Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings

19 03, 2023

Happy Mother’s Day A Special Day

By Mike|2024-01-02T16:09:35+00:00March 19th, 2023|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Today, it is Mothering Sunday here in the UK. The fourth Sunday in Lent following the Christian calendar, a day dedicated to celebrating motherhood. Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the Northern Hemisphere spring months of March through to May.

Maiasaura

As we consider mums, maternal bonds and the contribution of mothers to society, our thoughts turn to the ornithischian dinosaur Maiasaura. Named and described in 1979 (Horner and Makela), this hadrosaurid dinosaur (Maiasaura peeblesorum) is synonymous with motherhood and maternal behaviours.

The first fossils of this dinosaur were discovered in the Badlands of Montana (USA), by a team of American scientists led by palaeontologist Jack Horner. The site the team uncovered consisted of a number of dinosaur nests, eggs, baby Maiasaura, juveniles and adults. The fossil site was renamed “Egg Mountain” and represents the fossilised remains of a Maiasaura colonial nesting area.

Happy Mother’s Day

Studies of Maiasaura provided unequivocal proof that dinosaurs raised their young and fed them at the nest (altricial behaviour). Maiasaura translates from the Greek meaning “Good Mother Lizard”, an appropriate epithet for a dinosaur that demonstrated that these reptiles, looked after their offspring.

The extensive fossil remains of this hadrosaur have enabled palaeontologists to undertake large scale studies of dinosaur ontogeny (growth rate studies). In addition, scientists have been able to determine the mortality rate of Maiasaura based on the Montana “Egg Mountain” fossils. A study of fifty Maiasaura peeblesorum tibia revealed that 90% of all Maiasaura hatchlings died within their first twelve months. If the dinosaurs survived into their second year, the mortality rate would fall to around 13%.

To view models and figures of ornithischian dinosaurs: Safari Ltd – Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models.

Maiasaura remains one of our favourite dinosaurs. Happy Mother’s Day from Everything Dinosaur.

15 03, 2023

A Trio of Beautiful and Colourful Sauropods

By Mike|2024-03-09T15:58:18+00:00March 15th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Our thanks to young dinosaur fan Esmee who sent into Everything Dinosaur a drawing which featured a trio of colourful sauropods. Team members at Everything Dinosaur get sent lots of drawings of prehistoric animals and we enjoy looking at them and some even get posted up onto our warehouse notice boards.

Picture credit: Esmee/Everything Dinosaur

Colourful Sauropods

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur thanked Esmee for sending in her drawing and added:

“Whilst we can’t be certain what colour sauropod dinosaurs were, it is thought they had colour vision. So, why not be brightly coloured with oranges, reds and blues. After all, if you are going to be longer than a bus you might as well stand out in terms of your colouration too. Our thanks to Esmee for creating such colourful dinosaurs.”

For dinosaur themed drawing materials and other craft related gifts: Dinosaur Themed Toys and Gifts.

4 03, 2023

Exclusive Ruyangosaurus Scale Drawing

By Mike|2024-01-02T16:48:33+00:00March 4th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have prepared a Ruyangosaurus scale drawing for use in the company’s free Ruyangosaurus dinosaur model fact sheet. The new for 2023 CollectA Deluxe Ruyangosaurus figure is due into stock shortly and the fact sheet will be sent out with model purchases.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Ruyangosaurus giganteus

Ruyangosaurus was formally named and scientifically described in 2009 (Lü et al) in the Geological Bulletin of China. It is regarded as one of the largest Asian dinosaurs known to science. One species has been assigned to the genus (R. giganteus). Size estimates for this Early Cretaceous titanosaur vary, but it has been speculated that Ruyangosaurus was around thirty to thirty-five metres in length.

*The new for early 2023 CollectA Deluxe Ruyangosaurus dinosaur model.*

To view the range of CollectA scale models available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Scale Models.

Ruyangosaurus Scale Drawing

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained that for virtually every named prehistoric animal that the company sells, a fact sheet is prepared. As new for 2023 CollectA models arrive, so fact sheets for Ruyangosaurus, Ceratosuchops, Brighstoneus, Anomalocaris and the marine reptile Shastasaurus have been prepared.

