All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
20 11, 2015

Dinosaurs with Ysgol Parc Y Llan

By |2023-04-08T22:20:55+01:00November 20th, 2015|Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching|Comments Off on Dinosaurs with Ysgol Parc Y Llan

Deinosoriaid ar Droed (Ysgol Parc Y Llan)

Pupils at Ysgol Parc y Llan, a school in picturesque Flintshire (North Wales), have been tracking down dinosaurs and their fossils during the second half of the autumn term.  Under the enthusiastic tutelage of the class teachers Miss Lewis-Jones and Mrs Arkinstone, the budding young palaeontologists in the Reception and Nursery class, in collaboration with the dinosaur fans in the mixed class of Year 1 and Year 2 have been studying dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals.

Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals – A Time Machine

There were lots of colourful artwork on display in the well organised classrooms, the children in the Reception/Nursery class had even been exploring how long ago dinosaurs lived.

Dinosaur Themed Time Travel

The Ysgol Parc Y Llan time machine.

The Ysgol Parc Y Llan time machine. Schoolchildren learn about dinosaurs. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Ysgol Parc y Llan/Everything Dinosaur

The clock concept can help children become more confident with numbers.  It can assist the children with learning to tell the time.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

Dinosaur Workshop

Prior to the morning of dinosaur themed activities with the two classes, the fossil expert from Everything Dinosaur was able to take some photographs of the children’s work.  The teachers, with the able assistance of Mrs Lewis (Nursery Nurse) and Mrs Martin (Teaching Assistant) had devised a very creative and enriching scheme of work.   The displays featured lots of evidence of independent learning.

Children Explore Different Materials to Make Prehistoric Animal Pictures

A dinosaur wall.

An impression dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed display at Ysgol Parc Y Llan. Picture creidt: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Ysgol Parc y Llan/Everything Dinosaur

Workshop Aims

The aim of the two workshops conducted by Everything Dinosaur was to reinforce the learning that had already taken place and to enthuse the children (and teachers) for the rest of the autumn term.   The extension activities and additional resources provided by Everything Dinosaur, which were geared towards literacy and numeracy objectives, certainly went down well and the team members at the Cheshire based company are looking forward to seeing more of the children’s work.

Contact Everything Dinosaur to learn about our outreach work: Email Everything Dinosaur.

During the Dinosaur Workshops How to Describe Dinosaurs Using Adjectives was Explored

EYFS Dinosaur display wall.

A colourful dinosaur and prehistoric animal display spotted in a classroom. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Ysgol Parc y Llan/Everything Dinosaur

A Planned Scheme of Work

As part of the planned scheme of work, the teaching team intend to set aside a small area of each classroom so that the children can construct their very own dinosaur museum.  They can show off all their research and the results of the “pinkie palaeontologist challenges” that our fossil expert set them.

Looks like Wales has dinosaurs as well as dragons.

20 11, 2015

New from CollectA for 2016 (Part 3)

By |2023-04-08T22:08:37+01:00November 20th, 2015|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Two New CollectA Prehistoric Animal Models for 2016

In the third of a series of articles written by Everything Dinosaur team members, we can discuss the latest news about CollectA’s plans for prehistoric animal models which will be introduced in 2016.  There will be a further two additions to the CollectA Deluxe range of scale models next year.  Firstly, there is going to be a 1:40 scale model of the Late Jurassic carnivore called Torvosaurus.

CollectA Prehistoric Animal Models (Torvosaurus)

Fossils of Torvosaurus have been found in Portugal and the western United States, currently two species have been named.  The Portuguese species (Torvosaurus gurneyi), is regarded by many scientists as the largest land carnivore known from Europe, it was certainly an impressive beast and it is great to see CollectA add a 1:40 scale model of this dinosaur to their Deluxe range.

To read an article by Everything Dinosaur about the discovery of Torvosaurus gurneyiThe Largest Meat-Eating Dinosaur Known from Europe?

New for 2016 a CollectA Deluxe 1:40 Scale Torvosaurus Dinosaur Model

Available from Everything Dinosaur mid 2016.

Available from Everything Dinosaur mid 2016.

Picture credit: CollectA

Both the original fossils from Colorado and the recently named second species (T. gurneyi) have been found in strata associated with a number of other types of theropod dinosaur.  Dinosaurs such as allosaurs and ceratosaurs.  It has been suggested that these large, carnivorous dinosaurs were able to co-exist as they did not directly compete with each other for food.  Torvosaurus for instance, had strong forelimbs perhaps these played a role in its preferred hunting strategy.

Niche Partitioning

The co-existence of several different types of meat-eating dinosaur has been cited by many academics as an example of “niche partitioning” amongst theropods.

