All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
3 02, 2024

New Papo Suchomimus Dinosaur Model

By |2024-02-06T09:40:19+00:00February 3rd, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur team members were given the opportunity to handle the prototype for the new Papo Suchomimus dinosaur model. This new Papo dinosaur was on display at the Spielwarenmesse (Nuremberg, Germany). It is one of three new Papo dinosaur models due to be released this year (2024). The Papo Suchomimus is scheduled to be in stock in quarter 4 of 2024.

The Papo Suchomimus dinosaur model held by Sue Judd of Everything Dinosaur.
Sue Judd (Everything Dinosaur) carefully holding a prototype of the new for 2024 Papo Suchomimus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of Papo prehistoric animals available from Everything Dinosaur: Papo Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

Papo Suchomimus Model

This new spinosaurid figure is going to be available after the Papo Corythosaurus and the Ampelosaurus models. It is likely to be available in the latter part of the year. The model at the tradeshow was not an actual production figure. It is a prototype that will assist with the painting guide required for when these models are made at scale.

A close-up view of the Papo Suchomimus dinosaur model.
A close-up view of the Papo Suchomimus dinosaur prototype model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur

Sue Judd from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“This new Suchomimus figure is stunning! We were given the opportunity to handle all three new for 2024 Papo dinosaurs. However, this Suchomimus model is very precious as it is effectively the prototype. It really is a beautiful model, and we hope our photographs do it justice.”

The Papo Suchomimus model is scheduled to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur towards the end of 2024. We hope our photographs have whetted the appetites of Papo fans and model collectors.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

2 02, 2024

Spotting an Ammonite Fossil at a Trade Fair

By |2024-02-06T22:05:42+00:00February 2nd, 2024|Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur Products, Geology, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils, Press Releases|0 Comments

Team members at Everything Dinosaur recently visited the Spielwarenmesse trade fair in Germany. Many of the buildings in this part of Bavaria are constructed from limestone. The limestone dates from the Jurassic and is highly fossiliferous. Whilst walking between the halls of the Spielwarenmesse on our way to another meeting, we spotted an ammonite fossil in the stone floor,

Ammonite fossil in the stone floor on the site of the annual Spielwarenmesse trade fair.
On the floor of the Spielwarenmesse building fossils can be spotted. For example, this limestone slab has the remains of an ammonite clearly visible within it. The red arrow highlights the position of the ammonite fossil. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Looking for an Ammonite Fossil

Numerous fossils can be spotted entombed in the polished stone floors of the vast Messezentrum Nuremberg which hosts the international toy fair. Belemnites, bivalves and oyster shells are common. Ammonites tend to be a little rarer, but there are still plenty to see.

Ammonite model next to a fossil specimen.
A model of an ammonite (foreground) with a polished ammonite in the background. The strongly ribbed shell and the obvious keel of the ammonite replica. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows a Bullyland ammonite replica in the foreground with a polished ammonite fossil behind it.

To view the Bullyland range of prehistoric animal models and figures: Bullyland Prehistoric Animal Replicas.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained that many municipal buildings in and around Nuremberg were built from limestone that contains lots of fossils. The sediments that went onto form the limestone were Upper Jurassic in age.

The spokesperson added:

“Nuremberg airport is famous for its fossils. It is always intriguing to see what we can spot in the floor tiles as we wait to board an aeroplane.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

1 02, 2024

Examining a Sauropod Skin Impression

By |2024-02-14T10:27:24+00:00February 1st, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Team members photographed a sauropod skin impression whilst visiting the London Natural History Museum. The specimen is part of the Patagotitan exhibition entitled “Titanosaur – Life as the Biggest Dinosaur”. Although most visitors probably overlook this fossil it is perhaps one of the most important fossil specimens on display in this part of the museum.

A detailed analysis of the skin impression provided new information on the anatomy of sauropods. A study revealed features on the skin that might explain how these dinosaurs were able to grow so big.

