All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
7 11, 2019

Remarkable Fossil Ape from the Miocene of Southern Germany

By |2023-12-31T18:36:20+00:00November 7th, 2019|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Danuvius guggenmosi – Adapted for Walking and Climbing

A previously unknown primate that lived in the forests of southern Germany around 12 million years ago was capable of walking upright, just like us.  Palaeontologists have debated how the development of bipedalism amongst the great apes occurred and for that matter, where in the world did the first apes capable of upright walking evolve.  A remarkable fossil found in Bavaria suggests that upright posture may have originated in a common ancestor of humans and great apes that lived in Europe and not in Africa as previously supposed.

A Life Reconstruction of the Newly Described Miocene Ape Danuvius guggenmosi

Danuvius guggenmosi life reconstruction.
Danuvius life reconstruction.

Picture credit: Velizar Simeonovski / University of Tübingen

A Fossil Ape

Writing in the publication “Nature”, an international research team led by Professor Madelaine Böhme from the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (University of Tübingen), report on the discovery of a previously unknown type of primate that once roamed the forests of Bavaria.  This ape named Danuvius guggenmosi, which lived 11.62 million years ago, shows anatomical adaptations suited to both walking upright as well as using all four limbs for climbing.

The ability to walk bipedally with a plantigrade foot is considered a key evolutionary stage on the road that would eventually lead to the evolution of hominins including our own species H. sapiens.

The Twenty-one Fossils that Comprise the Male Danuvius Specimen

The 21 bones of the most complete partial skeleton of a male Danuvius.
The 21 bones of the most complete partial skeleton of a male Danuvius (D. guggenmosi).

Picture credit: Christoph Jäckle / University of Tübingen

A Fossil That Resets the Evolutionary Clock

The scientists conclude that Danuvius were able to walk on two legs nearly twelve million years ago.  This is around six million years earlier than previously thought.  Up until this discovery the oldest evidence of potential bipedalism had been reported from Late Miocene of Africa and remarkably, from the island of Crete in the Mediterranean.  Close to the village of Trachilos in western Crete, scientists uncovered a series of footprints, the preserved tracks of an upright walking ape-like animal.  These trace fossils are believed to be around 5.7 million years old.  To read about these strange fossil tracks: Has Human Evolution Tripped Us Up?

The German fossil material represent a significant step (no pun intended), in terms of human evolution.  Lead author Professor Böhme explained:

“The finds in southern Germany are a milestone in palaeoanthropology, because they raise fundamental questions about our previous understanding of the evolution of the great apes and humans.”

Piecing Together the Skeleton of Danuvius (White Elements Represent Plaster Reconstructions of Bones)

Part of the reconstructed skeleton of Danuvius.
Reconstructing the skeleton of Danuvius.

Picture credit: Christoph Jäckle / University of Tübingen

Lead Author of the Scientific Paper Professor Madelaine Böhme

Professor Madelaine Böhme (University of Tübingen)
Professor Madelaine Böhme examining the fossil material.

Picture credit: Christoph Jäckle / University of Tübingen

How Did Hominins Come to Walk on Two Legs?

In the “Origin of Species” written by Charles Darwin and first published in 1859, one of the great controversies that arose from this book was the implications regarding our own evolution.  Darwin, perhaps all too aware of the seismic nature of his theory, did not dwell on this aspect of natural selection in his ground-breaking volume.

Towards the end of the book, in the concluding remarks section, he merely stated “light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history”.  Most of us now believe that we are descended from apes, however, one of the key distinguishing features between ourselves and the Great Apes, now bracketed in the same taxonomic family – the Hominidae, is that we walk on our hind legs and are truly bipedal, but how did this come about?

Did our bipedalism evolve from forest-dwelling monkey-like apes which clambered around on all fours?  Did bipedalism first arise in brachiating apes such as gibbons and orangutans who mostly use their arms to climb, or did it arise first in knuckle-walking apes such as bonobos, chimpanzees and gorillas?

Reconstructing Cranial Elements of Danuvius guggenmosi

Piecing together the skull and jaws of Danuvius.
A reconstruction of part of the skull and the jaws of Danuvius (white plaster indicates reconstructed elements).

Picture credit: Christoph Jäckle / University of Tübingen

Mapping an Ancient Vertebrate Fauna Preserved in a Bavarian Clay Pit

The Danuvius guggenmosi fossils were discovered between 2015 and 2018.  Working in the Hammerschmiede clay pit in the Allgäu region of Bavaria, Böhme and her team excavated more than 15,000 fossil vertebrate bones from the ancient humid and forested ecosystems that were abundant in southern Germany at that time.  The new primate fossils include the remains of at least four individuals.  The most complete skeleton, of a male Danuvius, has body proportions similar to modern-day bonobos.  Thanks to completely preserved limb bones, vertebrae, finger and toe bones, the researchers were able to reconstruct the way Danuvius moved about in its environment.

Professor Böhme stated:

“For the first time, we were able to investigate several functionally important joints, including the elbow, hip, knee and ankle, in a single fossil skeleton of this age.  It was astonishing for us to realise how similar certain bones are to humans, as opposed to great apes.”

