything Dinosaur’s website: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

6 10, 2007

Thieves steal valuable Dinosaur Footprint from site in Switzerland

By |2023-02-14T08:14:57+00:00October 6th, 2007|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Dinosaur Footprint Stolen

Thieves have raided a palaeontological dig site in the Jura mountains (Switzerland) and made off with a fossilised dinosaur footprint.  The theft, which took place on Thursday, is unfortunately evidence of a worrying trend in palaeontology, with sky-rocketing prices being paid for dinosaur fossils a black market for them has been set up and unscrupulous individuals are resorting to stealing from sites, tempted by the high prices collectors are willing to pay.

Dinosaur Footprint

Scientists working on Upper Jurassic rocks (152 mya), had uncovered a number of trace fossils including dinosaur trackways and ichnologists (specialists who study footprints), had claimed that this particular footprint belonged to an allosaur.  Allosaurs are well-known from American finds but there has been little evidence of Jurassic carnivores recovered to date from Europe.  The footprint and other items from the sediments would have helped shed light on the fauna in the area at the end of the Jurassic period.

An impression of what the Dinosaur Footprint might look like

Source: Everything Dinosaur

The stone slab that contained the footprint had not been properly studied by scientists when it was stolen, perhaps vital clues as to the size of the allosaur that made the footprint have been lost for ever.  The thieves were certainly very determined and well organised as the rock containing this trace fossil weighed several hundred kilogrammes.

A spokesman for the Jura cantonal Dept. of Palaeontology, commented that the raiders would find it difficult to sell this fossil, it had been photographed and this would make it easier to identify if it was to appear in a fossil sale.

Estimates as to the value of this single item vary, if not preserved properly the specimen could deteriorate and the impression lost for ever.  A single foot print would not make a striking enough fossil to interest an avid collector or specialist.  Yet if the footprint had been studied “in situ” much more evidence about the animal that made it could be gathered.

The authorities have called upon the perpetrators to return the fossil.

As the dominant predators 50 million years before the tyrannosaurs took over, the allosaurs are a very important group of meat-eating dinosaurs.  Classified as carnosaurs, this particular group of large predators were widespread in the Late Jurassic.  Fossils of allosaurs have been found in western North America, Africa, Portugal and possibly in Australia (A. astragalus).  The best known species is A. fragilis, with several hundred specimens known, but evidence of allosaurs in Europe is extremely rare.

There are a number of allosaur models available, ironically some of the best ones come from German manufacturers, not a million miles from the site of this Jurassic excavation.

Dinosaur Models: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

5 10, 2007

Everything Dinosaur Provides Free Dinosaur Calendars

By |2022-11-04T07:40:22+00:00October 5th, 2007|Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Dinosaur Themed Calendar for 2008

As part of Everything Dinosaur’s commitment to help teach young children about science and to help them adjust to learning about science in schools, our team members have created a free 2008 dinosaur themed calendar for mums and dads to download.

Dinosaur Calendars

Prehistoric Animals Feature on the Calendar

Everything Dinosaur helps young children learn about science.

Everything Dinosaur helps young children learn about science.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Mike Fredericks

This do-it-yourself calendar can simply be printed out and then attached together.  Budding young dinosaur hunters can then colour in each of the prehistoric animals that feature on the months.  There are even some facts about dinosaurs and prehistoric animals included.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

4 10, 2007

Postal Workers Industrial Action (United Kingdom)

By |2023-02-17T14:19:35+00:00October 4th, 2007|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

The Postal Strike – what can we do about it?

Today, Thursday 4th October marks the start of a prolonged period of industrial action by the Royal Mail postal workers.  They are in dispute with management over pay and reforms to the postal service.

Industrial action has been going on for some months, with different parts of the network going on strike at different times.  This strike action starting today is a 48-hour walk out of all staff.  Another 48-hour strike is planned for Monday and Tuesday of next week.

Postal Workers Industrial Action

Unions are in last minute talks with management to try to avert this action and bring about a settlement, however, the team at Everything Dinosaur has already put in place plans to cope with deliveries whilst this industrial action takes place.

Firstly, we will be sending out parcels this morning, we have arranged with the Post Office service team we use to get customer’s parcels to a local depot in time for a late morning collection.  At least items ordered this morning and last night will start their journey.

Secondly, staff have agreed to work late Friday to permit us to prepare and pack parcels so that we can despatch on Saturday morning, after the first strike action has taken place.

Arrangements in Place

We have in place arrangements to permit us to take advantage of any unscheduled collections that may take place with the second period of strike action next week, our good working relationship with the local Post Office staff has enabled us to take advantage of any opportunities to get parcels out as and when they occur.

We have also introduced recently a discounted courier service.  This subsidised courier service (signed for 3-day parcel service) covers a very large part of the UK,  more information can be found on the relevant section of the Everything Dinosaur web page:

Delivery options: Everything Dinosaur Delivery Options.

Sue and her team are also actively exploring offering a second discounted courier service from a subsidiary of DHL, this parcel delivery service is being considered so that we can offer a permanent alternative to Royal Mail.

Be assured we will do all we can to prepare and pack parcels quickly and get them despatched in a bid to minimise any delay.

3 10, 2007

The Thagomizer- how the Spikes on the end of Stegosaurus got their Name

By |2023-02-17T14:20:50+00:00October 3rd, 2007|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

The Thagomizer – the term used to Describe a Stegosaur’s Tail Spikes

Many palaeontologists have a warped sense of humour, this might be due to the fact that they spend many weeks in far flung places looking for fossils or countless hours in the laboratory cleaning and preparing specimens.  In these situations, a sense of humour, no matter how warped comes in very handy.

