June, 2009 | Everything Dinosaur Blog

11 06, 2009

Controversy over the Dinosaurs/Birds Link

By Mike|2023-03-02T14:16:19+00:00June 11th, 2009|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

New Research Questions “Birds Descended from Dinosaurs Theory”

For some time the theory that theropod dinosaurs gave rise to birds has been an accepted part of scientific thinking, a hypothesis that is largely believed by the majority of palaeontologists and academics. However, the exact relationship between Dinosauria and the Aves has to be determined. There are certainly enough common anatomical similarities to indicate an evolutionary relationship, but whether or not birds actually are the descendants of small, bipedal meat-eating dinosaurs has been questioned on numerous occasions.

Newly Published Research

A new research paper published in the scientific publication “The Journal of Morphology” provides a new perspective on this problem, one that was debated as long ago as the 1880s by eminent British scientists such as Huxley.

That birds may be the descendants of dinosaurs is perhaps of the most strongly accepted hypotheses in current evolutionary research. However, there is mounting evidence to suggest that the theory is simply not right, the interpretation of the relationship may be wrong and evidence has been published by the Oregon State University in the United States that asks scientists to reassess the dinosaur-bird link.

Because of the demands associated with powered flight, birds have a very unique physiology. Birds breathe very differently from mammals and reptiles. Their lungs are particularly efficient and have a circulation system that does not permit oxygenated air to mix with de-oxygenated air. These lungs are much more efficient than the lungs of a cold-blooded reptile such as a crocodile for example.

To read more about the structure of Avian lungs: Ideas on Dinosaur Breathing – A Breathe of Fresh Air.

In addition to very efficient lungs, birds have an immobile thigh bone. The locked femur has been known for some time, but the role it actually plays in aiding flight is the subject the new discovery from the Oregon University based team. The researchers found that there is a strong relationship between the immobile femur (thigh bone) and the air-sac structure of the lungs.

The researchers state there is a strong relationship between:

“the fixed position of bird bones and musculature that keeps their air-sac lung from collapsing when the bird inhales”.

An immobile femur is unique to birds, it is not seen in other vertebrates. According to Oregon State University’s John Ruben (Professor of Zoology) this work on the link between the femur and the lung structure may indicate that birds evolved alongside dinosaurs in the Mesozoic not directly from a specific SuperOrder such as Theropoda.

He stated that:

“This discovery probably means that birds evolved on a parallel path alongside dinosaurs, starting that process before most dinosaur species even existed”.

Theropod Dinosaurs

Understanding the lung function of dinosaurs is crucial in establishing the relationship between Aves and the Dinosauria. However, the lack of fossil evidence (limited soft tissue preserved), has prevented scientists from making progress in this particular field of research. Perhaps, the mummified hadrosaurine known as “Dakota” which seems to have a lot of soft tissue preserved may provide more data. This new research from the American team, challenges the accepted, current theory. Anatomical evidence from dinosaur fossil bones supports the theory that theropods had a mobile femur and as a result their lungs would have to be very differently structured to those of a bird.

Professor Ruben commented:

“Theropod dinosaurs had a moving femur and therefore could not have had a lung that worked like that in birds. Their abdominal air sac, if they had one, would have collapsed”.

The question arises therefore, that if birds did not descend from theropods, then where did they come from? There is evidence of birds in the fossil record from the post Callovian/Oxfordian faunal stages (Archaeopteryx lithographica), but there are very few fossils of birds in the known fossil record, even including those remarkable fossils from Liaoning Province in China. If birds are not really feathered, flying theropods then this theory from the American team would suggest that they are still related and that they evolved from a common ancestor – the reptilian thecodonts (Thecodontia).

Everything Dinosaur stocks a wide range of theropod dinosaur models including: Papo Dinosaurs.

The dinosaur-bird link will remain controversial and be debated for many years to come, until some of the new technology including genetic research provides more information about known fossils or a new fossil is found to provide a fresh perspective.

10 06, 2009

Review of the New 1:40 Scale Model of Baryonyx (Procon/CollectA)

By Mike|2024-04-17T10:21:59+01:00June 10th, 2009|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|2 Comments

Review of 1:40 Scale Model of Baryonyx (Procon/CollectA)

Everything Dinosaur team members review the CollecA Deluxe Baryonyx model.

