Herbivorous Dinosaurs get New Paint Jobs from Schleich

Schleich of Germany have been revising a number of their model ranges with the introduction of a new artistic team.  Perhaps one of the most revised ranges has been their “Saurus” range of scale prehistoric animal models.  We covered the changes to the theropods (meat-eaters mostly), in an earlier post today.  Now we focus on the new colour variants of herbivorous dinosaurs, and the new Schleich dinosaur models for 2012.

Schleich Dinosaur Models

The large dinosaur model range made by Schleich, part of their “World of History” category will contain an number of plant-eating dinosaurs.  We have already featured their largest models the sauropods, now we focus on the Stegosaurus, Saichania, Triceratops and the Parasaurolophus models that have replaced the previous “Saurus” replicas.

Stegosaurus from Schleich

“Roof Lizard” gets a new roof.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The red dermal plates of the previous “Saurus” Stegosaurus have gone, a more muted replica as shown above is the replacement.  You could say that “Roofed Lizard” has been given a new roof.

Triceratops Model – Note the Indications of Fenestrae

Triceratops or perhaps Torosaurus?

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Schleich

We like the tilted head position and if you look carefully you can see the impression of paired fenestrae in the neck frill (formation of holes in the neck frill just covered by skin).  Could this model have been designed with a thought about the Bakker et al hypothesis that as these ceratopsians aged so their skull frills become larger and developed fenestrae.  Could Triceratops and Torosaurus be one and the same?

To read an article about this theory: The Extinction of Torosaurus – Second Time Around.

 Replacing the “Saurus” scale model Saichania with a new paint job.  This model shows the defensive armour more clearly with the armour projections being picked out in an ivory colour.

Schleich Saichania Model

Saichania means “beautiful”.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Schleich

This model will be available in May 2012, the name Saichania means “beautiful” staff at Everything Dinosaur are looking forward to seeing whether this dinosaur lives up to its name.  Interesting to note that the small Saichania model has been retired from the not-to-scale Schleich model range that we refer to the “DI” range.

Last but not least is the interesting Parasaurolophus hadrosaur model, nicknamed “banana feet” by Everything Dinosaur team members due to the choice of colour for the front limbs.  P. walkeri is one of our favourite duck-billed dinosaurs.

Parasaurolophus from Schleich (May 2012)

It’s “banana feet”!

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Schleich

Dinosaur Models and Figures

This is certainly an eclectic group of dinosaur models.  All the most popular dinosaurs seem to have been incorporated into the re-launch, and we at Everything Dinosaur look forward to taking a closer look at the models.

To view the range of Schleich herbivorous dinosaurs available from Everything Dinosaur: Schleich Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals.