All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
20 05, 2012

A Review of the Wild Safari Dinos Acrocanthosaurus Dinosaur Model

By | May 20th, 2012|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|0 Comments

“High-Spined Lizard” Gets a Makeover

Newly introduced into the eclectic Wild Safari Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life model series is this new interpretation of the Early Cretaceous, super-predator Acrocanthosaurus.  Safari had introduced many years ago now, a model of this American dinosaur as part of their Carnegie Collectibles range, but this replica was retired about twelve months ago.  This new, not-to-scale Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model is an updated version, reflecting the latest scientific interpretation of this formidable carnivore.

Acrocanthosaurus, means “High-spined Lizard”.  This dinosaur was named after the tall neural spines that ran along the animal’s backbone, the function of these spines, some of which measure nearly three times the height of the vertebrae from which they project, is not known although some palaeontologists have suggested that these spines supported a fleshy hump that allowed this reptile to store fat to enable it to get through seasons when food resources would have been scarce.  This Wild Safari Dinos Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model is certainly an excellent replica.

Being able to store food would have been an effective strategy for such a large predator, especially since some scientists who have studied dinosaur tracks found in Texas have proposed that this dinosaur may have lived and hunted in packs.  Such a group of Acrocanthosaurus dinosaurs, perhaps half a dozen individuals would have needed substantial quantities of meat to keep themselves fit (assuming that these animals were warm-blooded).

Acrocanthosaurus Dinosaur Model

Known from just a handful of fossil specimens, representing four individuals, scientists have been unable to establish just how big this dinosaur (Acrocanthosaurus atokensis) was, but conservative estimates have given this animal’s length at around twelve metres, a hip height in excess of four metres and a body weight of around two tonnes.

An Illustration of Acrocanthosaurus (based on earlier Safari Ltd Replica

An illustration of Acrocanthosaurus.

An illustration of Acrocanthosaurus.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The new model made by Safari Ltd, measures around twenty-two centimetres in length, with a head-height in excess of nine centimetres.  Painted a light, brown colour for the most part, this model has a white underneath and a contrasting black band running from the top of the snout, across the back for the skull and down the backbone to the tip of the long tail.  This replica has been posed with the tail extended out behind it, a change from the earlier Safari Ltd model of this dinosaur that had the end of the tail touching the ground.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s Safari Ltd model collection including lots of models of theropod dinosaurs: Safari Ltd. Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Figures.

The long, slightly narrow jaws and the broad muzzle of this meat-eating dinosaur are re-created in detail on this model.  The head shows lots of care and attention to detail with the painting.  The majority of the head is an off-white colour which contrasts well against the black band that runs along the top of the skull.

The Wild Safari Dinosaurs Acrocanthosaurus

Interesting colour scheme for a predatory dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The different colours on the head, reflect current scientific thinking that visual signals were very important to the Dinosauria.  Such a striking appearance may have come about as the animals matured and became the dominant members of their pack.  This replica with its deep, broad chest and strong forelimbs, each ending in three-clawed fingers depicts Acrocanthosaurus as a powerful, active hunter.  No doubt this new interpretation will proved popular with dinosaur model collectors.

20 05, 2012

A Review of the CollectA Dolichorhynchops Model

By | May 20th, 2012|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|2 Comments

“Long Snout Face” Reviewed

The design team at CollectA have created a number of dinosaur models over the years, they have been keen to show the diversity of the Dinosauria.  However, they deserve praise for also introducing a number of marine reptile models into the CollectA series model range.  The not-to-scale model of the marine reptile known as Dolichorhynchops is one of their latest additions to their already extensive prehistoric animal model range. Team members at Everything Dinosaur review the CollectA Dolichorhynchops model.

CollectA Dolichorhynchops Model

Dolichorhynchops was not a dinosaur but a marine reptile.  A short-necked plesiosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America which scientists believe ate fish and may have grown to lengths in excess of five metres long.  The first, nearly complete specimen of Dolichorhnychops was found by George Sternberg, the teenage son of the famous American palaeontologist Charles Sternberg.  The fossils were found in Kansas, USA, which during the Late Cretaceous formed part of a wide, shallow sea that divided North America in half.

This sea is known as the Western Interior Seaway.  Two species of Dolichorhynchops (pronounced Dol-ee-koh-rin-kops) are known, this model may represent the species called D. osborni is the larger with an estimated maximum length of 5 metres.  Dolichorhynchops was formally named and described by the American palaeontologist Samuel Wendell Williston in 1902.

The model from CollectA is an intriguing representation of the known fossil material.  The replica has a large head, with long, narrow jaws lined with sharp teeth.  The tip of the jaws are slightly kinked and the teeth a little larger, forming a rostrum effect.  Scientists believe that the teeth at the front of the jaws were bigger as they helped this agile swimmer snap up fish as they swam nearby.

The CollectA Dolichorhynchops Marine Reptile Model

“Long Snout Face” – Dolichorhynchops.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The model has big eyes, (helping it to spot its prey), and nostrils that are positioned correctly towards the rear of the long jaws.  The four, roughly equal-sized flippers are stiff and would have provided this marine reptile with its propulsion.  The tail is stumpy and narrows to a point.  It is good to see that the design team have given this reptile a long, flexible neck – ideal for swishing side-to-side through a shoal of fish.

To view the CollectA model range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs and Marine Reptile Figures.

The model measures approximately twelve centimetres in length, making it about 1:40 scale.  It is nicely painted with a dark brown back and head, merging into a lighter, sandy coloured underbelly and flank.

There are not many models of this Late Cretaceous marine reptile available, it is pleasing to see that CollectA have added a model of a Dolichorhynchops marine reptile to their dinosaur model range.

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