Some time ago, team members at Everything Dinosaur were given the opportunity to review early prototypes of the Procon/CollectA 1:40 scale range of prehistoric models. It was pleasing to note that as well as featuring the likes of Tyrannosaurus rex, some more unusual and perhaps less well-known dinosaurs were to be included. For example, this replica range includes a scale model of Baryonyx (Baryonyx walkeri), an unusual carnivore that may have been an ancestor of the Spinosauridae.

Baryonyx walkeri

One of the most remarkable features of this particular meat-eating theropod dinosaur from the Barremian faunal stage of the Early Cretaceous (125 million years ago), are the two huge 30 cm long claws on its first digit (thumbs). The claw was the first part of this dinosaur’s fossil to be discovered. An amateur fossil hunter, William Walker was exploring a Surrey clay pit and unearthed this huge manual ungual (claw). Nothing quite like it had been found in the fossil record at the time (1983). A team from the Natural History Museum (London) was despatched to investigate and over the next few months nearly 70% of the skeleton was recovered.

It was formerly named and described in 1987 (Baryonyx walkeri), the species part of the scientific name being in honour of the amateur palaeontologist who first found evidence of this fearsome creature.

CollectA Deluxe Baryonyx Model

The scale replica from the Procon/CollectA series depicts Baryonyx as a dark brown dinosaur with, black vertical stripes running along the back and to the tip of the tail. This dull, mottled colouration would have helped camouflage this 10 metre long dinosaur as it moved through undergrowth in conditions where light was broken up by trees and becoming dappled.

Model Colouration

The head has greenish hue, which would have helped obscure it from fish as this fish-eating dinosaur looked into rivers and lakes trying to spot an unwary fish. The underside of the jaw is quite lightly coloured. It has been speculated that the lower jaws and chest of this piscivore would probably have been quite dark, again providing effective camouflage as it leaned over water trying to spot fish. Any camouflage to help break up this animal’s outline against a dark background of vegetation would have been useful for Baryonyx, especially if the speculation about it being a silent stalker of fish such as Lepidotes are to be believed.

The 1:40 Scale Model of Baryonyx

Baryonyx “Heavy Claw”.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

To view the scale model of Baryonyx and other prehistoric animal replicas in the CollectA Deluxe scale model series: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Animal Models.

The model shows fine detailing, the prominent hump back is in evidence, indicating that the model makers have read up on recent papers concerning Baryonychidae anatomy. The jaws are well painted and the distinct kink in the upper jaw is visible on the model, although not very clear. The strong, powerful forelimbs and those famous claws are accurately portrayed.

The Baryonyx model measures approximately 30 cm long and stands 10 cm high at the hips. It makes a good contrasting theropod model when compared to the more robust looking T. rex model from the same prehistoric animal model series.

A Close up the Scale Model of Baryonyx

Baryonyx 1:40 scale.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

To view the extensive range of prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

Marketed under the “Deluxe” banner, this 1:40 scale model of a Baryonyx provides a contrast to the earlier models of this dinosaur as depicted in the Carnegie Safari and Natural History Museum model ranges. It makes an excellent addition to any dinosaur collection.

9 06, 2009

CollectA to Add Becklespinax Dinosaur Model to the Range

By Mike|2022-12-25T08:51:08+00:00June 9th, 2009|Dinosaur Fans|0 Comments

CollectA Becklespinax Dinosaur Model

CollectA have announced that amongst their new models to be introduced to their “popular” dinosaur range, the one we at Everything Dinosaur refer to as the “not-to-scale” series, there is going to be a CollectA Becklespinax. Little is known about this English theropod dinosaur, although some palaeontologists believe that it is a member of the allosaur family and perhaps closely related to the Sinraptor genus known from China.

The CollectA Becklespinax Dinosaur Model

Becklespinax – an English dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Becklespinax

Only a handful of fossils have been ascribed to this dinosaur, all material being associated with the Wealden Formation. The fossils, three very distinctive and articulated back bones, were found near the town of Battle, East Sussex in 1884 by amateur fossil collector Samuel Husbands Beckles. This large, meat-eating dinosaur that may have reached lengths in excess of eight metres, was named in honour of the finder of the first fossilised bones ascribed to this genus.