The scientists conclude that Danuvius was capable of walking on two legs but could also climb like an ape.  The spine, for example, had an S-shaped curve similar to our own spine, it held the body upright when standing on two legs.  The ape’s build, posture, and the ways in which it moved are unique among known primates.

Danuvius guggenmosi

Co-author of the paper, Professor David Begun (University of Toronto), commented:

“Danuvius combines the hindlimb-dominated bipedality of humans with the forelimb-dominated climbing typical of living apes.”

The male Danuvius stood about a metre in height and weighed approximately 31 kilograms.  Females were smaller, reflecting the sexual dimorphism found in the extant members of the Hominidae today.  The research team estimate that females weighed around 18 kg, less than any great ape alive today.  The ribcage of these apes was broad and flat.  The lower back was elongated; this helped to position the centre of gravity over extended hips, knees and flat feet, as in bipeds.  Several key-features of human bipedality have been found on bones from the leg.

The Hand Bones of the Male Danuvius in their Storage Boxes

Hand bones from the male Danuvius.
Bones from the hand of the male Danuvius (manus).

Picture credit: Christoph Jäckle / University of Tübingen

Despite these human-like anatomical adaptations, Danuvius would have been very much at home in the trees, fellow researcher, Professor Nikolai Spassov of the Bulgarian Academy of Science highlighted that:

“In contrast to later hominins, Danuvius had a powerful, opposable big toe, which enabled it to grasp large and small branches securely”.

Danuvius guggenmosi and the Hip Bone from Hungary

This new study supports a previously published paper that analysed a fossilised ape hip bone that was around ten million years of age, that had been found in Hungary.  The Hungarian and the German fossil material indicate that the European ancestors of African apes and humans differed from extant gorillas and chimpanzees.

The researchers point out that the ancestors we share with living African apes were as unique as we are today.  These fossils may help palaeoanthropologists to map out where in deep time the African apes and human ancestors diverged, these remarkable fossils from southern Germany are certainly a step in the right direction.

The scientific paper: “A new Miocene ape and locomotion in the ancestor of great apes and humans” by Madelaine Böhme, Nikolai Spassov, Jochen Fuss, Adrian Tröscher, Andrew S. Deane, Jérôme Prieto, Uwe Kirscher, Thomas Lechner and David R. Begun published in the journal Nature.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a press release from the University of Tübingen in the compilation of this article.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

6 11, 2019

New Rebor Garden Stegosaurus armatus 1:35 Scale Models

By |2023-12-31T18:28:18+00:00November 6th, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|4 Comments

Rebor “Garden” Stegosaurus armatus 1:35 Scale Dinosaur Models

Those talented people at Rebor are introducing not one, but three amazing Stegosaurus dinosaur models in 1:35 scale in time for Christmas.  The new Rebor Stegosaurus models will be available from Everything Dinosaur in three colour variants – namely “Plain”, “Mountain” and “Woodland” and team members are expecting this stock to arrive at the company’s warehouse in about 7-8 weeks, although they could be in stock slightly sooner.

Rebor Stegosaurus Dinosaur Models

The Rebor Stegosaurus Dinosaur Model “Garden” – Mountain Colour Variant

Rebor "Garden" Stegosaurus 1:35 scale dinosaur model (mountain).
Rebor Garden Stegosaurus armatus 1:35 scale dinosaur model (Mountain).

Each model measures around 28 cm long with a height of 14 cm.  The Rebor Stegosaurus figures have flexible necks and tails and each display base is approximately 11.5 cm long and 8 cm wide.

The Rebor Stegosaurus Dinosaur Model “Garden” – Plain Colour Variant

Rebor "Garden" Stegosaurus 1:35 scale dinosaur model (plain).
Rebor Garden Stegosaurus armatus 1:35 scale dinosaur model (Plain).

The Rebor Stegosaurus Dinosaur Model “Garden” – Woodland Colour Variant

Rebor "Garden" Stegosaurus 1:35 scale dinosaur model (woodland).
Rebor Garden Stegosaurus armatus 1:35 scale dinosaur model (Woodland).

1:35 Scale Dinosaur Models

Each beautifully crafted replica is depicted in 1:35 scale and are designed to accompany the Rebor Ceratosaurus (C. dentisulcatus), a fellow resident of the famous Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of the western United States.  Dinosaur fans can choose from three colour schemes for their armoured dinosaur – “plain”, “woodland” and “mountain”, a motif introduced when the 2018 Ankylosaurus models were launched by Rebor.

The Rebor Ceratosaurus Dinosaur Model (1:35 Scale)

Rebor Ceratosaurus dinosaur model (Savage).
The Rebor 1:35 scale Ceratosaurus dentisulcatus replica.  This figure is on display at the Everything Dinosaur office. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To join Everything Dinosaur’s priority reserve list for the three new Stegosaurus replicas, simply: Email Everything Dinosaur to Join our Priority Stegosaurus Reservation List.