22 02, 2023

An Accurate Hadrosaurus Scale Drawing

By Mike|2024-01-02T14:12:44+00:00February 22nd, 2023|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur team members are busy preparing for the arrival of the new CollectA models and have finished a Hadrosaurus scale drawing. The illustration will be incorporated into the free Hadrosaurus fact sheet which will be sent out with model purchases.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Hadrosaurus foulkii

As Everything Dinosaur prepares for the arrival of the first of the new for 2023 CollectA prehistoric animal figures we have been commissioning scale drawings of the models to incorporate into our free fact sheets. Fact sheets featuring Ceratosuchops, Anomalocaris, Ruyangosaurus and Shastasaurus are also being prepared.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that they hoped to have most of these fact sheets finished in the first week of March. The Hadrosaurus foulkii data sheet is currently being finalised.

New CollectA Models 2023 Hadrosaurus. — *The new for 2022 CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Hadrosaurus dinosaur model.*

Hadrosaurus Scale Drawing

The Hadrosaurus scale drawing will provide a visual guide to fact sheet readers as to the size of this herbivorous dinosaur. The fact sheet will explain about this dinosaur’s discovery and its importance in palaeontology. Hadrosaurus was the first dinosaur to be scientifically described from fossils found in North America. It was the first duck-billed dinosaur named and when an exhibition of its fossils was opened at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences in 1868, it became the first mounted dinosaur skeleton to be erected in the USA.

To view the CollectA Prehistoric Life model range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Model Range.

19 02, 2023

A Beautiful Mosasaurus Drawing

By Mike|2023-11-23T10:55:37+00:00February 19th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Our thanks to young Caldey who sent into Everything Dinosaur a colourful Mosasaurus drawing. The giant marine reptile, is accompanied by a prehistoric turtle and a school of Cretaceous fish.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Mosasaurus Drawing

The Mosasauridae are extinct members of the Order Squamata. They are distantly related to lizards and snakes. Caldey has given her Mosasaurus a forked tongue and pterygoid teeth, two characteristics that underline the taxonomic relationship between these marine reptiles and living members of the Squamata.

The artist depicts the mosasaur swimming close to the water’s surface. It is thought that most mosasaurs did frequent the surface zone of the ocean (Epipelagic zone), although some mosasaur fossils are associated with estuarine and freshwater environments.

Caldey has chosen to give her mosasaur a striking colour scheme with the use of dramatic reds and blues. The underside is a lighter colour and reflects countershading. Most palaeontologist think, that just like living sharks, mosasaurs were countershaded with light undersides and darker backs.

The colouration of mosasaurs remains controversial. In 2014 researchers from Lund University (Sweden), published a paper in the journal “Nature”, that reported the discovery of melanin in the preserved scales of a mosasaur’s skin.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“The carefully composed Mosasaurus is accompanied by typical Late Cretaceous fauna of the Western Interior Seaway. Caldey has included an Archelon in her mosasaur illustration. It is a very colourful and striking illustration, of what would have been an apex predator.”

10 02, 2023

Beasts of the Mesozoic T. rex Drawing

By Mike|2023-02-10T18:05:57+00:00February 10th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Our thanks to Caldey for the Beasts of the Mesozoic T. rex drawing that was sent into Everything Dinosaur. It is an illustration of the recently introduced 1:18 scale Tyrannosaurus rex. It is always a pleasure to receive drawings and other examples of customer’s artwork. Everything Dinosaur also receives lots of emails from customers showing off their prehistoric animal model collections.

Caldey’s illustration is extremely colourful and detailed. Ironically, we have been discussing the different sized scales associated with some interpretations of tyrannosaurs and we note how well Caldey has picked out the different sized scales on the jaw of the Beasts of the Mesozoic articulated Tyrannosaurus rex figure.