Very little is known about European Theropoda of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods due to the lack of fossil evidence. The very distinctive shape of the backbones with their tall neural spines have led to Becklespinax being declared as a valid dinosaur genus. Some other fragmentary fossils found in the Wealden Formation may also belong to this genus, but the lack of clear data precludes this for the moment.

CollectA Becklespinax

A spokes person for the UK based, dinosaur toy company Everything Dinosaur stated:

“It is always exciting to hear news about the addition of a replica of a British prehistoric animal to a model series. We look forward to stocking this Becklespinax dinosaur model”

To view the range of not-to-scale CollectA dinosaur and prehistoric animal models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Prehistoric Life Models.

8 06, 2009

Life Begins at 40 for the Open University

By Mike|2023-03-02T14:39:05+00:00June 8th, 2009|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Educational Activities, Main Page|0 Comments

Open University Celebrates Forty Years

The Open University is marking four decades of educating people far and wide, young and old with a series of events being held throughout the country over the Summer. The Open University is the only British University dedicated to providing educational courses to students via distance learning. The concept of the University is that you can study the courses, whether degree, post graduate or other on a part-time basis, perhaps whilst working or taking a career break.

The Open University

Founded in the late 1960s, the Open University was the world’s first successful distance teaching university and part of a vision by the UK Government to provide “Open Doors” to all members of the community in terms of education provision. It now provides distance learning courses to many thousands of people, many of them overseas.

Established in the ‘White Heat of Technology’ era, the Open University was founded on the belief that communications technology could bring high quality degree-level learning to people who had not had the opportunity to attend campus universities.

A number of our staff and team members have studied with the Open University, everything from business qualifications to brushing up on geology. The courses are very well written, up to date and extremely enjoyable. We would recommend the Open University to anyone considering doing some part-time study.

A section dedicated to the educational sector.

The Open University has become a “Hot Spot” for education. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Many thousands of people now study on a huge range of courses offered by the University. In our experience as teachers, the courses offered are second to none but it is interesting to recall the opposition to a “University of the Air”, as the OU was called when it was first launched.

Celebrating Forty Years

The Open University was the first institution to break the insidious link between exclusivity and excellence. It is a University founded on an ideal and, like all revolutionary ideas, attracted hostility and criticism.

In 1969, when the idea of The Open University was announced, it was described as “blithering nonsense” by Iain Macleod MP. More than three decades on, The Open University has managed to convince sceptics that academic excellence need not be compromised by openness, indeed some of the degrees and courses offered are extremely well regarded in the academic world.

To learn more about the Open University and the courses that it offers: The Open University.

Happy 40th Birthday to the Open University.

7 06, 2009

Further Dinosaur Finds from the Morrison Formation

By Mike|2023-03-02T14:41:30+00:00June 7th, 2009|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Morrison Formation Dinosaur Discoveries

By the middle of the 19th century, pioneering palaeontologists had discovered the fossil rich Jurassic aged strata of mid-west America that became known as the Morrison Formation. The Morrison Formation is exposed in several parts of the USA, in the south, the strata was laid down in an arid, dry desert-like environment and fossil finds are relatively sparse. However, in the sequence of rocks exposed in Utah, they indicate a large, low-lying, alluvial flood plain and Mesozoic fossils, including dinosaurs are more numerous.

Morrison Formation

The rocks date from the Upper Jurassic and several genera of dinosaurs have been discovered in the many Utah quarries and dig sites, including famous dinosaurs such as Diplodocus, Allosaurus, Camptosaurus and Stegosaurus. New discoveries are being made each year and scientists at the Burpee Museum of Natural History have reported unearthing a virtual treasure trove of dinosaur remains at a new excavation.

The researchers report that between 60-70 new bones have been found at this new dinosaur quarry, including several articulated cervical vertebrae (neck bones) of a sauropod.

A New Fossil Site

This new site is close to Hanksville, a small town in Wayne County Utah. The early signs are that this could be an important site for Upper Jurassic fossils and may yield a new species or two. It seems that the site represents sediment that was laid down at a bend or slower flowing part of a river. Over many years, the remains of dead animals and drift wood were deposited in the same place and a sort of “Jurassic log jam” built up. The fossils are concentrated into an area about 2/3 the size of a football pitch.

Commenting on the fossil bone concentration, Scott Williams, Collections and Exhibits Manager at the Burpee Museum stated:

“In some places you can’t work to remove one bone without finding four or five more”.

It sounds like there are going to be some very well stocked dig stations as the team continue to excavate the fossil bones from the site. The researchers are hoping that the new discoveries will help them piece together a little more information about the ecosystem and the environment in the American mid-west 145 million years ago.

The team are expecting to have 10 years worth of digging ahead of them to fully explore this new location. Free guided tours of the dig sites will be taking place for the first couple of weeks of June, after that it will be time to get done to work for the palaeontologists as they attempt to plot, map and decipher the position of the many bones trapped in the rocks.

Numerous Dinosaur Genera

The Morrison Formation has yielded a number of dinosaur genera, it is especially known for the number of sauropods (long-necked dinosaur) discoveries and the variety of theropods excavated.

The theropods in particular have provided scientists with a unique insight into the evolution of meat-eating dinosaurs and the relationships between genera. Dinosaurs such as Ceratosaurus, Marshosaurus, Stokesosaurus and Torvosaurus are known from this area (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian faunal stages).

Perhaps the best known of all these theropods is Allosaurus (A. fragilis). At least 44 individuals have been recovered from the Cleveland-Lloyd quarry alone. Allosaurus was a formidable hunter, with a length of over 12 metres and weighing as much as 2.5 Tonnes. Its hind legs were massive, helping to support the animals weight and the head was perched on top of a “s” shaped neck.

The three-fingered hands had large claws on the digits and the arms were very strong. It seems to have been one of the largest predators in the area during this particular part of the Late Jurassic.

A Model of an Allosaurus

The fearsome Jurassic predator Allosaurus.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Models

To view a model of an Allosaurus and other figures in the Wild Safari Prehistoric World series from Safari Ltd: Safari Ltd. Wild Safari Prehistoric World.

Allosaurus belonged to a group of theropod dinosaurs called the allosaurids, a group that also includes such giants as Giganotosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus as well as the more lightly built Sinraptor.

To see a model of Sinraptor, Everything Dinosaur recommends readers take a look at the extensive PNSO modell range: PNSO Age of Dinosaur Models.

During the Cretaceous these animals went into decline and were gradually replaced in most parts of the world by other types of meat-eating dinosaur such as the spinosaurids, abelisaurs and tyrannosaurs. A few allosaurids survived into the Early Cretaceous but their remains are seldom found. It seems that from a peak in the Late Jurassic this type of meat-eating dinosaur became a sort of “living fossil” for the remainder of the Mesozoic.

6 06, 2009

Ancient Barbecues Not for Wimps According to New Research

By Mike|2024-04-17T10:22:31+01:00June 6th, 2009|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories|0 Comments

Mammoth on the Menu in Palaeolithic Barbecues

New research suggests that ancient barbecues were not for wimps.

In the Summer, when the weather is sunny, many people relish the idea of having a barbecue. Last weekend for example, the air in our garden was filled with the smell of barbecues as a number of our neighbours busily cooked away outdoors. No doubt burgers, sausages and perhaps even chicken drumsticks were on the menu, but had you been around central Europe 29,000 years ago our ancestors would have shown you a BBQ on a very different scale. Excavations from a site of modern human settlement in the Czech Republic has revealed that our ancestors had a taste for Mammoth.

Ancient Barbecues

The site called Pavlov VI is close to the Austrian and Slovak Republic borders and has been excavated by a team of scientists and archaeologists to provide an insight into Palaeolithic settlement. With sediments dated to the Upper Palaeolithic, the site reveals a sophisticated approach to cooking and a well stocked larder with our ancestors feeding on reindeer, horse, bear, wolverine, fox as well as giant elephants. During this period Europe was home to two species of humans, the Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) and our own species (Homo sapiens), although the fossil record indicates that Neanderthals were close to extinction at this point in Earth’s history with just a few pockets of population left in Europe; on the Iberian peninsula.