Explaining his reasoning for opting for a Torvosaurus model, designer Anthony Beeson explained:

“I chose the theropod Torvosaurus gurneyi from Portugal as it is European and, at the moment, the largest land predator known from that part of the world.   I have always been keen on making Europe’s dinosaurs better known, most people generally know more about North American species.  The European Torvosaurus differs from the American species (Torvosaurus tanneri) mostly in its dentition.  It is named after the James Gurney, the splendid palaeoartist who created the Dinotopia books.”

The CollectA Deluxe Torvosaurus has an articulated lower jaw and the model measures twenty-four centimetres in length and the head stands some twelve and a half centimetres high.  It was scheduled for production and release in the spring of 2016, but the latest information received by Everything Dinosaur suggests that it will be available around the middle of next year.

A Model of a Member of the Elasmosauridae

Joining the  pliosaur and the Rhomaleosaurus in the CollectA Deluxe range next year is this super 1:40 scale Thalassomedon replica.  Thalassomedon swam in the Late Cretaceous seas of Colorado around 95 million years ago (the American species of Torvosaurus comes from strata that was laid down in what is now Colorado, however, the theropod lived some 55 million years before, this elasmosaurid evolved).

Like its more famous close relative Elasmosaurus, Thalassomedon had an enormous neck.  The neck contained more than sixty cervical vertebrae and this long, but quite inflexible neck made up over half of the animal’s entire body length.

New from CollectA in 2016 a 1:40 Scale Replica of Thalassomedon

Available from Everything Dinosaur mid 2016.

Available from Everything Dinosaur mid 2016.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Model Measurements

The model measures thirty centimetres in length and when measured from the top of that deep body, the model is just over three and a half centimetres high.  It is splendid to see another marine reptile added to the CollectA Deluxe model range and it is great to see Thalassomedon rather than a model of an Elasmosaurus, after all the Elasmosauridae is made up of a surprising number of Cretaceous, long-necked Plesiosaur genera.  Expect this model to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur by mid 2016.

The model is one of the very first large scale production replicas to show evidence of a tail fluke that at least some species of plesiosaur may have possessed.  The name Thalassomedon is from the Greek, it means “sea lord”.

Talented designer Anthony Beeson, gave us his reasons for choosing to create a Thalassomedon model.

“The marine reptile Thalassomedon (sea lord), is another favourite of mine, and not only for the animal itself.  As a somewhat singular and quirky aside, I have to admit that its name is special to me as I have always loved that Greek word “Thalassa” since, as a child, reading about the March of the Ten Thousand and of Xenophon’s army crying out joyously “Thalassa! Thalassa!”  The sea! the sea! after sighting the Black Sea at the end of their perilous march”.*

The CollectA Model Ranges

To view the current CollectA range of Deluxe models available at Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric World.

To view the remainder of the CollectA Prehistoric Life range: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

A number of other websites and other media sources might be announcing the addition of two mini prehistoric animal model sets to the CollectA range today.  For Everything Dinosaur, these two sets of mini prehistoric animal models, with each box set containing ten very well crafted replicas, have been in stock for a while now.

The CollectA Mini Prehistoric Animal Box Set 1 (A1101)

Ten super prehistoric animal models in the set.

Ten super prehistoric animal models in the set.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

 The CollectA Mini Prehistoric Animal Box Set 2 (A1102)

A set of ten beautiful prehistoric animal models.

A set of ten beautiful prehistoric animal models.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view these model sets and other dinosaur box sets and collections available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Dinosaurs and Models Sets.

*Xenophon was a Greek historian, writer and soldier who chronicled the conflicts that occurred in the late 5th and early 4th Centuries B.C.

19 11, 2015

The Overlooked Halticosaurus (Liliensternus)

By |2023-04-08T22:03:31+01:00November 19th, 2015|Dinosaur Fans, Famous Figures, Main Page|0 Comments

Liliensternus liliensterni – Late Triassic Predator

Roaming the lowlands and flood plains of what was to become western Europe some 210 million years ago was the lithe and agile predatory dinosaur Liliensternus (Liliensternus liliensterni).  Measuring some six metres in length and weighing more than two and half times that of a male African lion (Panthera leo), this was a formidable dinosaur, very probably the apex predator in the region.

A Scale Drawing of the Dinosaur (Liliensternus liliensterni)

Liliensternus Dinosaur Drawing

Liliensternus dinosaur drawing.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Liliensternus

This Late Triassic theropod was named and described by the German palaeontologist Friedrich von Huene in 1934.  However, he had originally named this dinosaur Halticosaurus liliensterni.  The genus name translates as “nimble lizard”, as von Huene wanted to draw attention to the long, legs and relatively lightweight body.  Liliensternus was imagined as a speedy, agile hunter.  The trivial name honours the German scientist Hugo Rühle von Lilienstern who over his lifetime built up a vast collection of Triassic aged fossils from Europe.