Sauropod skin impression.
A sauropod skin impression (NHMUK R1868) on display as part of the London Natural History Museum Patagotitan exhibition. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Studying a Sauropod Skin Impression

This is a fossilised imprint of sauropod skin. It is specimen number NHMUK R1868. It was the first skin impression to be described in any non-avian dinosaur. The fossil, discovered in 1852 provided the first evidence that sauropods had scaly skin. The impression was formed when the skin of a carcase was pressed into soft mud. This left an impression of the skin contours imprinted on the sediment. Over millions of years the ground hardened into rock.

The fossil was discovered in Hastings along with a large forelimb. The material comes from the Hasting Beds, which are part of the Wealden Group and represent Lower Cretaceous deposits. The sauropod, possibly a basal titanosaur, has been named Haestasaurus becklesii. The skin impression is thought to have come from the forearm, the presence of smaller scales at one end of the specimen suggests that the skin impression might have come from the elbow area. The smaller scales would have permitted greater flexibility in the joint.

Patagotitan skeleton on display.
Sue from Everything Dinosaur poses in front of the colossal Patagotitan skeleton which is being exhibited at the Natural History Museum (London). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Patagotitan dinosaur model.
A Patagotitan dinosaur model. The long neck and tail may have helped with thermoregulation, enabling this super-sized tetrapod to lose heat efficiently.

The image above shows the recently introduced Wild Safari Prehistoric World Patagotitan dinosaur model.

To view this range of prehistoric animal figures: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models.

A Sauropod Skin Scientific Paper

A paper published in February 2022 (Pittman et al) examined NHMUK R1868 in detail using laser-simulated fluorescence (LSF). This technique reveals much more detail at the microscopic level than exposure to normal light and UV light. The researchers discovered that the skin was covered in tiny bumps (papillae). These convex bumps increased the surface area of the skin, and it was thought that they played a role in thermoregulation.

Large animals, such as sauropods need to find ways to stop their bodies overheating. The extended surface area of their long necks and tails would have helped, but the researchers speculate that these small bumps greatly increased the skin surface area, thus permitting more efficient heat exchange between their bodies and the environment.

A review of other sauropod skin fossils demonstrated that intrascale papillae were unique to and widespread across the Neosauropoda. This suggests that this trait evolved early in the Sauropoda, and it might explain why these types of dinosaurs were able to grow so big and to become giants.

The scientific paper: “Newly detected data from Haestasaurus and review of sauropod skin morphology suggests Early Jurassic origin of skin papillae” by Michael Pittman, Nathan J. Enriquez, Phil R. Bell, Thomas G. Kaye and Paul Upchurch published in Communications Biology.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

31 01, 2024

New Haolonggood Dinosaur Models

By |2024-02-01T10:44:18+00:00January 31st, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Team members at Everything Dinosaur took a photograph of the fourteen new Haolonggood dinosaur models that recently arrived at the company’s warehouse. The new figures represent five theropods, one armoured dinosaur (Dacentrurus) and a titanosaur. The titanosaur is Ampelosaurus, which is also the largest figure in this recently arrived stock.

Haolonggood dinosaur models.
Fourteen new Haolonggood dinosaur models arrived at Everything Dinosaur’s warehouse recently. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

To view the range of Haolonggood prehistoric animal models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Haolonggood Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

Haolonggood Dinosaur Models

The fourteen figures represent seven dinosaur genera. The photograph showing the boxes together provides collectors with an impression of the size of the models relative to each other. The titanosaur figure (Ampelosaurus atacis) is the largest. The tyrannosaur figure Daspletosaurus (D. torosus) is the second largest.