The Thagomizer

The term “Thagomizer” a word used to describe the arrangement of defensive tail spikes on stegosaurs, has been adopted as an informal anatomical term, appearing in scientific literature on Thyreophora (Shield Bearers), museum displays and in many texts on prehistoric animals.

A Fossil Skeleton of a Stegosaurus (S. stenops) on Display

"Sophie" the Stegosaurus on display. Look out for the Thagomizer!

A posterior view of the spectacular “Sophie” the Stegosaurus (S. stenops) exhibit at the London Natural History Museum. Look out for the Thagomizer.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

This term was invented by the cartoonist Gary Larson, who due to his love of nature often lampooned science in his cartoons, such as the anthropologist Jane Goodall, and her work with the chimpanzees at the Gombe National Park in Tanzania.

Driven by a Sense of Humour

In a 1982 Far Side comic strip, Gary depicts a caveman lecturer (prehistoric people and dinosaurs being a favourite source of ideas for Gary); giving a slide-show and pointing out that the back end of a Stegosaurus is called a “Thagomizer – after the late Thag Simmons”.

This term was picked up a few years later by Ken Carpenter, a palaeontologist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, who used the term to describe a fossil at the Society of Paleonotology (American spelling).

The text associated with this Larson cartoon reads: Now this end is called the Thagomizer after the late Thag Simmons.

Drawing Dinosaurs and Hominids Together

For those fortunate to meet Gary and to interview him about his work, often they remark how observant he is and how interested Gary is in the world around him.  Aware of the misconception of putting cavemen amongst dinosaurs, Gary once suggested that “there should be a cartoon confessional where cartoonists could go and say things like, ‘Father, I have sinned – drawing dinosaurs and hominids together”.

In the Everything Dinosaur offices, amongst all the text books, order receipts and paperwork we have a Far Side Gallery book, with a foreword by Jane Goodall.  It helps keep us sane and makes us smile.

Everything Dinosaur stocks a range of stegosaur models, to view the PNSO collection of armoured dinosaurs including many Chinese stegosaurs: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models.

2 10, 2007

Everything Dinosaur Postage Saving Rates

By |2023-02-14T08:21:43+00:00October 2nd, 2007|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Thoughts turn towards Christmas – saving Customers Postage

Just 84 days to go before the big day – Christmas.  My how the time flies, it hardly seems five minutes since Christmas last came and went.  We still have lots to do before the end of the year and as you can imagine the period up to Christmas tends to be the busiest for us in terms of mail orders. Here is a quick guide to the postage saving rates that Everything Dinosaur offers.

Everything Dinosaur

Hopefully, this year will be better than ever for us, we have had a lot of interest from consumer magazines wanting to feature our products and services in their Christmas gift guides.  It is always nice to get some publicity, we work very hard on our customer service and this time of year is when things really begin to pay off.

Everything Dinosaur Works with Several Major Parcel Companies Including Royal Mail

Royal Mail Logo 2022 postage saving rates

Everything Dinosaur team members have taken steps to help minimise disruption for customers, but due to industrial action UK and overseas deliveries of parcels will be subject to delays. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

One thing we have been very conscious of is the recent increases in UK postage costs.  Whilst Royal Mail and the Post Office still represent excellent value for money, over the last 18 months or so there have been price increases on first class, second class and Royal Mail parcel service.

Delivery charges are based on the weight of the goods ordered. At Everything Dinosaur we don’t believe in charging excessive fees for postage and shipping.  Where possible we try to subsidise delivery charges offering a discounted courier service (signed for 3-day parcel service) for deliveries to the UK mainland.

For orders totalling more than £25.00 Everything Dinosaur offers subsidised delivery:

– the Saver Rate for orders between £25.00 and £49.99 parcel service just £4.94

– the Super Saver Rate for orders over £50.00 parcel service just £6.94

Postage Saving Rates

Our shipping and postal charges are calculated on the Royal Mail, Parcel Force or Carrier service rates, depending on the most appropriate and cost effective service for delivery of goods. We do add a small fee onto the cost of each transaction to cover packaging, packing and handling, however, we do subsidise customer’s delivery costs by offering these additional postal options.  As a business made up of teachers, parents and dinosaur experts we decided that offering short-term promotions and gimmicks wasn’t really for us.  We just worked out a way of saving customers money and offered it, it was as simple as that.

Orders received by 1pm are usually despatched on the same working day. Orders placed on a Saturday/Sunday will be despatched on the next working day. To assist with the rapid turnaround of orders; we pack and despatch orders on Saturday mornings.  Delivery times given are estimates only and cannot be guaranteed, but we really do try to turn around orders quickly.  In the event, that ordered items are out of stock, a member of staff will always contact customers to confirm a delivery date.

UK Deliveries
For deliveries within the UK, customers can choose which carrier service they would like to use – First Class, Second Class, Standard Parcels service or a discounted Courier service (signed for parcel service).  To help save customers postage; Everything Dinosaur has introduced two additional UK postage rates.  For orders between £25.00 and £49.99 a subsidised postal service – the Everything Dinosaur Saver Rate; charging just £4.94 for delivery.  For orders over £50.00 Everything Dinosaur offers a further subsidised postal service – the Super Saver Rate; charging just £6.94 for delivery.

The Everything Dinosaur Saver Rate and the Super Saver Rate are available for UK retail deliveries only, our aim is to deliver within 3-5 working days.  The maximum weight of parcel for this service is 20KGs.

Subsidised Courier service (signed for 3-day parcel service) covers mainland UK and southern Scotland only, for any other UK areas please contact Everything Dinosaur for advice:

Our delivery terms here: Everything Dinosaur Delivery Terms.

Everything Dinosaur contacts page: Email Everything Dinosaur.

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