Stegosaurus armatus

Stegosaurus is one of the most instantly recognisable of all the dinosaurs.  However, compared to other iconic prehistoric animals such as Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex only recently have palaeontologists begun to learn more about the physiology and anatomy of this genus.

Stegosaurus was one of those taxa caught up in the “Bone Wars” between Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope, as such, new species were erected, often, on only the flimsiest and scrappiest of fossil evidence.  Take for example, Stegosaurus affinis which was named by Marsh in 1881, just four years after the first Stegosaurus (S. armatus) was named and described.  This species was erected based on the description of a single bone from the hips, as such Stegosaurus affinis, like many Stegosaur species has been revised over the years and this particular armoured dinosaur is now regarded as “nomen dubium” – of dubious taxonomic affinity.

Challenging the Validity of the Genus

Even the validity of Stegosaurus armatus has been questioned.  It was originally appointed the type species for the entire genus and despite around thirty Morrison Formation specimens being ascribed to it, S. armatus has been replaced as the type species by Stegosaurus stenops in 2013.  It might be surprising, given the iconic nature of this dinosaur, but palaeontologists remain uncertain as to the composition of the Stegosauridae family and the exact taxonomic relationships within such instantly recognisable genera such as Stegosaurus.

Despite its status and popularity, Stegosaurus was not even the first armoured dinosaur to be described, that honour goes to the equally confusing and little known Hylaeosaurus (H. armatus), which shares the same trivial name as S. armatus.  Hylaeosaurus heralds from the Grinstead Clay Formation (Wealden Group).  A life-size model of Hylaeosaurus (the first large, armoured dinosaur model to be commissioned, can be found at the Crystal Palace Park, how fitting therefore, that the London-based Rebor should add models of Stegosaurs to its exciting range of prehistoric animal replicas.

For models and replicas of other armoured dinosaurs: Prehistoric Animal Models and Replicas.

Each Colour Variant Has its Own Display Base – “Mountain”, “Plain” or “Woodland”

Three display bases - Rebor "Garden" Stegosaurus dinosaur model.
Rebor “Garden” Stegosaurus dinosaur model – three display bases.  Three Stegosaur models and three beautifully crafted Stegosaur bases – which one will you choose? Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To see the range of Rebor figures and replicas in stock at Everything Dinosaur, including the Ceratosaurus “Savage”: Rebor Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Replicas.

5 11, 2019

Stunning Fossil Footprints Reflect Diverse Dinosaurs in South-western Alaska

By |2023-12-31T18:21:33+00:00November 5th, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Fossil Footprints Reflect Diverse Dinosaurs in South-western Alaska

Dinosaur fossils and their footprints have been found in Cretaceous-aged rocks in the American state of Alaska before.  Everything Dinosaur has produced a number of articles featuring fossil discoveries, many of which come from the Denali National Park area of the central part of the state.  However,  a new paper published in the journal PLOS One, provides an insight into the dinosaurs that roamed the south-western corner of the “Last Frontier” state.

The Late Cretaceous of the area of Alaska now known as the Aniakchak National Monument was dominated by duck-billed dinosaurs, but ankylosaurs, theropods and birds also lived in that part of the world.

A Digital Reconstruction of the Aniakchak National Monument in the Late Cretaceous

A landscape dominated by hadrosaurs but ankylosaurs were present too.
Numerous hadrosaur tracks have been found – both adults and juveniles.

Picture credit: Karen Carr/PLOS One

The Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Chignik Formation

The trackways, individual prints and other fossils, such as cycad leaves that indicate that around 70 million years ago, this part of Alaska was much warmer than it is today, provide palaeontologists with an insight into a high latitude, dinosaur dominated ecosystem.  These fossils may also provide some further evidence to help palaeontologists understand how dinosaurs migrated from Asia into the Americas.  Seventy-five new dinosaur footprints and trackways have been documented, more than ninety percent of which represent hadrosaurs.

Representative Hadrosaur Tracks

Hadrosaur tracks from Alaska.
Photographs of hadrosaur trackways including an overlapping track (A) with line drawing (B) and a photogrammatic contour map of a footprint (F).

Picture credit: PLOS One

Fossil Footprints

Co-author of the study, Dr Yoshitsugu Kobayashi (Hokkaido University Museum, Japan), stated:

“This study provides us a better understanding of the high-latitude dinosaur ecosystems of Alaska.  Such an understanding will help us address important questions such as did the dinosaurs survive the winters there and, if so, how did they survive?”

A Map Highlighting the Position of the Fossil Discoveries

Aniakchak National Park location and fossil sites.
A, Alaska.  Red star is location of Aniakchak National Park and Preserve.  Blue circles show location of dinosaur bonebeds on North Slope.  B, Drawing of Aniakchak National Park and Preserve.  The outcrop pattern for the Chignik Formation is shown in light green. Red rectangle outlines this study area.  C, Close-up diagram of study area showing Chignik Formation exposures in light green, restricted to shoreline.