Here is the full list of the Haolonggood figures in the photograph:

  • Dacentrurus – Xuning.
  • Dacentrurus – Lingzhen.
  • Carnotaurus – Li Zhong.
  • Carnotaurus – Zhou Tong.
  • Daspletosaurus torosus – Wu Song.
  • Daspletosaurus torosus – Lu Zhi Sheng.
  • Ampelosaurus – Sun Er Niang.
  • Ampelosaurus – Zhang Qing.
  • Dilophosaurus – Wang Ying/Hu San Niang.
  • Dilophosaurus – Sun Xin/Gu Da Sao.
  • Megaraptor – Shi Qian.
  • Megaraptor – Duan Jing Zhu.
  • Baryonyx – Shan Ting.
  • Baryonyx – Wei Ding Guo.

Haolonggood have established themselves rapidly in the dinosaur model collecting market. They have already built up an extensive product range. Everything Dinosaur is looking forward to highlighting new Haolonggood figures in the near future.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: The Everything Dinosaur Website.

30 01, 2024

New PNSO Saurophaganax Model Reviewed

By |2024-01-30T07:47:02+00:00January 30th, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Our thanks to dinosaur fan William who sent into Everything Dinosaur his review of the recently introduced PNSO Saurophaganax dinosaur model. The reviewer explained that “Donald” the Saurophaganax was one of three new theropod figures introduced by PNSO towards the end of 2023. The other two figures were Dapeng and Dayong which represented the genus Yangchuanosaurus.

PNSO Donald the Saurophaganax
The new for late 2023 PNSO Donald the Saurophaganax figure.

The PNSO Saurophaganax Figure

William praised this new allosaur figure. The model measures around thirty centimetres in length. It is five centimetres longer than the PNSO Paul the Allosaurus figure. It seems that the design team at PNSO have thought carefully about the size of their Saurophaganax maximus figure. This model, like the PNSO Allosaurus has an articulated lower jaw.

PNSO Donald the Saurophaganax
The latest theropod to be announced by PNSO is Donald the Saurophaganax. It is a beautiful model of a Late Jurassic theropod dinosaur from North America.

“I Could Not Wait to Get this Figure into My Hands”

William explained that the Saurophaganax was a titan. He stated that “Donald’s” sculpt was supremely accurate from the head to the tip of the tail. He highlighted the presence of lips on this theropod figure.

He exclaimed:

“To own this Lord of the Lizard Eaters, you have the greatest Allosauridae model ever to hit the market.”

The dinosaur fan and model collector added:

“I could not wait to get this figure into my hands.”

Our thanks to William for sending in his PNSO Saurophaganax review to Everything Dinosaur.

View the range of PNSO prehistoric animal models and figures: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Figures.

29 01, 2024

A Spectacular Nile Crocodile Skeleton on Display

By |2024-02-18T17:29:52+00:00January 29th, 2024|Adobe CS5, Animal News Stories, Main Page, Photos|0 Comments

Team members at Everything Dinosaur photographed a spectacular Nile crocodile skeleton. The skeleton is on display at the London Natural History Museum. Recently, Everything Dinosaur wrote a short blog post about the reptile exhibit at the Museum.

Nile crocodile skeleton on display.
The skeleton of a Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) on display at the London Natural History Museum. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To read Everything Dinosaur’s earlier crocodilian post: A Fascinating Nile Crocodile Exhibit.

The Nile Crocodile Skeleton

As male Nile crocodiles tend to be much bigger than the females, we suspect the skeleton represents a male. The Nile crocodile skeleton could have come from a crocodile farm. Perhaps the skeleton came from a zoo. It is part of an exhibit that looks at extant reptiles. The exhibit also includes a large, stuffed Nile crocodile specimen.

Nile crocodile specimen.
A stuffed Nile crocodile on display. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“This large exhibit permits visitors to get a really good look at the skeleton of a large crocodile. The exhibit includes examples of crocodile stomach contents. The skeleton is impressive, although this reptile is dwarfed by the specimens in the Dinosaurs Gallery.”

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

28 01, 2024

Tyrannosaur Figures Feature in New Customer Newsletter

By |2024-01-30T07:27:25+00:00January 28th, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Newsletters, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

The seven, new for 2024 Beast of the Mesozoic tyrannosaurs are featured in the latest Everything Dinosaur customer newsletter. The latest Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosaur shipment arrived late last week. Team members at Everything Dinosaur have been busy contacting all those customers who wanted to be informed.