Relatively few models of Liliensternus have been produced but CollectA have a good quality one within their not to scale “Prehistoric Life” series.  The long tail and those powerful legs really give the impression of an agile dinosaur.

The CollectA Liliensternus Model

The CollectA Liliensternus dinosaur model.

The CollectA Liliensternus dinosaur model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The “Rühle Collection”

To view the CollectA “prehistoric life” model collection available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

The “Rühle collection” was amassed over Hugo Rühle von Lilienstern’s lifetime, where the huge collection of Mesozoic fossils could be housed became an issue between East and West Germany, part of the fall out that occurred with the division of Germany after the World War II.  Finally, the matter was resolved amicably and the majority of the specimens are now part of the vertebrate fossil collection of the Berlin Museum of Natural History.

Scientists from all over the world have found the collection an invaluable resource as it provides one of the most comprehensive collections of Middle to Late Triassic vertebrate fossils known in the world.  Although, not a professional palaeontologist (Hugo Rühle von Lilienstern was a military surgeon by training), it is fitting that this amateurs contribution to our understanding of the fauna and flora of Triassic Europe has been acknowledged by the naming of a dinosaur.  In fact, when one considers Halticosaurus liliensterni as well as Liliensternus liliensterni it is a very rare honour indeed to have the same dinosaur named after you twice!

18 11, 2015

Jack Horner Announces Retirement (Well Almost)

By |2023-04-08T11:39:22+01:00November 18th, 2015|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Famous Figures|0 Comments

Jack Horner Calls it a Day

Jack Horner, one of the world’s most famous palaeontologists, has announced his retirement from the post of Curator of Palaeontology at the Museum of the Rockies after thirty-three years in the post.  John “Jack” Horner, the Regents Professor of Palaeontology at Montana State University has enjoyed a sparkling career having been thrust into the scientific limelight with the discovery of Maiasaura (M. peeblesorum) and the implications on dinosaur nesting behaviour and how dinosaurs raised their young which subsequently arose.

The Very Influential Jack Horner

Palaeontologist John "Jack" Horner.

Palaeontologist John “Jack” Horner.

Picture credit: Montana State University

Jack Horner Announces Retirement

The scientist who advised on the Jurassic Park franchise and is credited with being the inspiration behind the character Dr Alan Grant (at least in part), will not be hanging up his geological hammer just yet.  Although he is retiring from some of his commitments, he has lots of other projects which are going to keep him busy well into his seventies.

Commenting on the announcement of his retirement, the Professor stated:

“You can be assured that I’ll not be slowing down any time soon.  I will be pursuing a number of projects, including helping another museum amass a large dinosaur collection and finishing a couple more books.  I also have a very exciting project that I’m not yet ready to announce.”

Jack Horner’s official retirement date is June 30th 2016, just shortly after his seventieth birthday.  Montana State University intends to hold a special public event on the campus to celebrate the Professor’s contribution to vertebrate palaeontology.

Shelley McKamey, (Executive Director of the Museum of the Rockies) stated:

“Jack and his team of staff and graduate students have amassed the largest collection of dinosaur fossils from the United States.  He opened the science of palaeontology to the general public and sparked the imagination of countless aspiring palaeontologists.”

A Famous Palaeontologist

Professor Horner, has championed the theory that dinosaurs were warm-blooded, he has also courted controversy in his rich and varied career, playing a pivotal role in the Tyrannosaurus rex “scavenger versus hunter” debate.

The discovery of “Good Mother Lizard” – Maiasaura, in the late 1970’s brought about a complete revision of theories relating to dinosaurs and their parenting strategies.  Jack Horner and his colleagues demonstrated that some dinosaurs provided extensive parental care (Maiasaura young were altricial – incapable of feeding themselves).

Maiasaura – Described by Jack Horner and Robert Makela in 1979

"Good Mother Lizard"

“Good Mother Lizard”

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

For models and replicas of ornithischians and other prehistoric animals: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models and Figures.

Long-time collaborator and University of California, Berkley professor Kevin Padian, wrote:

“It is difficult to imagine someone who, rising from such considerable obstacles, has achieved so much, given back so much to the profession, stimulated so much new investigation and supported so many younger colleagues and students.”

The search to replace John “Jack” Horner has started in earnest, however, finding a replacement with the same charisma and with the same high regard in this field of scientific endeavour is going to prove difficult.

Everything Dinosaur is grateful to Montana State University for the compilation of this article.