Picture credit: PLOS One

Ankylosaurs Present Too

Two tracks have been identified as having been made by armoured dinosaurs (ichnotaxon Tetrapodosaurus), both these tracks were found in fallen blocks and the largest of the footprints measures around 35 centimetres wide.  The impression of five digits in each of the tracks indicate that these prints represent tracks made by the forelimbs, not the four-toed back legs of armoured dinosaurs.

A Potential Ankylosaur Track – Aniakchak National Monument

Potentail Alaskan armoured dinosaur track.
Armoured dinosaur track (ichnotaxon Tetrapodosaurus).

Picture Credit: PLOS One with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur

Avian and Non-avian Theropods

The research team also identified a number of different sized tridactyl (three-toed), prints.  Two different types of bird track were identified in the study, along with a much larger single print that the scientists estimate was made by a theropod dinosaur around five to six metres in length.  The fossil print has been assigned to the ichnogenus Grallator.  The track suggests a large, predatory dinosaur and the team comment that the footprint is roughly around the track size that would have been made by the pygmy tyrannosaurid Nanuqusaurus hoglandi, which was named and described in 2014, from material found in the far north of Alaska (Prince Creek Formation).

A Large Three-toed Theropod Dinosaur Print (Aniakchak National Monument)

Large theropod track from south-western Alaska.
Large tridactyl track attributed to the ichnogenus Grallator from the Aniakchak National Monument location.

Picture credit: PLOS One

The scientific paper: “Dinosaur ichnology and sedimentology of the Chignik Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Aniakchak National Monument, south-western Alaska; Further insights on habitat preferences of high-latitude hadrosaurs)” by Anthony R. Fiorillo, Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, Paul J. McCarthy, Tomonori Tanaka, Ronald S. Tykoski, Yuong-Nam Lee, Ryuji Takasaki and Junki Yoshida published in the journal PLOS One.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a press release from the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in the compilation of this article.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

4 11, 2019

The First Pliosaur from Poland

By |2023-12-31T17:26:34+00:00November 4th, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Polish Giant Marine Reptile Found in Cornfield

A pair of Polish palaeontologists have published a scientific paper describing the discovery of a large, Late Jurassic pliosaur from a site located in a cornfield in the north-eastern part of the Holy Cross Mountains close to the village of Krzyżanowice in southern Poland.  This is the first pliosaur to have been found in Poland.

The First Pliosaur Discovered in Poland

Scientists are puzzled with regards to the vertebrate fauna identified at the site, the pliosaur fossils are very similar to pliosaur remains associated with the Late Jurassic Boreal/Sub-Boreal localities of the Kimmeridge Clay in England and the Svalbard Archipelago in the Arctic.  However, the fossils of turtles and marine crocodiles found at this location have more in common with the fauna associated with ecosystems found much further to the south.

Teeth and a Partially Preserved Jaw of the Polish Pliosaur

Teeth and a partial jaw of the Polish pliosaur.
A photograph show a partial preserved jaw of the Polish pliosaur and fossil teeth.

Picture credit: Polish Academy of Sciences

Fearsome Pliosaurs

The Pliosauridae are a family of marine reptiles within the clade Plesiosauria.  They are often referred to as the “short-necked plesiosaurs”, as unlike plesiosaurs, these reptiles evolved massive skulls on short, powerful necks.  Pliosaurs were geographically widespread throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous with fossil discoveries having been made in Europe, including the UK, Australia, and the Americas.  It is believed they originated in the Early Jurassic and survived into the Late Cretaceous.

A Typical Pliosaur – Pliosaurus

CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Pliosaurus marine reptile diorama.
The CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Pliosaurus marine reptile model.

The picture (above) shows a CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale pliosaur figure.

To view this range of prehistoric animals: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Models.

A Marine Reptile Giant

The fossilised remains, although fragmentary, suggest an animal around ten metres in length.  The presence of such a large, apex predator indicates that the ecosystem was particularly rich and diverse.  The pliosaur has yet to be scientifically described but it is very likely a new genus.  It swam in the warm, tropical sea in the central portion of the European archipelago, as during the Late Jurassic, sea levels were much higher and western Europe consisted of a series of large islands surrounded by a shallow sea.

Examining the Fossilised Bones and Teeth

Examining the pliosaur fossils.
Palaeontologist Dr Daniel Tyborowski (from the Museum of the Earth of the Polish Academy of Sciences) in Warsaw and co-author of the scientific paper examines the fossil remains.

Picture credit: Polish Academy of Sciences

Identifying a Late Jurassic Faunal Boundary

The unusual mix of vertebrate fossils, some similar to animals that lived further north, whilst others resemble marine animals that lived in more southerly palaeolatitudes, has led the researchers to suggest that the fossils preserved in this part of Poland represent an ancient faunal boundary.  A faunal boundary is an area of demarcation between two ecosystems that are similar but contain different members.

The unique composition of the Krzyżanowice-site vertebrate fauna demonstrates that, during the Late Jurassic this new locality was located in the transitional palaeobiogeographic line referred to in the scientific paper as the “Matyja-Wierzbowski Line”.  The fossils represent the boundary between two ecosystems, an area where some faunal mixing between the two ecosystems occurred.