Beasts of the Mesozoic T. rex Drawing

The Tyrannosaurus rex has been drawn using felt tip pens, whilst the background has been produced using pencils. The use of different pens and pencils has enabled the T. rex to stand out strongly against the paler background.

Beasts of the Mesozoic T. rex model in 1:18 scale — *The image of the Beasts of the Mesozoic Tyrannosaurus rex model in 1:18 scale that features on the back of the product packaging. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The image (above), shows the head of the 1:18 scale figure with its variety of different sized scales, which Caldey has cleverly reflected in her tyrannosaur illustration.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“The model has been carefully observed and the artist has thoughtfully considered how to compose the illustration and what materials to use to highlight the impressive Tyrannosaurus rex figure.”

The spokesperson went onto add:

“Thank you Caldey for taking the time and trouble to send into Everything Dinosaur your excellent Beasts of the Mesozoic inspired drawing.”

The Beasts of the Mesozoic range of articulated models features dromaeosaurids, ceratopsians and members of the Tyrannosauroidea. To view this range: Beasts of the Mesozoic Models and Articulated Replicas.

7 02, 2023

A Detailed And Accurate Gallimimus Scale Drawing

By Mike|2024-03-09T16:00:13+00:00February 7th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have prepared a Gallimimus scale drawing as they await the arrival of new for 2023 Schleich dinosaur figures. Five new dinosaur models are expected, namely, Tarbosaurus, Monolophosaurus, Edmontosaurus, the armoured dinosaur Gastonia and the ornithomimid Gallimimus.

Schleich Dinosaur Models

A spokesperson for Everything Dinosaur explained that these new for 2023 Schleich dinosaur models were due to arrive at the company’s warehouse shortly. Everything Dinosaur already has fact sheets for the Tarbosaurus, Monolophosaurus, Edmontosaurus and Gastonia figures.

Gallimimus Scale Drawing

The scale drawing will provide a visual representation of the size of Gallimimus (G. bullatus). It is known from several complete skeletons and skulls representing juveniles to fully-grown adults. The fleet-footed dinosaur (although with shorter hind legs, it was probably not as swift a runner as smaller ornithomimids such as Struthiomimus or Sinornithomimus), will be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in a few days.

Gallimimus is estimated to have measured up to six metres long, it stood two metres tall at the hip and palaeontologists estimate that it weighed around 450 kilograms.

*The Schleich Gallimimus dinosaur model.*

To view the range of Schleich models in stock and available from Everything Dinosaur: Prehistoric Animal Figures and Dinosaur Models (Schleich).

24 01, 2023

The Beautiful Fans’ Choice Medusaceratops

By Mike|2024-01-02T13:56:48+00:00January 24th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Our thanks to Caldey who sent into Everything Dinosaur her drawing of the recently introduced Beasts of the Mesozoic Fans’ Choice Medusaceratops dinosaur model. It is a superb illustration of a very colourful, iridescent dinosaur.

Picture credit: Caldey

Fans’ Choice Medusaceratops

The Fans’ Choice Medusaceratops is a relatively new edition to the ceratopsian series in the popular Beasts of the Mesozoic articulated model range and it is the latest figure to have been drawn by Caldey. Previously, this young artist has drawn numerous models in the Beasts of the Mesozoic range.

Caldey has been inspired to produce several illustrations depicting figures from the Beasts of the Mesozoic ceratopsian series including Zuniceratops, Styracosaurus, Spiclypeus as well as the original Medusaceratops.

*An illustration of Medusaceratops in the original colour scheme. Picture credit: Caldey.*

An Iridescent Dinosaur

The Fans’ Choice Medusaceratops proved a particularly challenging subject as this brightly coloured and highly detailed model has a coating of iridescent paint. Metallic pens were used to create this effect on Caldey’s drawing and she has skilfully reproduced the various different types of a scale associated with the figure. In addition, her use of tones has given the Medusaceratops a sense of depth and perspective.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are grateful to Caldey for sharing her wonderful drawing with us. We think the illustration is fantastic, such amazing detail.”