Studies of other ancient human sites in the region, indicate that smaller animals such as reindeer were the stable meat diet of other tribes, but in this part of the south east of what was to become the Czech Republic; at least one group of humans may have specialised on predating larger animals such as the Woolly Mammoths. The cultural group to which these humans are believed to have belonged is known as eastern Gravettian. Early human cultures are classified according to types of stone tools used and also by symbolic artifacts such as “Venus figures” that are often found by archaeologists. The type of culture exhibited at this site is very reminiscent of Palaeolithic sites found in Russia.

Commenting on the Czech Republic site, Jiri Svoboda (Professor at the University of Brno and Director of the Brno Institute of Archaeology), the project leader on the dig stated:

“It seems that, in contrast to other Upper Palaeolithic societies in Moravia, these people depended heavily on Mammoths”.

Mammoth Remains

The remains of a female mammoth and a mammoth calf were found near a four-foot wide roasting pit. It seems our ancestors dug pits, got fires going in them and then heated round river stones and used the heat from these stones on top of the fire to cook their dinner. This form of cooking is known in many cultures and is still practised in many of the more remote cultures today. It is known as Luau cooking, a Hawaiian term we believe, but this type of cooking is seen in southern Africa with the Bushman and also in Australia with the Aborigines.

The archaeologists found the heating stones still in and around the pit, whether hot rocks were placed inside the mammoth carcass to help cook it is something that can only be speculated about, but this practice is seen in ancient cultures today when cooking large game. Several other pits have been found located near the main roasting pit, it seems that this was a substantial kitchen and food preparation area, probably sheltered by a large tee-pee or other tent like structure.

A Pair of Woolly Mammoth Models (Adult and Calf)

The CollectA Deluxe Woolly Mammoth model in 1:20 scale and the CollectA Prehistoric Life Woolly Mammoth calf. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A number of shells have also been recovered from the site, many of them showing signs of decoration. It is not known whether these animals formed an important part of our ancient ancestor’s diets or whether the shells had a spiritualistic significance. In addition, the excavators found a large number of stone tools, including spatulas, blades and saws, just the sort of equipment required when attempting to butcher a Mammoth.

It is possible that the Mammoth hunt was a seasonal activity, with the tribe stalking these huge animals as they migrated to fresh grazing across their lands. The large number of ceramic pieces, decorative pebbles and fragments of fired clay indicate that these people attached a great deal of significance to this particular site. The catching and killing of a Mammoth would have been a very important event to these people, ensuring a plentiful supply of meat and the number of ritualistic finds associated with this particular dig site demonstrate how significant the Mammoth hunt may have been.

Species of Mammoth

Although not the largest species of prehistoric elephant known, the Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) would have been a formidable animal to hunt and kill. As long as a family car and standing over three metres tall at the shoulder, an adult Woolly Mammoth would have weighed nearly 3,000 kilogrammes.

Mammoths have long been associated with human culture and civilisation as demonstrated by the superb cave art at sites such as Lascaux in France. Unfortunately, our modern way of living is damaging these ancient sites.

To read an article on the French cave art: Famous Cave Art under Threat.

We have just introduced a model of very young Woolly Mammoth into our prehistoric animal model collection. The calf is a 1:20 scale model and it has been based on fossilised bones plus of course information obtained from the Siberian frozen Mammoths. Our intention was to add a Woolly Mammoth calf to our range of adult Mammoths, we did not know at the time this new model would represent an item on the menu of early Europeans.

The New Baby Mammoth (Mammoth Calf) Model

A Baby Woolly Mammoth – just like Dima or Lyuba. This is from the CollectA Prehistoric Life model range.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Mammoth calf is a welcome addition to the Procon/CollectA range and represents a departure for the manufacturer away from dinosaurs to creating a set of prehistoric animal models.

To view the Mammoth Calf, prehistoric animal figures and dinosaur models in the CollectA Prehistoric Life range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Prehistoric Life Models.

5 06, 2009

A Chance to go Digging for Remarkable Dinosaurs

By Mike|2024-04-17T10:23:24+01:00June 5th, 2009|Geology, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Digging for Dinosaurs in the Dinosaur Provincial Park (Canada)

Looking for something to do over the Summer holidays, something a little bit out of the ordinary and unusual, well how do you fancy taking part in a real dinosaur excavation at a World Heritage site?