Identifying the “Matyja-Wierzbowski Line” in the Upper Jurassic Marine Deposits of Europe

Identifying the Identifying the “Matyja-Wierzbowski Line” - a faunal boundary.
Identifying the “Matyja-Wierzbowski Line”.  The black line plots the boundary between the two marine ecosystems.

Picture credit: Polish Academy of Sciences with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur

For a more in-depth explanation of faunal boundary, please refer to this article that discusses “The Wallace Line”, a faunal boundary in south-east Asia proposed by the English biologist Alfred Russel Wallace: New Species of Rat Discovered in Sulawesi.

The scientific paper: “New marine reptile fossils from the Late Jurassic of Poland with implications for vertebrate faunas palaeobiogeography” by Daniel Tyborowski and Błażej Błażejowski published in the Proceedings of the Geologist’s Association.

Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

3 11, 2019

New Megaraptorid Dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Australia

By |2023-12-31T17:19:40+00:00November 3rd, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Fossil Bones Unearthed in Victoria Resemble Australovenator

Scientists have announced the discovery of several isolated theropod dinosaur bones, including a vicious 20 centimetre long hand claw discovered on the Otway Coast of Victoria (Australia).  The fossil material is reminiscent of Australovenator wintonensis, a megaraptorid dinosaur known from the Winton Formation of Queensland.  The finding of these new meat-eating dinosaur fossils in Victoria suggests that the Megaraptoridae were both geographically and temporally widespread in Australia.

The Fossilised Hand Claw of a Megaraptorid Dinosaur

Dinosaur hand claw from Victoria.
Ungual phalanx ascribed to a megaraptorid dinosaur from Victoria (Australia).

Picture credit: Stephen Poropat (Museums Victoria)

Fossils from the Eumeralla Formation

Writing in the academic “Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology”, the researchers, which included scientists from Museum Victoria, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum and Swinburne University (Victoria), report the discovery of two teeth, two manual unguals, and a right astragalus that are almost identical to the corresponding elements in Australovenator.

The fossils come from the Eric the Red West (ETRW), site on Cape Otway, some fifty miles to the west of Port Phillip Bay.  The strata at this location is part of the Eumeralla Formation and dates from the lower Albian of the Early Cretaceous.  This suggests that the dinosaur that possessed that formidable hand claw roamed southern Australia around 107 million years ago.

In contrast, Australovenator wintonensis is known from the Winton Formation of Queensland (Cenomanian–lowermost Turonian faunal stages of the Cretaceous), as such, Australovenator roamed more than a thousand miles further north and lived at least ten million years later.

A Scale Drawing of Australovenator wintonensis

Drawing of Australovenator
Vicious dinosaur from “Down Under” – megaraptorid theropod dinosaurs from Australia including Australovenator wintonensis. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The new Victorian specimens were discovered between 2011 and 2017, by volunteers working on annual Dinosaur Dreaming team’s excavations.  These digs are held each February and are coordinated by husband and wife palaeontologists, Swinburne’s Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich and Dr Thomas Rich from Museums Victoria, who are both co-authors of this new scientific paper.

Implications for “Australian Spinosaurs”

In this newly published paper, the researchers also reappraise the single neck bone (cervical vertebra), found along this coast and described as a possible spinosaurid bone.  In the light of this very much older (than previously known from Australia), megaraptorid fossil material, the researchers conclude that the neck bone described in 2011 as potentially Australia’s first member of the Spinosauridae, also probably represents Megaraptoridae fossil material.

To read about this neck bone: Is this Fossil Evidence of Australia’s First Spinosaurid?

Hunting the Ornithopods

The Otway Coast area of Victoria has revealed evidence of the presence of many different types of ornithopods.  For example, last year we reported on the naming of Diluvicursor pickeringi.  It can be speculated that megaraptorid dinosaurs may have specialised in hunting the many different kinds of fast-running, herbivorous dinosaur that shared the rift valley that was opening up between Antarctica and Australia.

Prey for Megaraptorid Dinosaurs?

Diluvicursor pickeringi illustrated.
A pair of Diluvicursor dinosaurs feeding next to a fast running river in the Antarctica/Australia rift valley 113 million years ago.

Picture credit: P. Trusler

Studying Megaraptorid Dinosaurs

The new theropod fossils were found isolated rather than as part of a single skeleton.  This is because they were carried some distance from where the theropods died by ancient, deep, fast-flowing rivers.  These rivers snaked through the then-narrow rift valley (now called the Bass Strait), that opened up as the supercontinent Gondwana gradually broke apart and separated.

Lead author of the study Dr Stephen Poropat (Swinburne Museum), commented:

“The similarities between the Victorian megaraptorid remains and Australovenator are striking.  If we had found these theropod bones in Queensland, we would probably have called them Australovenator wintonensis.  But they’re from Victoria, which prompts the question: Could one dinosaur species exist for more than ten million years, across eastern Australia?  Maybe.”