A newsletter was also emailed to the company’s subscriber list.

Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosaurs - Gorgosaurus.
The Beasts of the Mesozoic Gorgosaurus figure features in the latest Everything Dinosaur customer newsletter. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

New Beasts of the Mesozoic Tyrannosaurs

The new articulated figures feature different members of the Tyrannosauroidea superfamily. The model representing the geologically oldest theropod is the Eotyrannus figure (Eotyrannus lengi). Eotyrannus fossils are associated with Lower Cretaceous deposits. All six of the other new tyrannosaur figures represent dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous.

Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosaurs - Eotyrannus and Moros.
The two new Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosauroid figures Eotyrannus and Moros intrepidus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of articulated Beasts of the Mesozoic models in stock: Beasts of the Mesozoic Models.

Late Cretaceous Tyrannosaurs

The majority of the new tyrannosaur figures represent predators from either the Maastrichtian or Campanian faunal stages of the Late Cretaceous. Perhaps, one of the geologically youngest tyrannosaurs in this new wave of models would be Tarbosaurus (T. bataar). This Asian tyrannosaur is thought to have lived around seventy million years ago.

Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosaurs - Daspletosaurus and Tarbosaurus
The Late Cretaceous Daspletosaurus and the geologically younger Tarbosaurus (Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosaurs). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Alectrosaurus and Albertosaurus

The latest Everything Dinosaur customer newsletter highlighted two other new theropod figures. Alectrosaurus (A. olseni) fossils come from the Iren Dabasu Formation of Inner Mongolia. The date of this formation remains controversial. Some palaeontologists have suggested that this fast-running tyrannosaur may have roamed China approximately ninety million years ago.

In contrast, Albertosaurus (A. sarcophagus) fossils roamed Canada many millions of years later. The fossils of Albertosaurus sarcophagus seem to be confined to the Canadian province of Alberta. A second potential and coeval Albertosaurus may have been present further south (Mexico).

Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosaurs - Alectrosaurus and Albertosaurus.
The Beasts of the Mesozoic Alectrosaurus (left) and the Albertosaurus (right). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Contact Everything Dinosaur to request subscription to the company’s free newsletter: Email Everything Dinosaur.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

28 01, 2024

Excellent Columbian Mammoth Artwork

By |2024-01-28T11:19:00+00:00January 28th, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur would like to thank talented young artist James who sent into Everything Dinosaur a stunning illustration of a Columbian mammoth that he had painted.

Columbian mammoth illustrated
Our thanks to talented artist James who produced this excellent illustration of a Columbian mammoth.

Picture credit: James

The prehistoric elephant is shown in lateral view as it moves through a woodland in North America during the Pleistocene Epoch. James has chosen to depict a mature animal given the impressive size of the tusks on this prehistoric elephant.

Columbian Mammoth Artwork

The Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) was among the last mammoth species to evolve. It was also one of the largest with some fossil specimens indicating mature bulls some 4.2 metres high at the shoulders. Body weights of the biggest individuals have been estimated at more than twelve tonnes. The last of these amazing creatures are thought to have become extinct around 12,000 years ago.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur thanked James for sending in the image of his Columbian mammoth artwork and exclaimed:

“We do get sent drawings and paintings of Woolly Mammoths, but we don’t receive many illustrations of Columbian mammoths. Our thanks to James for sending in an image of his superb artwork”.

27 01, 2024

Are These Really Polacanthus Fossils?

By |2024-02-18T20:30:22+00:00January 27th, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

In the Liverpool World Museum there are several exhibits that feature dinosaur fossils. One display case includes two, worn fossils which are described as Polacanthus foxii fossil material. The fossil material has a rounded appearance. According to the display label these fossils are from the Wealden Beds exposed at Chilton Chine on the Isle of Wight. They are described as casts (copies) of a Polacanthus braincase. The actual fossils probably came out of the cliffs and were exposed on the beach for some time prior to their discovery. These fossils were rolled around the beach and attrition caused their rounded and weathered appearance.