18 11, 2015

Sun Class Learn All About Dinosaurs

By |2023-04-08T11:34:02+01:00November 18th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Sun Class Learn All About Dinosaurs

Year 1 at Camelot Primary Study Dinosaurs

It was a busy day for Everything Dinosaur yesterday, as one of the team members visited Camelot Primary School (part of the Mayflower Federation), Peckham, London to work with the Year 1 classes which had been learning all about dinosaurs and fossils.  Under the tutelage of the enthusiastic teaching team, the children had produced some wonderful examples of writing and some very colourful dinosaur themed artwork.  Sun class had been making dinosaur footprints and decorating them, these were on display just outside the well-organised and tidy classroom.

Dinosaur Footprints on Display

Learn about dinosaurs and dinosaur footprints.

Dinosaur footprints and learning about dinosaurs. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Camelot Primary School/Everything Dinosaur

The dinosaur footprint extension activity that our fossil expert had brought with them should help the children appreciate the size and scale of the feet of some dinosaurs.  The extension activity provides the teaching team with an opportunity to help reinforce confidence with numbers and simple subtraction.  Another extension activity that Everything Dinosaur provided involves a very novel method of measuring the length of some dinosaurs.  This should prove to be quite a visual learning experience for the budding palaeontologists in the three Year 1 classes (Sun, Apollo and Moon).

Let’s Learn About Dinosaurs

One of the “pinkie palaeontologist challenges” set involved measuring the size of Tyrannosaurus rex.  Can the children work together to make an accurate measurement of this fearsome dinosaur?

Tyrannosaurus rex is certainly a very popular dinosaur with the children.  Miss Driver (teacher of Sun class), explained that for the children’s half-term work they had been asked to create a model or a drawing of their favourite dinosaur.  The class had created some wonderful prehistoric animals.  One young dinosaur fan, Zayne, had made a fantastic model of the “King of the Tyrant Lizards”.  Well done Zayne!

Zayne’s Super Dinosaur Model (Tyrannosaurus rex)

Let us learn about dinosaurs.

Zayne’s wonderful Tyrannosaurus rex model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Camelot Primary School

To learn more about the team members at Everything Dinosaur: About Everything Dinosaur.

This is a very creative dinosaur model.  We particularly like the way that Zayne had used white triangles for the teeth of this famous, meat-eating dinosaur.

In what was a very busy morning, we challenged the Year 1 children to produce a piece of dinosaur themed artwork, but this time, could they add labels to it naming the various features of their dinosaur?  In addition, could the class think of some wonderful adjectives which could describe the dinosaur that they had created?

Children in Year 1 at Camelot Primary School  certainly enjoyed the dinosaur workshops delivered by Everything Dinosaur.

To view the range of prehistoric animal themed gifts and toys available from Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur Gifts and Toys.

17 11, 2015

Mysterious Token Linked to Mary Anning

By |2023-04-08T11:27:36+01:00November 17th, 2015|Dinosaur Fans, Famous Figures, Main Page|0 Comments

Could Metal Disc Found on a Lyme Regis Beach Once Have Belonged to Mary Anning?

A small, round metal disc about the size of a ten pence piece has been identified as having once been the property of Dorset’s most famous resident Mary Anning.  The object may have lain buried for more than two hundred years on a Lyme Regis beach very close to where Mary found fossils of marine reptiles and Pterosaurs.

A Picture of Mary Anning (left) and the Small, Metal Disc

Did this once belong to Mary Anning?

Did this once belong to Mary Anning?

Picture credit: Lyme Regis Museum with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur

An Exciting Discovery

The discovery was made by sixty-nine year old Phil Goodwin, a key metal detectorist who has explored the beaches surrounding the Dorset town on numerous occasions turning up such exotic finds as musket balls, old coins and a bayonet that dates from the time of Napoleon.  Experts at the Lyme Regis Museum, which is situated on the site of Mary’s home close to the sea-front at Lyme Regis, have identified it as a metal disc probably given to Mary by her cabinet maker father.

On one side of the disc the words “Lyme Regis” and “Age XI” – eleven can be clearly made out.  On the reverse, Mary’s name is stamped into the disc, along with the date 1810 in Roman numerals.

Mary Anning Disc “Mary Anning 1810”

Stamped on the disc are the words "Mary Anning and the year 1810 marked in Roman numerals.

Stamped on the disc are the words “Mary Anning and the year 1810 marked in Roman numerals.

Picture credit: Lyme Regis Museum with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur

Speaking about his serendipitous find, Mr Goodwin stated:

“I had been there about an hour or so picking up Victorian coins and musket balls when I saw something different.  It didn’t look like a coin so I rubbed it between my fingers to clean it up and read what it said.  I saw the name and date, but it didn’t mean much to me at first.  Then I showed it to a friend who said it could have belonged to the famous fossil hunter Mary Anning.  Imagine, what are the chances of that?”