The scientific paper: “New megaraptorid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) remains from the Lower Cretaceous Eumeralla Formation of Cape Otway, Victoria, Australia” by Stephen F. Poropat, Matt A. White, Patricia Vickers-Rich and Thomas H. Rich published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a press release from Swinburne University in the compilation of this article.

The Everything Dinosaur website: The Award-winning Website of Everything Dinosaur.

2 11, 2019

A Quick Video Guide to the New CollectA Models (Part 1)

By |2023-12-31T17:09:20+00:00November 2nd, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|0 Comments

New CollectA Models (Part 1) – Video Guide

Yesterday, Everything Dinosaur published details of the first of the new for 2020 prehistoric animal figures from CollectA.  We have been asked by dinosaur model fans and collectors to publish more information about this exciting quartet of replicas.  As our studio, is now up and running, we thought it would be sensible to create a short video review, showing pictures of the models and providing a little more detail about each replica – sort of like putting some flesh on the bones of the dinosaurs.

Everything Dinosaur Comments on the New for 2020 CollectA Models (Part 1)

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

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

The First Four Dinosaur Models from CollectA for 2020

In this short video review (duration 4 minutes 20 seconds), we discuss the four new figures in turn.  Starting with the 1:6 scale Protoceratops dinosaur model, with its articulated lower jaw.  We then move on and introduce the Deluxe Fukuisaurus model.

Fukuisaurus is known from Honshu Island (Japan) and is one of a number of Early Cretaceous vertebrates excavated from the famous Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, in Fukui Prefecture, after which this ornithopod is named.  Fukuisaurus (pronounced Foo-kwee-sore-us), comes from the same bonebed – “Quarry bonebed I”, as the theropod Fukuiraptor, a model of which was introduced by CollectA in 2019.

Fans of Dinosaurs From Japan will Appreciate Fukuisaurus and Fukuiraptor

CollectA Fukuiraptor and CollectA Fukuisaurus dinosaur models.
Two models representing dinosaurs from the same bonebed at the famous Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry (Japan). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Marvellous Microraptor

The third prehistoric animal to be discussed is the dromaeosaurid Microraptor.  This dinosaur model is likely to become a real collector’s piece.  It has such a dynamic pose and the narrator provides a little more detail about this 1:6 scale figure and gives the model’s measurements.

The New for 2020 CollectA Microraptor Dinosaur Model

CollectA Deluxe Microraptor - new for 2020
The CollectA Deluxe Microraptor model (1:6 scale).  Available from Everything Dinosaur in early 2020.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To read Everything Dinosaur’s earlier post in which we introduced these figures, showed the official photographs and provided detailed model measurements: New CollectA Prehistoric Animal Models (Part 1).

A Baryonchid – Baryonyx walkeri

The fourth model to be discussed is the CollectA Prehistoric Life Baryonyx (B. walkeri) dinosaur model.  This is the only figure in the quartet not to be given a scale by CollectA.  It has been introduced to accompany the 1:40 Deluxe Baryonyx which was released by CollectA this year (2019).  In the short video review by Everything Dinosaur, the similarities between these two CollectA figures are highlighted.

The Redesigned Baryonyx Dinosaur Figures from CollectA (2019 and Early 2020 Release)

CollectA Baryonyx figures.
A comparison between the 2019 and the 2020 CollectA Baryonyx replicas. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

All four of these new figures will be available from Everything Dinosaur in early 2020.

To view the current range of CollectA models available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric Life.

To view the Deluxe range of CollectA figures available: CollectA Deluxe.

Look out for further information about new CollectA models from Everything Dinosaur. We recommend that readers subscribe to Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel: Subscribe to Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube Channel.

1 11, 2019

New CollectA Models 2020 (Part 1)

By |2023-12-31T17:02:34+00:00November 1st, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|4 Comments

New CollectA Models 2020 (Part 1)

It’s that time of year when our chums at CollectA release details of their new for 2020 prehistoric animal models.  A number of announcements are due to be made in the next few weeks, but today, we start the palaeontological ball rolling by introducing the first of the new for 2020 CollectA figures.

The first four models are:

  1. CollectA Deluxe Protoceratops 1:6 scale
  2. CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus 1:40 scale
  3. The CollectA Deluxe Microraptor 1:6 scale
  4. CollectA Baryonyx (Prehistoric Life)

The New for 2020 CollectA Protoceratops Dinosaur Model

The new for 2020 CollectA Deluxe Protoceratops dinosaur model.
CollectA Deluxe Protoceratops dinosaur model 1:6 scale.  The model will also have an articulated jaw.

Picture credit: CollectA

New CollectA Models

Over the years, CollectA have produced a wide range of horned dinosaur figures.  Everything Dinosaur team members had lobbied to have Protoceratops included, it is one of the most intensely studied of all the Dinosauria and dinosaur model fans will be able to pick up this figure in early 2020.  It should provide a suitable companion piece to the 1:6 scale CollectA Velociraptor model that was introduced back in 2011.

CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus (1:40 Scale)

Coming to Everything Dinosaur in Early 2020 – CollectA 1:40 Scale Fukuisaurus

New for 2020 the CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus dinosaur model.
CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus (1:40 scale) dinosaur model.