Digging for Dinosaurs

The Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, situated in the Badlands of Southern Alberta, Canada, is offering a new dinosaur excavation programme. For either one or two days participants (must be over 14), get the chance to take part in a real dinosaur bone bed excavation, working on real dinosaur fossils and helping to map the site and excavate Late Cretaceous dinosaurs.

The programme has been titled: “Bone Bed 30 – Guided Excavation Program” not perhaps the most exciting or catchy title but an opportunity to help excavate dinosaur bones and take part in real research is a very serious business and there are very few opportunities to participate in such excavations. The package is being offered throughout the Summer months (runs July to early September), and one or two day programmes are available.

Digging for Dinosaurs

Pause for a pic next to a digs station. Team members at Everything Dinosaur have worked on fossil dig sites.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

For any person lucky enough to be in that area of southern Alberta this Summer, we would heartily recommend you taking up this opportunity to, as the tourism information says:

“Unearth the past, contribute to the future”

To learn more about the opportunity to help excavate real dinosaur bones, visit the Dinosaur Provincial Park’s official website.

Dinosaur Models

Everything Dinosaur stocks a wide variety of prehistoric animal models and replicas including many models of dinosaurs, fossils of which come from the Upper Cretaceous deposits of the Dinosaur Provincial Park Formation.

For example, the PNSO range includes models of ceratopsians, tyrannosaurs and duck-billed dinosaurs: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models and Figures.

4 06, 2009

New Models from CollectA

By Mike|2022-12-25T08:32:21+00:00June 4th, 2009|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|4 Comments

New Prehistoric Animal Models from CollectA

Everything Dinosaur announces new models from CollectA.

The manufacturer known as CollectA has continued to add new prehistoric animals to its very successful and popular CollectA model series, also known by Everything Dinosaur team members as the Dinosaur Collection. The range has recently been expanded and the trend continued to add slightly more unusual animals to the series.

Recent additions have been a baby Woolly Mammoth calf, Sarcosuchus (a giant crocodile from the Cretaceous), Tylosaurus a fierce mosasaur (marine reptile), plus of course more dinosaurs. The new dinosaur models, include a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex plus Olorotitan, a hadrosaurine from Siberia and Becklespinax. Becklespinax was a fierce meat-eating dinosaur, fossils have been found in the United Kingdom.

Additions to the CollectA Prehistoric Animal Model Range

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the CollectA range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Prehistoric Life Models.

New Models from CollectA

It is pleasing to see dinosaurs like Becklespinax being added to the range. The CollectA range already contains a number of prehistoric animals associated with Britain, Baryonyx, Polacanthus, Iguanodon and Neovenator for example. Mind you, the collection also features models of dinosaurs from other parts of the world. For instance, one of the new additions (CollectA dinosaurs) is a model of Rhoetosaurus in a rearing stance. Rhoetosaurus is a sauropod, fossils of which are associated with Queensland, Australia.

All the models supplied by Everything Dinosaur, come with their own, unique fact sheet. The fact sheets are written and produced by the dinosaur experts at Everything Dinosaur.

The new CollectA Baby Woolly Mammoth Photographed with the CollectA 1:20 Scale Mammoth

The CollectA Deluxe Woolly Mammoth model in 1:20 scale and the CollectA Prehistoric Life Woolly Mammoth calf.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

3 06, 2009

The Joys of the Ornithomimids

By Mike|2023-03-02T14:43:06+00:00June 3rd, 2009|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|0 Comments

The Joys of the Ornithomimids

Everything Dinosaur looks at the theropod dinosaurs known as ornithomimids.

A number of team members at Everything Dinosaur are involved in proof reading information to be used in a forthcoming dinosaur themed event. One of the dinosaurs featured is an Ornithomimus (pronounced or-ni-tho-mime-us) and we have been asked to check the anatomical description. This has led to some lively debate amongst us. We were divided on how best to describe the forelimbs of Ornithomimus, the name means “bird mimic”. With many advanced ornithomimids from Late Cretaceous North America and Asia, the length of the limbs did vary between genera.