Did This Disc Really Belong to Mary Anning?

The disc could have been stamped out by Mary’s father, perhaps as a birthday gift as Mary reached eleven.  He would certainly have possessed the tools and the skills required to complete this fiddly task.  However, the disc looks in remarkable condition and as we at Everything Dinosaur can testify, the tides regularly scour the beach and if the disc had lain on the beach for more than two hundred years, then surely it would have been washed away.

Mr Goodwin and those who believe that the retired antiques dealer really has unearthed an object that once belonged to Mary Anning, explain the disc’s condition and its presence on the beach as Mary could have dropped the disc on the cliff above the beach during one of her many fossil hunting trips.  Alternatively, it could have been thrown out and ended up in the local rubbish dump.

A Victorian rubbish dump is slowly being exposed in the area of the Church cliffs to the east of the town and the frequent rock falls often deposit Victorian bottles and other debris onto the shoreline.

David Tucker Proudly Displays the Metal Disc

David Tucker, the Director of Lyme Regis Museum with the Anning token.

David Tucker, the Director of Lyme Regis Museum with the Anning token.

Picture Credit: Maisie Hill

The disc has been put on display at the Lyme Regis museum, the picture above shows the Museum’s director David Tucker proudly showing off, what might be a link to arguably,  the most famous female fossil collector in the world.

Historians and archivists consulted by the Lyme Regis museum are convinced this disc was once a gift given to Mary Anning.  The disc is very similar to the metal circles used by Georgian craftsmen to attach handles to drawers and other pieces of furniture.

Richard Anning

Mary’s father Richard, passed away in November 1810, six months after his daughter’s eleventh birthday.  He had been in poor health for some time.  It is quite a romantic thought to consider that this small disc was a token of affection presented to Mary by Richard, who knew that he did not have long to live and that he, her father would not see another birthday for his daughter.

Commenting on the discovery, David Tucker stated:

“He [Richard Anning] had a long term illness and she was his only surviving daughter, he would have had the tools around the house.  If he knew he wasn’t going to live long, it just seems like the kind of thing a dad would do.  We’ve discounted the idea it could have been made later as a souvenir once she became well known, as it’s rather basic and crude.”

Exploring the Cliffs of the Dorset Coast

Sadly, Richard Anning would never know of his daughter’s fame.  Mary Anning spent most of her time exploring the beaches and cliffs of Lyme Regis and nearby Charmouth.  She and her brother had a remarkable record of important fossil finds.  Mary and Joseph (her brother), found the fossilised remains of an Ichthyosaurus, the first to be scientifically studied and described.  Mary also discovered a wonderfully well-preserved Plesiosaurus specimen and in 1828 the UK’s first example of a pterosaur.

For dinosaur and prehistoric animal models and figures: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

Recently a New Species of Ichthyosaurus was Named In Honour of Mary Anning

A new species of Ichthyosaurus.

A new species of Ichthyosaurus.

Picture credit:  Dean Lomax and Judy Massare

To read about this new Ichthyosaur discovery: New Ichthyosaurus Species Honours Mary Anning.

The beaches of Lyme Regis attract thousands of fossil hunters every year, although visitors do have to be mindful of tide times and the risk of rock falls from the dangerous cliffs.  One of the best ways to follow in Mary’s footsteps is to take a guided fossil walk, for details of such walks: Lyme Regis Fossil Walks.

17 11, 2015

Feedback from a Year 1 Teacher

By |2023-04-08T11:22:20+01:00November 17th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Feedback from a Year 1 Teacher

Dinosaur Workshops Prove a “Roaring Success”

The team members at Everything Dinosaur have built up a strong reputation for their dinosaur workshops delivered in schools.  Our staff are keen to assist teaching teams and as well as providing very kinaesthetic and tactile dinosaur and fossil themed workshops which are tailored to suit the learning needs of each class, our teaching team are happy to provide advice, support and plenty of extra resources for extension activities.

Contact Everything Dinosaur team members: Email Everything Dinosaur.

For example, at one school recently we suggested that the class set up their own special “Identify a Dinosaur” table.  Could the children use dinosaur books to identify the name of the various dinosaur and prehistoric animal models on the table?  This is a fun and very engaging activity that encourages independent research and enquiry amongst the class.

Can you Name the Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals?

Dinosaur workshops

A role play table for Year 1.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Workshops

As part of our work in schools, our team members get lots of lovely feedback from teachers and teaching assistants.

Here is the latest feedback sent into us by a Year 1 teacher after a dinosaur workshop with his class (Phoenix Primary School, London)

“A lovely workshop. The children were very engaged and thoroughly enjoyed it.  There were lots of positives.  The children enjoyed handling the artefacts and helping.  They also enjoyed acting out being dinosaurs stomping around the hall.   Following the session, the children were discussing it with their friends.  The follow up materials look lovely.  Going to plan to use them later this week!”