Picture credit: CollectA

Fukuisaurus (F. tetoriensis) was first described from partial skull material found at the famous Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry (Honshu Island, Japan).  The CollectA model draws on other known iguanodontids for inspiration, for very little fossil material has been ascribed to this genus.

Some academics describe this Early Cretaceous herbivore as having “nomen nudum” status, that is, it’s an animal for which no holotype fossil material has been designated.  This dinosaur model might be in the CollectA Deluxe portfolio, but don’t expect a figure the size of the bulky Iguanodon model released by CollectA in 2018.  Fukuisaurus is believed to have been a relatively small animal, perhaps measuring 4.5 metres long and weighing around 350-450 kilograms.

The size of Fukuisaurus is in truth, not known, but Iguanodon bernissartensis for example, was nearly twice as long and perhaps ten times heavier.

Designer Anthony Beeson commented:

“In response from our Japanese fans we produced this model to go with Fukuiraptor that we issued in 2019.  An Early Cretaceous herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur from Japan living some 129.4- 125 million years ago.”

CollectA Deluxe Microraptor (1:6 Scale)

Available from Everything Dinosaur in Early 2020 – The CollectA Microraptor Dinosaur Model

CollectA Deluxe Microraptor - new for 2020
The CollectA Deluxe Microraptor model (1:6 scale).

Picture credit: CollectA

The third new for 2020 CollectA figure is another Asian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous, but this time, this dinosaur heralds from China, not Japan.  It is a model of the feathered dromaeosaurid Microraptor and it has certainly been depicted in a spectacular pose.  In email correspondence with model designer Anthony Beeson, Everything Dinosaur team members were fascinated to learn that magpie feathers had been despatched to China to help the model makers re-create the iridescence on the animal’s plumage. 

We also learned that CollectA had been specifically requested by a museum in China to make this figure.  Museum staff have approved the CollectA model design.

The CollectA Baryonyx (Prehistoric Life)

Making up the quartet of new figures, the first of the new for 2020 announcements from CollectA, is a splendid replica of Baryonyx.

New for 2020 The CollectA Prehistoric Life Baryonyx Dinosaur Model

CollectA Baryonyx - new for 2020
CollectA Baryonyx dinosaur model.  The new for 2020 Prehistoric Life CollectA Baryonyx will be mounted on a base just like the 2019 CollectA Deluxe Baryonyx model.

Picture credit: CollectA

Collectors will probably recall that last year, a 1:40 scale CollectA Deluxe Baryonyx was introduced.  The 2020 “Prehistoric Life” version follows the same design and updates the original Baryonyx figure that was introduced by CollectA into this range more than ten years ago.  Note the rows of “crocodilian scutes” that can be seen on the side of the tail.  This figure looks beautifully crafted and we look forward to welcoming this Baryonyx and the other new models early next year.

Tale of the Tape

  • CollectA Deluxe Protoceratops – length 24 cm, with that bristle-tail standing some 11 cm high.
  • CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus – length 14 cm and standing around 5.5 cm high.
  • The CollectA Deluxe Microraptor – length 20 cm, approximate wingspan 15.5 cm and the height of the model is estimated at 12.5 cm.
  • CollectA Prehistoric Life Baryonyx – length 19 cm, approximate height 7 cm.

To view the current range of CollectA models available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric Life.

To view the Deluxe range of CollectA figures available: CollectA Deluxe.

We look forward to posting up more information and images of other new for 2020 prehistoric animal models from CollectA.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

31 10, 2019

The Beautiful Artwork Associated with PNSO Models

By |2023-12-31T16:54:40+00:00October 31st, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Fantastic Box Art (PNSO Age of Dinosaurs)

At Everything Dinosaur, we spend a lot of time focusing on prehistoric animal models.  It is what you would expect from a company that specialises in the mail order sale of museum quality dinosaur figures and such like.  However, we have been most impressed with the artwork associated with the PNSO Age of Dinosaurs model range.  We have been involved with PNSO for some years now and we have watched how this company has evolved, but the standards set by renowned palaeoartist Zhao Chuang and his colleagues continue to be emphasised by the addition of some splendid examples of box art.

PNSO Models

Take for example, the clean lines associated with the carton that contains the new for 2019 PNSO Dakosaurus model “Paulwin”.  Rather than describe the box we thought it best to create a short twenty second video showcasing how this particular prehistoric animal model is presented.

Highlighting the Beautiful Presentation of the PNSO Dakosaurus Marine Crocodile Model “Paulwin”

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

PNSO Models “Paulwin” the Dakosaurus

Models of prehistoric crocodiles are quite rare.   We know that this replica of “Biter lizard” has been very well received by collectors.  The box that the model comes in is very classy too.

The Box Containing the PNSO Marine Crocodile Model “Paulwin” the Dakosaurus

PNSO Dakosaurus box art.
An image showing the classy box art for the PNSO “Paulwin” the Dakosaurus model.

Beautiful Packaging

The clean lines, the carefully printed and positioned text and the large picture of the actual model make the packaging of this PNSO figure really stand out.  Our congratulations to the design team at PNSO for taking such care and consideration.

The Dakosaurus is just one of new additions to the range of PNSO models and figures that Everything Dinosaur stocks.  More figures will be announced in the near future.  Fans of dinosaurs and PNSO models in particular can expect to hear news on this blog site soon.

The PNSO Dakosaurus Marine Crocodile Model -“Paulwin”

Marine crocodile model Dakosaurus.
A close-up view of the head of the PNSO marine crocodile model Dakosaurus.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

For dinosaur model collectors and fans of prehistoric animals, you do not have to wait until next year to see the most recent model releases, they are all in stock at Everything Dinosaur.

To see the range of PNSO dinosaurs and prehistoric animal models available at Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models and Figures.

30 10, 2019

Preparing and Planning for the New Atlasaurus

By |2024-02-25T07:59:17+00:00October 30th, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Preparing for Atlasaurus

Team members at Everything Dinosaur are busy with the preparations for the arrival of the latest model in the Eofauna range, the Eofauna Atlasaurus dinosaur replica.  Stocks of this sauropod figure are due to arrive in a couple of weeks or so and staff have been finishing the fact sheet that will be sent out to accompany sales of this new figure from those talented people at Eofauna Scientific Research.

Due in at Everything Dinosaur Very Shortly – Eofauna Atlasaurus Dinosaur Model

The Eofauna Scientific Research Atlasaurus dinosaur model.
Atlasaurus (Eofauna Scientific Research).  This is the second dinosaur figure that Eofauna have produced and the fifth prehistoric animal figure in this range in total.

Elephants Three Dinosaurs Two

The Atlasaurus model (A. imelakei), measures around thirty centimetres in length and that impressive head stands nearly twenty-three centimetres high.  The genus name honours the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, whilst the species name is from the Arabic for giant.   At an estimated fifteen metres in length, Atlasaurus was certainly a sizable resident of the Middle Jurassic!

To date, Eofauna have produced five prehistoric animal figures in this series, three prehistoric elephants and two lizard-hipped dinosaurs.  The elephant figures are (in the order in which they were released), – Steppe Mammoth, Straight-tusked elephant and the recently introduced Deinotherium (Mammuthus trogontherii, Palaeoloxodon antiquus and Deinotherium spp.).  For our part, we have referred the Eofauna Deinotherium replica to D. giganteum.

The Five Models in the Eofauna Scientific Research Model Range

Five Eofauna Scientific Research prehistoric animal models.
The five Eofauna Scientific Research prehistoric animal models.  From left to right – Palaeoloxodon, Mammuthus trogontherii, Atlasaurus imelakei, Deinotherium and Giganotosaurus.

Eofauna Models and Figures

New this Month at Everything Dinosaur – Eofauna Deinotherium

Eofauna Deinotherium model.
The Eofauna Scientific Research Deinotherium replica. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To purchase the range of Eofauna figures and models at Everything Dinosaur: Eofauna Scientific Research Models.

The Eofauna Atlasaurus Figure – Expected in November

A reserve list has been open for the Eofauna Atlasaurus for some time.  Everything Dinosaur customers on this list can rest assured that they will be contacted when this exciting new figure arrives.  As to when this dinosaur might be in stock, a spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“It is difficult to pinpoint a delivery date to our warehouse, there are lots of exogenous factors outside our control that can hinder a swift delivery.  However, we are expecting the figures to arrive around week three of November, perhaps around the 20th November.  Of course, the Atlasaurus models could arrive a little sooner, or they may take a couple of days longer.”

The Scale Drawing of Atlasaurus (A. imelakei) Prepared for the Everything Dinosaur Fact Sheet

Atlasaurus scale drawing.
A scale drawing of the bizarre north African sauropod Atlasaurus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

29 10, 2019

A Clever and Creative Pine Cone Dinosaur

By |2023-12-31T16:46:24+00:00October 29th, 2019|Main Page, Photos|0 Comments

A Pine Cone Dinosaur

Here in the UK, it is definitely autumn.  British Summer Time (BST), has officially ended, the clocks went back an hour over the weekend and we have had our first frosts.  Still, team workers are snug in their offices working hard to prepare and pack orders for customers.  However, occasionally, just occasionally we get a little time to be creative and make something with a dinosaur or fossil motif.

A Pine Cone Dinosaur

Take for example this pine cone dinosaur that has been constructed.

A Pine Cone Dinosaur – a Pinoceratops Perhaps?

Pine cone dinosaur.
Making a horned dinosaur (ceratopsian) out of a pine cone. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

We used four acorns for the dinosaur’s limbs, the base of the head crest is the bottom of one pine cone, whilst the body is made from another pine cone.  To complete our dinosaur, we made a small head using an off-cut of cardboard and the large brow horns are also made from card too.  To finish our horned dinosaur, we wanted to add a small nose horn, but what to use, how about a pine nut, after all, it is in keeping with the rest of our prehistoric animal.

For educational prehistoric animal themed toys and games: Dinosaur Toys and Crafts for Kids.

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