For instance, when looking at overall body proportions the hind legs are long in Ornithomimus, but not as long in proportion to the body of Struthiomimus; for example. Scientists are confident that these animals were cursorial and fast runners too, but when comparing body sizes between Ornithomimids confusion can arise, particularly when assessing length and size of forelimbs.

A Typical Ornithomimid Model (CollectA Struthiomimus Dinosaur Model

A CollectA Struthiomimus dinosaur model.

Ornithomimids

With Ornithomimus, at least three species co-existed together in North America. Slight differences in skull shape have proved to be the main diagnostic feature helping to distinguish O. antiquus from O. edmontonicus for example. Despite being very well known, (at least in the public’s perception), taxonomic relationships between various genera are still not well understood – hence our debate this morning.

Team members will continue to work on the information. We want to make sure that we provide the correct details about these “ostrich mimic” dinosaurs.

To view the range of dinosaur models within the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs model range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Prehistoric Life Models.

2 06, 2009

Remains of a Plesiosaur found at Lyme Regis

By Mike|2022-12-25T07:25:04+00:00June 2nd, 2009|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Geology, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Plesiosaur Fossil Discovery Announced

No sooner have record visitor numbers been declared for the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, the Dorset town is back in the news again with the announcement of the discovery of a 70% complete plesiosaur fossil on Monmouth beach.

Plesiosaur Fossil

First the good news about the Fossil Festival, according to the organisers, an estimated 15,000 to 16,000 people attended the event, which was run from Friday 23rd May to the following Sunday. A number of team members from Everything Dinosaur attended and we are sure the excellent attendance figures were helped by the super Bank Holiday weather the Dorset coast enjoyed.

Now, the finding of a fossilised plesiosaur is a very rare event at Lyme Regis, occasionally vertebrae are found (they look like cotton reels), but to discover a 70% complete specimen including skull material is a find of a fossil hunter’s career. This is exactly what happened to Tracey Marler and her partner, keen fossil hunter Chris Moore on a visit to Monmouth beach to the west of Lyme Regis.

A close examination of the bones (which are in association and partial articulation), reveal teeth marks where the carcass was scavenged by another prehistoric animal. Plesiosaurs first appear in the fossil record from the Late Triassic, they were typically, long necked animals with small heads with jaws lined with needle-like teeth. The Loch Ness monster is regarded as a plesiosaur. It is believed these animals were specialist fish hunters (piscivores). The new discovery from Monmouth beach is believed to represent an individual that was over 4 metres long.

An Replica on Display in a Museum Similar to the Lyme Regis Plesiosaur

Oxford University Museum of Natural History plesiosaur.

A replica of a long-necked plesiosaur swims into view. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Richard Edmonds, Science Manager at the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site, stated:

“They [plesiosaurs] are rare. There are only ten known examples of complete or partial skeletons of this species. I have been doing this for thirty years and I have only ever found the odd bone”.

A Single Bone

Tracey and her partner Chris Moore, first found a single bone encased in the limestone rock, but they returned again and again to the location and were able to excavate about 150 vertebrae plus parts of the skull, the jaws and even a tooth.

To view a model of a plesiosaur, other marine reptiles and dinosaur toys: Prehistoric Animal and Dinosaur Models.

Commenting on their discovery, Mr Moore said:

“It came out in pieces but you could clearly see how it looked. The tail bone was in position. Some of the back bones were completely in place where they should be and the neck bones were there as well. You could see some of the bones had actually been chewed up a bit”.

It is not known what animal could have scavenged the carcass, but some scientists have speculated that it probably was another marine reptile, probably an ichthyosaur.

To see a scale model of an ichthyosaur and dinosaur models, take a look at the range of prehistoric animal models and figures in the PNSO section of the Everything Dinosaur website: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models.

Plesiosaur

Natural England worked closely with the Jurassic Coast World Heritage team to ensure the fossilised bones were extracted from their matrix, it is hoped the bones will eventually be put on display at the Lyme Regis Museum. A fitting location, as this building is very strongly associated with the famous Georgian fossil collector Mary Anning, the finder of the first plesiosaur fossils at Lyme Regis.