It is always a pleasure to hear from teachers that we have worked with, we are delighted to hear that the workshop was such a big success and that it has a very strong motivational effect on the pupils.  Everything Dinosaur is always happy to send out additional educational resources to help teaching teams and home educators.

To learn more about the company’s range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal toys and gifts: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

16 11, 2015

CollectA Mini Dinosaurs Box Sets Reviewed

By |2023-04-08T11:19:01+01:00November 16th, 2015|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

CollectA Mini Dinosaur Box Sets Reviewed

Dinosaur enthusiasts and collectors of prehistoric animal replicas have been presented with a bit of a dilemma from CollectA.  In addition to the company’s highly regarded “Deluxe” series and the “Prehistoric Life” range of not to scale prehistoric animal models, CollectA have added two sets of miniature models and very splendid they are too.

The dilemma does not concern collecting them but how best to showcase what are very carefully crafted replicas in their own right.  For example, these little dinosaur models et al could be used in plenty of dioramas, or perhaps each box set could be split up so that the various models can be displayed with their counterparts from the not to scale range and the mainly 1:40 scale “Deluxe” models.

New from CollectA Two Sets of Prehistoric Animal Models

A1101 - one of two new prehistoric animal box sets from CollectA.

A1101 – one of two new prehistoric animal box sets from CollectA.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

CollectA Mini Dinosaurs

Both sets of mini prehistoric animal models are marketed as “dinosaur box sets”.  True, the majority of the models in each set represent a dinosaur, but there are marine reptiles and pterosaurs featured too.  Each box set is packed into a clear plastic presentation case and the models inside have been placed in little compartments (two by two), separated by a strip of plastic.  This arrangement prevents the models from falling to the bottom of the box as the packaging has been designed to be presented on a carousel using hang tags and such like.

For model collectors, the big benefit here is that the models are separated and therefore any shaking or rough handling of the box itself will not cause the models to rub against each other and damage any of that lovely paintwork.

A1101 and A1102

Labelled by CollectA as A1101 and A1102, we at Everything Dinosaur prefer the more simple nomenclature of “box set 1” and “box set 2” and we recommend both sets to collectors and to dinosaur fans.

A1101 or Box Set 1 Contents

Prehistoric animal models from CollectA

Prehistoric animal models from CollectA.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Many of the models resemble their counterparts in larger, existing CollectA model ranges, for example in box set 1, there is a splendid model of a feathered T. rex which would make an ideal accompaniment to the bigger, feathered Tyrannosaurus rex replicas that have recently been introduced by the company.  The same can be said for the Baryonyx and the Mosasaurus that are also included in this box set, but this is not always the case, read on…

CollectA Box Set Two (A1102)

A1102 a box set of prehistoric animal models.

A1102 a box set of prehistoric animal models.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

CollectA Mini Dinosaur Box Sets

The picture above shows the CollectA box set two (A1102), yes, it contains a model of a Liopleurodon and a Brachiosaurus which are very similar to other, larger CollectA models, but this set does include a Giganotosaurus replica (front row, left) as well as an Apatosaurus model (back row, right).  CollectA has not produced a model of “giant southern lizard” or indeed Apatosaurus before.  This has led to speculation that the company intends to introduce larger scale models of these two dinosaurs in 2016.

We, at Everything Dinosaur can assure readers that this is not the case, there are no plans (as far as we know), for CollectA to introduce a Giganotosaurus or an Apatosaurus next year.  If they did, they would have to go some way to beat the marvellous detail depicted in this set of prehistoric animals, they really are very good.

To see the range of dinosaur box sets and other CollectA not-to-scale figures available at Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric World Models.

The Contents of A1101 (Box Set 1)

Ten super prehistoric animal models in the set.

Ten super prehistoric animal models in the set.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Contents of A1102 (Box Set 2)

A set of ten beautiful prehistoric animal models.

A set of ten beautiful prehistoric animal models.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

15 11, 2015

Tracing the Family Tree of the Brachylophosaurini

By |2023-04-08T11:15:40+01:00November 15th, 2015|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

New Dinosaur Species from Montana – Probrachylophosaurus

The hadrosaurs, commonly referred to as the “duck-billed” dinosaurs were a highly successful group of Cretaceous ornithischian dinosaurs that dominated the mega fauna of most of Asia, North America and Europe towards the end of the Mesozoic.  Many different types of genera are known and there is a general consensus amongst palaeontologists in terms of the taxonomic relationships between most species.