Many of Caldey’s illustrations have been inspired by prehistoric animals depicted in the “Jurassic Park/Jurassic World” movie franchise, but she also likes to draw some of her favourite prehistoric animal models in her collection.

Our thanks to Caldey for sending in her Medusaceratops illustration.

To view the Beasts of the Mesozoic range of articulated dinosaur figures: Beasts of the Mesozoic Articulated Dinosaur Models.

22 01, 2023

A Detailed and Accurate Zuul Scale Drawing

By Mike|2024-03-09T16:00:43+00:00January 22nd, 2023|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|1 Comment

As Everything Dinosaur prepares for the arrival of the new Safari Ltd prehistoric animal models and Dino Dana figures we have been finalising our Zuul scale drawing in readiness for adding this diagram to our armoured dinosaur fact sheet.

Zuul scale drawing. — *Everything Dinosaur’s scale drawing of the armoured dinosaur Zuul. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Zuul crurivastator

Zuul (Z. crurivastator), was formally named and scientifically described in 2017 (Arbour and Evans). The fossil specimen, which is nearly complete was discovered in Judith River Formation sandstone sediments. The fossil material was purchased by the Royal Ontario Museum (Canada), and the Zuul specimen is on public display.

The genus name honours a fictional ghoul from the 1984 movie “Ghostbusters”. The research team, were reminded of the monster “Zuul the Gatekeeper of Gozer”, when studying the dinosaur’s prominent horns and ridges on the exquisitely preserved skull.

The species name translates as “destroyer of shins” a reference to the defensive tail club, that was preserved. Zuul remains the only member of the Ankylosaurinae to be known from a complete skull and tail club.

A recent research paper suggested that the tail club was used during intraspecific combat. Although tail clubs were probably used to deter predators, damaged osteoderms on the Zuul specimen suggested that these large herbivores indulged in ritual combat behaviours, perhaps over territory or in fights over mates.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s article about this study: Tail Clubs for Social Dominance.

Zuul Scale Drawing

Zuul is estimated to have measured around six metres in length and to have weighed around 2,500 kilograms.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We intend to send out a Zuul fact sheet with every model of Zuul we sell. We are committed to helping educate and inform. For the vast majority of the prehistoric animal models and figures we supply we include a fact sheet on that animal.“

To view the range of Wild Safari Prehistoric World models available from Everything Dinosaur: Armoured Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Models (Wild Safari).

21 01, 2023

A Superb Illustration of a Velociraptor

By Mike|2024-01-02T13:57:32+00:00January 21st, 2023|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|1 Comment

Our thanks to talented, young artist Caldey who emailed to Everything Dinosaur her illustration of a Velociraptor. The drawing of the head in lateral view was inspired by the third film in the “Jurassic Park” movie franchise, which was released in 2001.

Picture credit: Caldey

Illustration of a Velociraptor

The drawing of the head of the dromaeosaurid shows a remarkable level of detail and a careful choice of colours to illustrate this dinosaur. The Velociraptor sports some quills on the top of its head and the head and neck are covered in a variety of different sized scales. The Velociraptor has a prominent, scarlet boss on its naris and blue pigmentation around the eye. The teeth are particularly well drawn. “Jurassic Park III”, was the first film in this movie franchise to depict Velociraptors with quills, whilst in the earlier two films, the Velociraptors were shown without feathers (entirely covered in scales).

Back in the autumn (2022), we received an image of an Atrociraptor from Caldey. This drawing was based on the “raptor” as depicted in the latest film in this series “Jurassic Park Dominion”.

To view our article about Caldey’s Atrociraptor: An Atrociraptor Illustrated.

A Detailed Drawing

A spokesperson for the UK-based Everything Dinosaur commented:

“The Velociraptor illustration is such a detailed drawing. Palaeontologists are beginning to understand a little more about the integumentary coverings of dinosaurs as more impressions of fossilised skin are studied. It is likely that many genera were covered in scales of different shapes and sizes. As visual communication was important to these lithe, little hunters, why not give Velociraptor bright facial markings.”

Our thanks to Caldey for providing Everything Dinosaur with such a fantastic Velociraptor drawing.