However, these fossils, or their copies may not represent Polacanthus foxii.

Polacanthus fossils.
Casts of Polacanthus fossils. Fragmentary and eroded replica armoured dinosaur fossils on display at Liverpool Museum. These fossils have been assigned to Polacanthus foxii. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Labelling Polacanthus Fossils

The Wealden Group covers several million years of deposition. To date, armoured dinosaurs named and scientifically described from the Wealden Group include Hylaeosaurus, the recently named Vectipelta and Polacanthus.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post on Vectipelta: Vectipelta barretti Honours Natural History Museum Professor.

The fossils, although labelled as Polacanthus, may not represent that taxon. Fossils from the Isle of Wight attributed to Polacanthus may actually represent multiple, as yet unnamed taxa.

Polacanthus foxii dinosaur model.
The CollectA Deluxe Polacanthus foxii dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows the new for 2024 CollectA Deluxe Polacanthus model. This figure is based on the Polacanthus foxii holotype material. It is a modern interpretation of the known fossil material.

To view the CollectA Deluxe range of figures: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Animal Figures.

Vectipelta for example, is only distantly related to both Hylaeosaurus and Polacanthus foxii.

It is unlikely that all the fossil material ascribed to the Polacanthus taxon displayed in museums actually represents P. foxii, or indeed any other possible species as yet unassigned to the Polacanthus genus.

The Everything Dinosaur website: The Everything Dinosaur website.

26 01, 2024

New PNSO Yangchuanosaurus “Dapeng” Reviewed

By |2024-01-30T16:13:18+00:00January 26th, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Our thanks to a dinosaur model fan who sent in a review of the recently introduced PNSO Yangchuanosaurus “Dapeng” into Everything Dinosaur. William emailed to praise this new PNSO theropod figure and explained that this was the second Yangchuanosaurus figure from PNSO. This replica represents the enormous species Y. magnus.

PNSO Yangchuanosaurus "Dapeng" packaging.
The packaging of the recently introduced PNSO Yangchuanosaurus model “Dapeng”. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

PNSO Yangchuanosaurus “Dapeng”

The reviewer described this new PNSO figure as “truly a Jurassic terror of China’s ancient past.”

The genus was first erected in 1978 (Dong Zhiming et al). A large theropod skeleton had been discovered during the construction of a dam in Sichuan Province. This dinosaur was estimated to have measured around eight metres long. It was named Yangchuanosaurus shangyouensis. In 1983, a second, considerably larger specimen was uncovered (specimen number CV 00216). It was initially thought to represent a new species and the taxon Yangchuanosaurus magus was erected. Further analysis revealed that the anatomical differences observed in the two skeletons were the result of ontogenetic variation. This larger skeleton is now thought to represent and older, more mature Yangchuanosaurus shangyouensis.

The PNSO Yangchuanosaurus in the landscape.
The Yangchuanosaurus dinosaur model (Dapeng) from PNSO.

Two PNSO Yangchuanosaurus Figures

The reviewer summed up the two PNSO Yangchuanosaurus figures stated that “Dapeng” represented the larger species Y. magnus or to put it another way the “old man” of “Dayong”.

William expressed his delight at being able to purchase this figure and commented:

“It is privilege to add this great beast to my collection.”

William concluded his Yangchuanosaurus “Dapeng” review by thanking Everything Dinosaur team members for their assistance. He highlighted the company’s excellent customer service and provided an example. Last year, William ordered a pair of PNSO Megalosaurus models, he was emailed by Everything Dinosaur just to make sure he did want the two figures. Team members were concerned in case William had ordered an extra Megalosaurus model by mistake. Once the order had been checked and verified it was despatched without delay.

Our thanks to William for his PNSO Yangchuanosaurus model review.

The PNSO range of prehistoric animal figures: PNSO Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Figures.

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