However, even though these large herbivores were abundant and the fossil record of these animals as collected from famous formations such as Hell Creek, Dinosaur Provincial Park (North America), and the Jingangkou Formation of eastern China, is quite detailed when compared to other types of dinosaur, there is still a lot we don’t know about these animals.

The “Super Duck” Probrachylophosaurus

Talented artist John Conway was commissioned to produce this illustration for the press release.

Talented artist John Conway was commissioned to produce this illustration for the press release.

Picture credit: John Conway

Probrachylophosaurus bergei

The publication of a paper announcing the discovery of a new “duck-billed” dinosaur, nick-named “super duck”, in the prestigious journal PLOS One, sheds new light on how one particular group of these prehistoric animals evolved over time.

The new dinosaur has been named Probrachylophosaurus bergei, it translates as “before short-crested lizard” in reference to the fact that this new genus was found in strata that was laid down earlier than the very closely related Brachylophosaurus canadensis.  Indeed, in the paper written by Professor Elizabeth Freeman Fowler (Montana State University) in collaboration with her mentor and fellow Montana State University palaeontologist Jack Horner, the authors outline the anatomical similarities between these two members of the Brachylophosaurini clade that suggest that Probrachylophosaurus was ancestral to the later Brachylophosaurus.

A Dinosaur “Missing Link”

This newly named dinosaur could be regarded as a “missing link” neatly fitting in between a much older type of “duck-billed” dinosaur (Acristavus) and Brachylophosaurus.  In addition, when all three skulls of these related dinosaurs are studied, they reveal an evolutionary link towards the development of evermore elaborate crests as display structures.

Tracing the Timeline Showing Evolutionary Transition in the Brachylophosaurini

Mapping the evolutionary transitions that led to more elaborate crest development.

Mapping the evolutionary transitions that led to more elaborate crest development.

Picture credit: PLOS One

The diagram above shows the relative positions of fossil finds of dinosaurs that are grouped into the brachylophosaur clade (Brachylophosaurini).  Acristavus gagslarsoni, from the lower portion of the Two Medicine Formation of western Montana lived around 81 million years ago.  It had no nasal crest.  Brachylophosaurus canadensis is known from Canada, the Oldman Formation of the Belly River Group, these fossils date to around 78 million years ago.  B. canadensis had a flattened, almost paddle-shaped nasal crest which projected backwards over the skull roof.

The Brachylophosaurini

The very well known and more recent Maiasaura peeblesorum is also a member of the Brachylophosaurini.  The fossils of Maiasaura are associated with the upper portions of the Two Medicine Formation of western Montana and it had quite a substantial bump on its snout, a much larger more striking crest.

Commenting on the significance of Probrachylophosaurus, Professor Freedman Fowler stated:

“The crest of Probrachylophosaurus is small and triangular and would have only poked up a little bit on the top of the head, above the eyes.  Probrachylophosaurus is therefore exciting because its age – 79 million years ago – is between Acristavus and Brachylophosaurus, so we would predict that its skull and the crest would be intermediate between these species.  And it is.  It is a perfect example of evolution within a single lineage of dinosaurs over millions of years.”

Skull Comparisons between Probrachylophosaurus and the Later Brachylophosaurus

Skull comparisons between Hadrosaurs.

Skull comparisons between hadrosaurs.

Picture credit: PLOS One

The picture above compares  some of the known cranial material from P. bergei with a crest of the later Brachylophosaurus canadensis (left lateral and dorsal views).  The green arrow indicates the extension to the naris and other bone changes that led to the evolution of a more prominent and pronounced crest in Brachylophosaurus.

Professor Freedman Fowler with the Probrachylophosaurus Illustration and Cranial Fossil Casts

Professor Freedman with an illustration, and casts of the skull material.

Professor Freedman with an illustration, and casts of the skull material.

Picture credit: PLOS One

Newest Member of the Duck-billed Dinosaurs

This newest member of the “duck-billed” dinosaurs was nick-named “super duck” after it emerged although not fully grown, this dinosaur would have measured close to ten metres in length.  Body mass estimates suggest an adult weight in excess of five tonnes.  The fossils, including substantial post-cranial material were discovered in 2007, near to the town of Rudyard in north central Montana.  The species name honours Sam Berge one of the landowners who allowed access to the site to excavate the exposed fossils.

A nearby dig site revealed a fragmentary juvenile of the transitional Probrachylophosaurus, which suggests that successive generations of the Brachylophosaurus lineage grew larger crests by changing the timing or pace of crest development during growth into adulthood.  This change in the timing or rate of development is called heterochrony, a process which is being increasingly recognised as a major driving force in evolution.

Heterochrony

Explaining the importance of heterochrony and how fossils of juvenile dinosaurs can assist scientists in piecing together evidence regarding change in populations, the professor said:

“Heterochrony is key to understanding how evolution actually occurs in these dinosaurs, but to study heterochrony we need large collections of dinosaurs with multiple growth stages, and a really precise time framework for the rock formations that we collect them from.”

The well-documented and accurately dated Campanian-Maastrichtian faunal stages as mapped out in the exposed Upper Cretaceous strata of North America provide palaeontologists with an opportunity to map heterochroneous relationships between animals of different ages but of the same species.  These in turn can permit the analysis of how these changes influenced the macro-evolution of the entire lineage.

An Illustration of the Closely Related (But Later) Brachylophosaurus

Brachylophosaurus illustrated.

Brachylophosaurus illustrated.

Picture credit: Houston Museum of Natural Science

PNSO have introduced a range of replicas of hadrosaurs and other ornithischian dinosaurs.  To view this range: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs.

14 11, 2015

Celebrating South African Dinosaurs

By |2023-04-08T11:09:14+01:00November 14th, 2015|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Main Page|0 Comments

Poster Celebrates South African Dinosaurs

Earlier this week, scientists from the Evolutionary Studies Institute of Witwatersrand University (Johannesburg) put on display the fragmentary fossils of a huge dinosaur which roamed South Africa.  The fossils date from the Early Jurassic and represent an plant-eating dinosaur, a sauropod that measured perhaps in excess of sixteen metres.

Celebrating South African Prehistoric Animals

There have been a number of remarkable fossil finds over the last two years or so in South Africa.  These discoveries have helped to shed new light onto the fauna and flora of the Late Triassic and the Early Jurassic geological periods.  The announcement of the latest dinosaur discovery the “Highland Giant” coincided with the celebration of UNESCO’s World Science Day for Peace and Development.  A special poster has been commissioned to celebrate South African dinosaurs and other prehistoric life.  This poster was designed by artist and poet Maggie Newman.

Celebrating the  Prehistoric Life of South Africa

The prehistoric life of South Africa.

The prehistoric life of South Africa.

Picture credit: The Evolutionary Studies Institute (Witwatersrand University)

South African Dinosaurs

The beautiful and very detailed poster depicts South Africa some 200 million years ago (Hettangian faunal stage of the Early Jurassic), a time when the continents were formed into a super-sized landmass that was beginning to split apart.  Dinosaurs were becoming the dominant terrestrial fauna but they shared the land with a wide range of other bizarre reptiles as well as some synapsids that were from the branch of the Tetrapoda that would lead to modern mammals.

Poster Key

This poster shows a scene in South Africa between 200 and 183 million years ago.  At the time the continents were splitting apart and there were many volcanic eruptions (1).  The climate was drying and there were sand dunes (2), tree ferns (3), yellowood (4), monkey puzzle (5) and ginkgo trees (6) formed patches of forest.  Early dinosaurs like this egg-laying Massospondylus (7) are shown fending off a hungry Coelophysis (8).  Heterodontosaurus (9) was different from other dinosaurs because it had incisor, canine and molar type teeth for cutting, biting and grinding up their plant food.

“Different Types of Teeth”

The name Heterodontosaurus means “different types of teeth” and this interesting small animal may have had quills like a porcupine.  In the scene, three Heterodontosaurus are fleeing a kill made by a crested dinosaur called Dracovenator (10), a relative of Dilophosaurus.

The Dracovenator is being threatened by a Ceratosaur (11).  The herbivorous Aardonyx dinosaurs (12) in the background are foraging peacefully.  Dinosaurs were not the only animals alive at this time.  Megazostrodon (13) was a small insect eating animal closely related to the earliest mammals.  Tritylodon (14) was a mammal ancestor with teeth like a dassie (Rock Hyrax – Procavia capensis).  The animal that looks like a lizard (15) is a small armoured land-dwelling crocodile called Protosuchus.

The original fossils of the dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals depicted in the poster are on display at institutions and museums around South Africa.

Dr Choiniere Comments

Dr Jonah Choiniere (senior researcher at the Evolutionary Studies Institute at Witwatersrand University) stated:

“We think that this poster will show young learners…. ‘yes, South Africa does have dinosaurs’.  We hope that it will get them excited about studying the science behind South Africa’s incredible palaeosciences heritage.”

The poster is available for free and upon request to all visitors to the Origins Centre while stocks last and it will also be distributed to science centres, museums and visiting schools in the country.

To read an article all about the latest addition to the dinosaur dominated fauna of South Africa: South Africa’s “Highland Giant”.

Everything Dinosaur would like to take this opportunity to thank those institutions involved with the commissioning of the poster, helping to inform and to educate people about life in the past.

For additional information about prehistoric animals contact Everything Dinosaur: Email Everything Dinosaur.

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