All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
13 07, 2016

Giganotosaurus Diorama from Paleo Paul

By | July 13th, 2016|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page|0 Comments

Carnegie Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Diorama

Dinosaur enthusiast and prehistoric animal model collector Paleo Paul emailed Everything Dinosaur and sent us a couple of pictures of his dinosaur diorama featuring a remodelled Giganotosaurus.  The talented model maker has used a Carnegie Collectibles Giganotosaurus replica and set this, now quite rare dinosaur model, in a prehistoric scene that features cycads and a flowering plant.  Giganotosaurus (G. carolinii) roamed Patagonia (southern Argentina) around ninety seven million years ago and it is regarded as one of the largest theropod dinosaurs described to date.  It certainly makes a fitting centre piece to Paleo Paul’s prehistoric scene.

The Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Diorama

A cleverly crafted dinosaur diorama.

A Giganotosaurus dinosaur diorama from Paleo Paul.

Picture credit: Paleo Paul

The Evolution of Flowering Plants

Great care has been taken to build up the vegetation in this diorama.  A range of prehistoric plants are depicted including a substantial angiosperm (flowering plant).  It was during the latter part of the Cretaceous geological period that flowering plants began to replace ferns, cycads, bennettitales and conifers as the dominant terrestrial flora.  Top marks to Paleo Paul for adding a flowering plant to his dinosaur diorama.

Paleo Paul wrote:

“Sharp-eyed collectors will notice a Carnegie Giganotosaurus dinosaur model, I used modellers putty to modify and then repainted.”

At Everything Dinosaur we get lots of pictures sent into us by model collectors and dinosaur fans.  We really enjoy seeing how prehistoric animal models are used to create prehistoric scenes and it never ceases to amaze us how talented and skilful a number of our customers are.

The Carnegie Collectibles Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Model

The Carnegie Collectibles Giganotosaurus dinosaur model, as part of the scale model range of prehistoric animals made by Safari Ltd, was retired a few years ago.  Like the majority of this model range, that was endorsed by palaeontologists from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA), it is becoming increasingly difficult for model collectors and dinosaur fans to acquire.  Fortunately, Everything Dinosaur still has stocks and our strong links with the American manufacturer has assured Everything Dinosaur customers continued access to this range for the foreseeable future.

The Carnegie Collectibles Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Model Features in the Diorama

The Giganotosaurus dinosaur model (Carnegie Dinosaurs).

The Carnegie Collectibles Giganotosaurus dinosaur model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of prehistoric animal models available from Safari Ltd in the Wild Safari Prehistoric World range: Safari Ltd. Wild Safari Prehistoric World Figures.

Modifying a Giganotosaurus Model

Paleo Paul has skilfully repositioned the dinosaur’s tail and given this carnivore a deeper, more robust neck.  These and the other modifications really help to make the diorama stand out.  It’s an excellent prehistoric scene and great care and thought has gone into composition and layout.

A Close Up of the Giganotosaurus Dinosaur

A fearsome Giganotosaurus dinosaur diorama.

Paleo Paul’s Giganotosaurus dinosaur model diorama.

Picture credit: Paleo Paul

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Our thanks to Paleo Paul for sending in these pictures, we really enjoy looking at all the photographs of prehistoric animal dioramas that we receive.  Giganotosaurus, as an apex predator, is a popular choice amongst model makers and we think that Paleo Paul’s interpretation is very praiseworthy.”

For other dinosaur models and prehistoric animal toys, visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

13 07, 2016

Palaeontologist Names New Dinosaur After His Pet Dog

By | July 13th, 2016|General Teaching, Key Stage 3/4|Comments Off on Palaeontologist Names New Dinosaur After His Pet Dog

“Hannah” the Horned Dinosaur

Scott Persons, a PhD student at the University of Alberta (Canada), has nicknamed a new species of Late Cretaceous horned dinosaur after his pet dog Hannah.

Palaeontologist and His Dog

The dog sometimes accompanies Scott and other members of the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences faculty on field expeditions to the Badlands of southern Alberta in the quest for fossils.  The nose horn of the dinosaur was spotted by Scott sticking out of a steep cliff that led into a remote canyon back in the summer of 2015.  Careful excavation revealed that most of the skull was intact and this was prepped in the field and airlifted back to the University for further study.

Scott Persons and the Nose Horn of the Dinosaur

PhD student Scott Persons showing the location of the fossil skull.

Scott Persons must have a “nose” for dinosaur discoveries.

Picture credit: Amanda Kelley

For models and replicas of horned dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models and Figures.

A Return to the Dig Site in 2016

With the start of the fieldwork season, a team of volunteers have returned to the quarry to excavate the post cranial fossil material.  A number of bones have been found so far including elements from the front legs of this four-legged dinosaur.  The skull shows characteristics similar to those found in two other types of horned dinosaur known from Canada.  It has a large nose horn similar to Centrosaurus and the beginnings of a spiky neck frill indicating an affinity to the spectacular Styracosaurus.  As the fossils have been found in a rock layer in between the strata from which Centrosaurus and Styracosaurus have been excavated, palaeontologists are suggesting that “Hannah” represents a transitional form between these two dinosaurs.

“Hannah” Will Help Fill Part of the Horned Dinosaur Family Tree

"Hannah" the horned dinosaur.

Our interpretation of “Hannah” centrosaurine in nature with forward projecting epoccipital bones as part of the frill ornamentation.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A formal scientific paper will be published and this dinosaur will be given a binomial scientific name, but for the time being, Hannah the dog has a dinosaur named after her.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

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